Pegboy
Encyclopedia
Pegboy is an American punk
band from Chicago
, Illinois with a relatively large cult following
. They were founded in 1990 by John Haggerty
(ex-guitarist for Naked Raygun
), along with his brother Joe Haggerty (drums), Larry Damore (vocals/guitar), and Steve Saylors (bass). Both Damore and Saylors had been members of Chicago-based hardcore band Bhopal Stiffs
, whose 1987 demo had been produced by John Haggerty. Pegboy's 1990 debut EP, "Three-Chord Monte", was also the first release by Quarterstick Records
, an off shoot of Touch and Go Records
. Steve Saylors dropped out in 1992 after job commitments prevented him from touring. Steve Albini
, a longtime friend of the band, filled the bass slot on the "Fore" EP. Former Naked Raygun bassist Pierre Kezdy became the permanent bass player in 1994. After the reformation of Naked Raygun, Mike Thompson took over for Kezdy on bass.
Pegboy supposedly played a "farewell" show on New Year's Eve in 1999 but then denied that it was really a "farewell" show a few years later when they returned to live action.
Pegboy has been touring through the summer of 2009 with Face to Face (punk band)
and Polar Bear Club
.
Rise Against
's Tim McIlrath
, Alkaline Trio
's Matt Skiba
, as well as Shai Hulud
's Matt Fox
are big Pegboy fans.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois with a relatively large cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
. They were founded in 1990 by John Haggerty
John Haggerty
John Haggerty is an influential Chicago guitarist. A key member of Naked Raygun during their heyday , Haggerty formed the band Pegboy, with brother Joe Haggerty on drums and Steve Saylors and Larry Damore of the Bhopal Stiffs, upon leaving Naked Raygun.The eldest son of a plumber father and a...
(ex-guitarist for Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun is a Chicago-based punk rock group. Initially active from 1980 to about 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006....
), along with his brother Joe Haggerty (drums), Larry Damore (vocals/guitar), and Steve Saylors (bass). Both Damore and Saylors had been members of Chicago-based hardcore band Bhopal Stiffs
Bhopal Stiffs
Chicago hardcore outfit the Bhopal Stiffs was formed in 1985 by singers/guitarists Larry Damore and Vince Marine, bassist Steve Saylors, and drummer Dave Schleitwiler. The band name is a reference to an ecological disaster which took place in Bhopal, India in 1984...
, whose 1987 demo had been produced by John Haggerty. Pegboy's 1990 debut EP, "Three-Chord Monte", was also the first release by Quarterstick Records
Quarterstick Records
-Artists:*Bad Livers*Calexico*DK3*Dead Child*June of 44*Kepone*The Mekons*Mi Ami*Peter Móren *Mule*Naked Raygun*Tara Jane O'Neil*Pegboy*Phono-Comb*Rachel's*Rodan*Henry Rollins*Shipping News*Sholi*The Sonora Pine*Therapy?...
, an off shoot of Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
. Steve Saylors dropped out in 1992 after job commitments prevented him from touring. Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, a longtime friend of the band, filled the bass slot on the "Fore" EP. Former Naked Raygun bassist Pierre Kezdy became the permanent bass player in 1994. After the reformation of Naked Raygun, Mike Thompson took over for Kezdy on bass.
Pegboy supposedly played a "farewell" show on New Year's Eve in 1999 but then denied that it was really a "farewell" show a few years later when they returned to live action.
Pegboy has been touring through the summer of 2009 with Face to Face (punk band)
Face to Face (punk band)
Face to Face is an American pop punk band from Victorville, California formed in 1991 by frontman Trever Keith. Originally known as "Zero Tolerance", Keith had been the only constant member of the band during their years of touring and recording albums. The group was initially signed by Dr. Strange...
and Polar Bear Club
Polar Bear Club
Polar Bear Club is an American post-hardcore/indie rock band from Rochester and Syracuse, upstate New York. Formed in 2005, the band currently consists of vocalist Jimmy Stadt, lead guitarist Chris Browne, rhythm guitarist Nate Morris, bass guitarist Erik Michael "Goose" Henning and drummer Tyler...
