SSD (band)
Encyclopedia
SSD were a straight edge
hardcore
(and later heavy metal
) band from Boston
. They released two records as SS Decontrol and then formally changed their name to SSD. As SSD they released two more records, these with a very heavy metal
influenced sound. However the group is often simply referred to, including all its periods, as SSD.
plant in Lynn, Massachusetts
and a student at Northeastern University), SSD started performing at smaller venues throughout the Greater Boston
metropolitan area, like Gallery East
, in the summer of 1981. The band quickly gained notoriety within the local music scene for intense, charged performances and the provocative antics of their core group of followers, the Boston Crew.
The original lineup was Al Barile on guitar, Springa (David Spring) on vocals, Jaime Sciarappa
on bass and Chris Foley
on drums. They released their debut LP The Kids Will Have Their Say
on their own X-Claim label in 1982. Ian MacKaye
of Minor Threat
was a friend and supporter and his Dischord label's logo appeared on the back cover.
In 1983 they added second guitarist Francois Levesque and released the EP Get It Away
, widely regarded as their best record, and one that helped define Boston's straight-edge scene. The X-Claim pressings of it and The Kids Will Have Their Say are both highly collectable.
Like many hardcore bands in the mid-1980s, particularly in the Boston area, SSD began heading in a heavy metal
direction. In 1984 they signed to the Boston label Modern Method
and released the How We Rock
EP, which was rooted in the hardcore sound but exhibited overt heavy metal characteristics, such as a relatively high number of lengthy guitar solo
s. After signing to Homestead they released the Break It Up
LP in 1985. It had both feet planted in the metal genre, leaving behind all trappings of punk and hardcore. SSD broke up in November that year.
Barile went on to form Gage, Sciarappa joined Slapshot
, and Springa went on to join Razorcaine and Die Blitzkinder
.
Scottt Schinder, in his book Alt-Rock-a-Rama, described SSD as "The most important hardcore band to emerge from New England."
As of late 2008, the SSD biography page on the X-Claim Records web site made no mention of Springa, or any vocalist, and he appears in none of the band photos on the page.
Straight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
hardcore
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...
(and later heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
) band from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. They released two records as SS Decontrol and then formally changed their name to SSD. As SSD they released two more records, these with a very heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
influenced sound. However the group is often simply referred to, including all its periods, as SSD.
History
Formed by songwriter/guitarist Al Barile (then a machinist at the General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
plant in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
and a student at Northeastern University), SSD started performing at smaller venues throughout the Greater Boston
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
metropolitan area, like Gallery East
Gallery East
Gallery East is an art and performance network based in Boston, Massachusetts notable for being one of the first venues to host hardcore punk rock shows for an all ages audience. Founded in 1979 by Duane Lucia and Al Ford, it closed its location at 24 East St...
, in the summer of 1981. The band quickly gained notoriety within the local music scene for intense, charged performances and the provocative antics of their core group of followers, the Boston Crew.
The original lineup was Al Barile on guitar, Springa (David Spring) on vocals, Jaime Sciarappa
Jaime Sciarappa
Jaime Sciarappa is a Boston area bass player best known for his work with 1980s hardcore punk bands SSD and Slapshot.- References :...
on bass and Chris Foley
Chris Foley
Chris Foley is a drummer best known for his work with the Boston hardcore band SSD, in the early and mid 1980s- recording four highly influential albums with the band. He graduated from Berklee College of Music and went to pursue a career as a drummer and musical instrument maker. He was the...
on drums. They released their debut LP The Kids Will Have Their Say
The Kids Will Have Their Say
The Kids Will Have Their Say is the debut album by the Boston hardcore punk band SSD. The album was released in 1982 as a split-release between Dischord and X-Claim records . The album was only pressed in 1,000 copies and never re-pressed, making it quite a collector's item...
on their own X-Claim label in 1982. Ian MacKaye
Ian MacKaye
Ian Thomas Garner MacKaye is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, label owner, and producer. Active since 1979, MacKaye is best known for being the frontman of the influential hardcore punk bands Minor Threat and The Teen Idles, the post-hardcore bands Embrace and Fugazi, as well...
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...
was a friend and supporter and his Dischord label's logo appeared on the back cover.
In 1983 they added second guitarist Francois Levesque and released the EP Get It Away
Get It Away
Get It Away was the second release from the Boston hardcore punk band SSD. It is the first release to feature Francois Levesque. The cover art, featuring a trash-strewn city street, was done by Pushead, who spelled out his girlfriend's name in part of the trash.-Side B:#"Under the Influence"...
