Mephiskapheles
Encyclopedia
Mephiskapheles was a third wave ska band based in New York
. Originally called "Skatterbrains," their later name is a portmanteau of "ska
" and "Mephistopheles
", of Goethe's Faust
. As their name suggests, their lyrics are often playfully Satanic
in nature.
The band began when New York hardcore
band The Shaved Pigs split up, and guitarist Brendan Tween and roommate Mikal Reich decided to start a ska band. After recruiting several friends, the band was formed under the name Skatterbrains. The name changed to Mephiskapheles once the band realized that another band had already taken the name. In 1990, after a small lineup shuffle, the band recorded their demo tape titled The DEMOn. On January 3, 1991, the band made its first public appearance at a venue in Long Island
. The band continued to play live and build a fan base over the next few years. It wasn't long before they struck a production & distribution deal with Moon Ska Records. In 1994, Moon Ska released the band's debut album, God Bless Satan
, produced by Bill Laswell
. A video for the song, "Doomsday", saw airplay on MTV. Soon after the release of the album, drummer Mikal Reich left the band. He was temporarily replaced by Dave Karcich of Spring Heeled Jack
before the band brought in full-time drummer Wayne Dunton.
In 1997, the band released their sophomore album Maximum Perversion. A video was filmed for the track, "Break Your Ankle Punk".
By 1999, the band had gone through a major lineup change with Brendan Tween, Michael Bitz, Alexander McCabe and Osho Endo all leaving the band. New members Bill McKinney, Dave Hahn, Dan Jeselson, Nathan Breedlove were brought in and led to a drastic change in sound for the band which more resembled heavy metal than ska. This lineup recorded the 1999 release, Might-ay White-ay. After continuing to play live performances for a short time more, the band seemingly disappeared without any official announcement of a breakup.
drummer, Michael McDermott, performing more heavy metal based material. This band also recorded one demo.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Originally called "Skatterbrains," their later name is a portmanteau of "ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
" and "Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles is a demon featured in German folklore...
", of Goethe's Faust
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
. As their name suggests, their lyrics are often playfully Satanic
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
in nature.
The band began when 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...
band The Shaved Pigs split up, and guitarist Brendan Tween and roommate Mikal Reich decided to start a ska band. After recruiting several friends, the band was formed under the name Skatterbrains. The name changed to Mephiskapheles once the band realized that another band had already taken the name. In 1990, after a small lineup shuffle, the band recorded their demo tape titled The DEMOn. On January 3, 1991, the band made its first public appearance at a venue in Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. The band continued to play live and build a fan base over the next few years. It wasn't long before they struck a production & distribution deal with Moon Ska Records. In 1994, Moon Ska released the band's debut album, God Bless Satan
God Bless Satan
God Bless Satan was the debut album of third wave ska band Mephiskapheles, released in 1994. The album has ironically playful, satanic undertones.- Track listing :# "Mephiskapheles" – 4:57# "Satanic Debris" – 4:16# "Bad John" – 3:24...
, produced by Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....
. A video for the song, "Doomsday", saw airplay on MTV. Soon after the release of the album, drummer Mikal Reich left the band. He was temporarily replaced by Dave Karcich of Spring Heeled Jack
Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A.
Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A. was a third wave ska band based out of New Haven, Connecticut. The band was formed by guitarist/vocalist Ron Ragona and drummer Dave Karcich in 1991. After a short breakup, Ragona and Karcich reformed the band with a new lineup. This lineup went on to record two albums...
before the band brought in full-time drummer Wayne Dunton.
In 1997, the band released their sophomore album Maximum Perversion. A video was filmed for the track, "Break Your Ankle Punk".
By 1999, the band had gone through a major lineup change with Brendan Tween, Michael Bitz, Alexander McCabe and Osho Endo all leaving the band. New members Bill McKinney, Dave Hahn, Dan Jeselson, Nathan Breedlove were brought in and led to a drastic change in sound for the band which more resembled heavy metal than ska. This lineup recorded the 1999 release, Might-ay White-ay. After continuing to play live performances for a short time more, the band seemingly disappeared without any official announcement of a breakup.
After Mephiskapheles
After Mephiskapheles, vocalist Andre A. Worrell and trombonist Greg Robinson played in the band Skull-A-Ball although Robinson played guitar in this project. The band recorded one demo before disbanding. Worrell later appeared with Micheal Bitz in the band Burn Guitars. The band featured three bass players, a drummer and no guitars. This band also disbanded after recording one demo. A third band, named Tirade, spun off from Mephiskapheles and featured Bill McKinney, Dan Jeselson and future Bouncing SoulsThe Bouncing Souls
The Bouncing Souls are a punk rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, formed in 1987. By the time of their acknowledgment by the national punk rock scene, they had reignited a "pogo" element to New Jersey punk rock by playing fast light-hearted songs, a model followed by various other local...
drummer, Michael McDermott, performing more heavy metal based material. This band also recorded one demo.
Discography
- God Bless SatanGod Bless SatanGod Bless Satan was the debut album of third wave ska band Mephiskapheles, released in 1994. The album has ironically playful, satanic undertones.- Track listing :# "Mephiskapheles" – 4:57# "Satanic Debris" – 4:16# "Bad John" – 3:24...
(1995, Moon Ska Records) - Maximum Perversion (1997, Moon Ska Records)
- Might-ay White-ay (1999, Koch RecordsKoch RecordsE1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
)