.
Rise Against
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
's Tim McIlrath
Tim McIlrath
Timothy "Tim" James McIlrath is an American punk rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder for the American punk rock band Rise Against. McIlrath is known to support animal rights and actively promotes PETA with his band...
, Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
's Matt Skiba
Matt Skiba
Matthew Thomas Skiba is the lead singer and guitarist of Alkaline Trio.-Early life and family:...
, as well as Shai Hulud
Shai Hulud (band)
Shai Hulud is an American hardcore punk band with progressive metal influences, originally formed in Pompano Beach, Florida, the band later moved up to Poughkeepsie, New York....
's Matt Fox
Matthew Fox (musician)
Matt Fox is an American musician, founding member and a current lead guitarist for the hardcore punk band Shai Hulud and his side project Zombie Apocalypse....
are big Pegboy fans.
Current Members
- Larry Damore — Vocals, Guitar (1990-present)
- Joe Haggerty — Drums (1990-present)
- John HaggertyJohn HaggertyJohn Haggerty is an influential Chicago guitarist. A key member of Naked Raygun during their heyday , Haggerty formed the band Pegboy, with brother Joe Haggerty on drums and Steve Saylors and Larry Damore of the Bhopal Stiffs, upon leaving Naked Raygun.The eldest son of a plumber father and a...
— Guitar (1990-present) - "Skinny" Mike Thompson — Bass (2007-present)
Former Members
- Steve Saylors — Bass (1990-1992)
- Steve Albini — Bass (1993 — on Fore)
- Pierre Kezdy — Bass (1994-2007 )
- J. RobbinsJ. RobbinsJames Robbins is an American rock music artist. He began his career as a bassist for Government Issue, and has also led four of his own bands: Jawbox, Rollkicker Laydown, Burning Airlines, and Channels. He was a touring bassist for Scream and played bass on the debut 7" from Jack Potential, which...
— Bass (1992, temporary replacement for the Social DistortionSocial DistortionSocial Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
tour)
Albums
- 1991 - Strong Reaction (LP, CD)
- 1994 - Earwig (LP, CD)
- 1997 - Cha-Cha DaMore (LP, CD)
Singles and EPs
- 1990 - Three Chord Monte (EP)
- 1991 - Field of Darkness / Walk on By (EP])
- 1993 - Fore (EP, CD)
- 1996 - Dangermare (Split with KeponeKepone (band)Kepone was an American indie rock band based out of Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1991, the band's name was derived from the Kepone crisis that occurred in the Richmond area in the 1970s. Originally formed as a sideproject of Michael Bishop of GWAR, the original lineup of the band also included...
) (EP)
Reception
- "With roots in such seminal Chicago bands as Naked Raygun and Effigies, Pegboy sounds as if it would have been right at home during the punk upheaval of the late `70s." (Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, 1991)
- "A barrage of industrial-strength noise from the North blasted through Liberty Lunch on Saturday, when the Jesus Lizard and Pegboy combined with Kepone for a galvanizing concert that brought their autumn tour to a close. All three record for Chicago's fiercely independent Touch and Go combine, which specializes in abrasive guitars over relentless rhythms and a minimum of melody." (Don McLeese, Austin American-StatesmanAustin American-StatesmanThe Austin American-Statesman is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is an award-winning publication owned by Cox Enterprises. The Newspaper places focus on issues affecting Austin and the Central Texas region....
, 1994) - "The band has a knack for writing anthemic choruses in the tradition of guitarist John Haggerty`s former band, Naked Raygun."(Review of Strong Reaction, Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, 1991)
- "This workmanlike band inherits the Chicago muscle 'n' melody tradition of Naked Raygun." (Review of Earwig, Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, 1995)