Life's Blood
Encyclopedia
Life's Blood was a hardcore punk
band formed by four first year college students in New York City
in 1987. It consisted of Adam Nathanson
on guitars, Neil Burke
on bass, John Kriksciun on drums, and on vocals, Combined Effort promoter and fanzine editor Jason O'Toole. They were part of the scene that grew out of CBGB's Sunday matinees and the long defunct Some Records
store, where they all hung out. Known for their sound which blended East Coast hardcore-punk with melodic Oi!
, as well as their biting, intelligent lyrics, Life's Blood performed with bands as diverse as Agnostic Front
, Sheer Terror
, Beyond, Judge, Project X
, and Soulside
before breaking up little more than a year later. Nathanson would go on to form Born Against
out of its ashes with Sam McPheeters
on vocals. Burke would go on to many bands, including Born Against
, Sinking Body and Men's Recovery Project
.
Life's Blood played live on WNYU
and WFMU
, and played 26 shows throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Ohio. Their songs have been covered live and on recordings by bands from as far flung as Sweden and Japan as well as by American hardcore bands. One notable cover being the version of "It's not in your heart" by MK-ULTRA
.
Among Life's Blood's recordings are Defiance originally on Combined Effort, the Vermiform Records
compilation EP Murders Among Us, the New York Hardcore
compilation Where the Wild Things Are on Blackout Records
as well as a rash of bootlegs. Vermiform released a CD containing the original "Defiance" ep along with extra material. Prank Records
now has the rights to Life's Blood recordings and a re-release of this hard to find material is forthcoming.
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 formed by four first year college students in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1987. It consisted of Adam Nathanson
Adam Nathanson
Adam Nathanson is an American musician currently based in Richmond, Virginia. He is best known as the guitarist in the New York-based hardcore punk band Born Against, and the singer and guitarist in the proto-folk punk band Pioneers.-Musical career:...
on guitars, Neil Burke
Neil Burke
Neil Burke is an American musician and artist. He is known as a former member of several hardcore punk and noise rock bands, most notably Born Against and Men's Recovery Project...
on bass, John Kriksciun on drums, and on vocals, Combined Effort promoter and fanzine editor Jason O'Toole. They were part of the scene that grew out of CBGB's Sunday matinees and the long defunct Some Records
Some Records
Some Records is an independent record label in New York City whose acts include Earl Greyhound, Innaway, Hot Water Music, Walking Concert, Six Going on Seven, Form of Rocket, The New Transit Direction, The Exit, The Ghost and Rebecca Schiffman....
store, where they all hung out. Known for their sound which blended East Coast hardcore-punk with melodic Oi!
Oi!
Oi! is a working class subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and other working-class youths ....
, as well as their biting, intelligent lyrics, Life's Blood performed with bands as diverse as Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front is an American hardcore band. The band began playing hardcore similar to their contemporaries, and were thrust to the forefront of the burgeoning New York hardcore scene in the mid-1980s with their widely regarded 1984 classic Victim in Pain before evolving to incorporate thrash...
, Sheer Terror
Sheer Terror
Sheer Terror was an American hardcore punk band from New York City. The band was one of the first to combine elements of heavy metal with a hardcore punk base, pioneering a heavier style of hardcore that would become popular in the following decades. Formed in late 1984, the band, stayed together...
, Beyond, Judge, Project X
Project X (band)
Project X was a short-lived hardcore punk/youth crew band from New York City, and also the name of their only release, being a five-track EP. The band consisted of members of other prominent NYC hardcore bands Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, Side by Side and Judge.The band started when John...
, and Soulside
Soulside
Soulside were a post-hardcore band from the greater Washington, D.C. area. The original name of the band was Lunchmeat, formed in 1985. The name was changed to Soulside in spring 1986 and they disbanded in summer of 1989, after an extensive European tour and recording the definitive Hot Bodi-Gram...
before breaking up little more than a year later. Nathanson would go on to form Born Against
Born Against
Born Against was an American hardcore punk band from New York active between 1989–1993. In addition to their radical leftist politics, the group espoused a DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as problematic within the punk subculture of their time.-History:The group was founded in...
out of its ashes with Sam McPheeters
Sam McPheeters
Sam McPheeters is an American musician, artist and journalist. Raised in Albany, New York and later relocated to New York City, McPheeters was a key member of the early 1990s hardcore punk scene, writing a number of zines and singing in the hardcore band Born Against...
on vocals. Burke would go on to many bands, including Born Against
Born Against
Born Against was an American hardcore punk band from New York active between 1989–1993. In addition to their radical leftist politics, the group espoused a DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as problematic within the punk subculture of their time.-History:The group was founded in...
, Sinking Body and Men's Recovery Project
Men's Recovery Project
Men's Recovery Project was an American experimental noise rock band formed by Sam McPheeters and Neil Burke in Richmond, Virginia, active from 1993–2002...
.
Life's Blood played live on WNYU
WNYU
WNYU-FM is a college radio station owned and operated by New York University. Until 2004, it served lower Manhattan and surrounding areas, but thanks to a new booster, it now broadcasts to the tri-state region. The station can be heard on 89.1 FM at 8,300 watts from 4pm until 1am on weekdays,...
and WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
, and played 26 shows throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Ohio. Their songs have been covered live and on recordings by bands from as far flung as Sweden and Japan as well as by American hardcore bands. One notable cover being the version of "It's not in your heart" by MK-ULTRA
MK-ULTRA (Chicago band)
MK-ULTRA was a hardcore/thrash band from Chicago, Illinois formed in 1993. They were known for their fast music and outspokenness on political and social topics ranging from capitalism to Christianity. Due to "legal troubles", the band was forced to drop the name "MK-ULTRA" in 1999...
.
Among Life's Blood's recordings are Defiance originally on Combined Effort, the Vermiform Records
Vermiform Records
Vermiform Records was an American independent record label that specialized in releasing punk rock music from 1990 until 2002. Over the course of those twelve years Vermiform released 57 albums and relocated many times, being headquartered in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Rhode Island and...
compilation EP Murders Among Us, the New York Hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
compilation Where the Wild Things Are on Blackout Records
Blackout Records
Blackout! Records was an independent record label which specialized in the hardcore punk genre.It was formed in 1988 by Bill Wilson – now forever known as "Bill Blackout" – and, together with friend Jim Gibson, the label released its first record – a New York hardcore compilation...
as well as a rash of bootlegs. Vermiform released a CD containing the original "Defiance" ep along with extra material. Prank Records
Prank Records
Prank Records is a hardcore punk record label based in San Francisco, California. They began in 1995, releasing hardcore punk bands on vinyl and in CD format, with over 90 releases. Started by former Auburn University WEGL 91.1 FM radio DJ, Maximum Rock and Roll columnist and reviewer, former 924...
now has the rights to Life's Blood recordings and a re-release of this hard to find material is forthcoming.