Kent Stax
Encyclopedia
Kent Stax, is the original and current drummer and an original member of the DC hardcore punk
band Scream
, considered with perhaps the exception of Minor Threat
(both of these bands recorded on the now famous underground Dischord Records
label), one of the most influential and successful hardcore punk band to emerge from the music movement, which thrived during the 1980s. Along with brothers Franz
and Peter Stahl
and bassist Skeeter Thompson
, Stax helped create the lightning-fast tempo that was a trademark of the punk rock genre. Considered one of the fastest and most energetic drummers in the field at that time, his talents lent themselves to keeping a thrashing, powerful musical force under control, giving Scream its homegrown reputation as pioneers in the genre, which transcended into some international notoriety. In the late eighties Stax left the band for personal reasons, and David Grohl, a local drummer who was working with local band Dain Bramage
, replaced the longtime drummer. Stax played drums in a series of bands throughout the 1990s that drew influence from English punk and Oi music, most notably The Suspects (a band that had many muttering about a DC hardcore revival not seen since 1983) United 121, and Spitfires United. In the 2000s he played drums in the DC Oi-core band Alleged Bricks.
Kent now lives in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC and has retired from punk rock and hardcore bands. The last bands he played for were DC Oi-Core veterans Alleged Bricks and the short lived, although well appreciated Critical Condition, which later changed its name to Pure Filth.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Scream
Scream (band)
Scream is a hardcore punk band from Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia active from 1981 to 1990. As of 2009, the band has reunited to play several shows.-Biography:...
, considered with perhaps the exception of Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
(both of these bands recorded on the now famous underground Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
label), one of the most influential and successful hardcore punk band to emerge from the music movement, which thrived during the 1980s. Along with brothers Franz
Franz Stahl
Franz Stahl was the guitarist of the Washington, DC hardcore punk band Scream. Stahl is the brother of Scream lead singer Peter Stahl. Stahl was also briefly a member of Foo Fighters from 1997 to 1999, replacing the band's original guitarist Pat Smear...
and Peter Stahl
Peter Stahl
Peter Marc Stahl is an American vocalist known for fronting the seminal Washington, D.C. punk/hardcore band Scream with brother Franz Stahl. At one stage, Scream also featured Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on drums....
and bassist Skeeter Thompson
Skeeter Thompson
Skeeter Thompson is best known for being the bassist of the DC hardcore band Scream.After their break up, Thompson ended up in Little Rock, Arkansas and played in several of the local bands there including local old school punk band Springgun....
, Stax helped create the lightning-fast tempo that was a trademark of the punk rock genre. Considered one of the fastest and most energetic drummers in the field at that time, his talents lent themselves to keeping a thrashing, powerful musical force under control, giving Scream its homegrown reputation as pioneers in the genre, which transcended into some international notoriety. In the late eighties Stax left the band for personal reasons, and David Grohl, a local drummer who was working with local band Dain Bramage
Dain Bramage
Dain Bramage was a short-lived punk rock band from Washington, D.C. The group was one of former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl's pre-Nirvana bands - before he made himself known in the band Scream.-History:...
, replaced the longtime drummer. Stax played drums in a series of bands throughout the 1990s that drew influence from English punk and Oi music, most notably The Suspects (a band that had many muttering about a DC hardcore revival not seen since 1983) United 121, and Spitfires United. In the 2000s he played drums in the DC Oi-core band Alleged Bricks.
Kent now lives in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC and has retired from punk rock and hardcore bands. The last bands he played for were DC Oi-Core veterans Alleged Bricks and the short lived, although well appreciated Critical Condition, which later changed its name to Pure Filth.