, widely regarded as their best record, and one that helped define Boston's straight-edge scene. The X-Claim pressings of it and The Kids Will Have Their Say are both highly collectable.
Like many hardcore bands in the mid-1980s, particularly in the Boston area, SSD began heading in a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
direction. In 1984 they signed to the Boston label Modern Method
Modern Method Records
Modern Method Records was a record label that helped to document the Boston hardcore scene in the early 80's. Modern Method was an offshoot of the Newbury Comics retail store and also the Boston Rock magazine. The label was located at 268 Newbury ST. in Boston....
and released the How We Rock
How We Rock
How We Rock was the third release from the Boston hardcore punk band SSD. It was rooted in the hardcore sound but exhibited overt heavy metal characteristics, such as a relatively high number of lengthy guitar solos.-Personnel:*Springa - vocals...
EP, which was rooted in the hardcore sound but exhibited overt heavy metal characteristics, such as a relatively high number of lengthy guitar solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
s. After signing to Homestead they released the Break It Up
Break It Up (SSD album)
Break It Up was the fourth and final release from Boston Crossover Thrash band SSD. It had both feet planted in the metal genre, leaving behind all trappings of punk and hardcore.-Side A:#"Break It Up" #"Children Will Rock"...
LP in 1985. It had both feet planted in the metal genre, leaving behind all trappings of punk and hardcore. SSD broke up in November that year.
Barile went on to form Gage, Sciarappa joined Slapshot
Slapshot (band)
-History:Slapshot was formed in 1985 by Steve Risteen and Mark McKay, formerly of Terminally Ill; Jack "Choke" Kelly, formerly of Negative FX and Last Rights; and Jonathan Anastas, formerly of Decadence and DYS...
, and Springa went on to join Razorcaine and Die Blitzkinder
Die Blitzkinder
Die Blitzkinder was a comedy rock project that performed in Boston clubs in 1989 and 1990. It featured vocalist Springa from SSD, backed by The Slaves. All concerned wore Gestapo uniforms as Springa played on German stereotypes. Musically they were closer to The Slaves than to SSD....
.
Scottt Schinder, in his book Alt-Rock-a-Rama, described SSD as "The most important hardcore band to emerge from New England."
"2008 comeback" controversy
In May 2008 it was an announced that Springa and a new lineup of SS Decontrol would be appearing at Belgium's IEPERFEST in August of that year. In a message circulated in various blogs and internet forums, original guitarist and band leader Alan Barile responded with strong disapproval, stating, "There is absolutely no truth to any speculation that SSD will be performing this summer. The fact is original vocalist David Spring 'Springa' is assembling a band of hired guns to tour and rip off the public playing under the name SSD. Due to his actions David Spring has officially been terminated from ALL association with the band SSD."As of late 2008, the SSD biography page on the X-Claim Records web site made no mention of Springa, or any vocalist, and he appears in none of the band photos on the page.
Discography
- The Kids Will Have Their SayThe Kids Will Have Their SayThe Kids Will Have Their Say is the debut album by the Boston hardcore punk band SSD. The album was released in 1982 as a split-release between Dischord and X-Claim records . The album was only pressed in 1,000 copies and never re-pressed, making it quite a collector's item...
(LP, X-Claim, 1982) - Get It AwayGet It AwayGet It Away was the second release from the Boston hardcore punk band SSD. It is the first release to feature Francois Levesque. The cover art, featuring a trash-strewn city street, was done by Pushead, who spelled out his girlfriend's name in part of the trash.-Side B:#"Under the Influence"...
(EP, X-Claim, 1983) - Jolly Old Saint NicholasJolly Old Saint Nicholas (EP)"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" is an EP by the band SS Decontrol. It was released on 7" vinyl on Taang Records with only one side. Only 200 copies were pressed....
(EP, Taang Records) - A Boston Rock Christmas (various artists compilation, Boston Rock, 1983) - "Jolly Old St. Nick"
- How We RockHow We RockHow We Rock was the third release from the Boston hardcore punk band SSD. It was rooted in the hardcore sound but exhibited overt heavy metal characteristics, such as a relatively high number of lengthy guitar solos.-Personnel:*Springa - vocals...
(EP, Modern Method, 1984) - Break It UpBreak It Up (SSD album)Break It Up was the fourth and final release from Boston Crossover Thrash band SSD. It had both feet planted in the metal genre, leaving behind all trappings of punk and hardcore.-Side A:#"Break It Up" #"Children Will Rock"...
(LP, Homestead, 1985) - Power (compilation, Taang!, 1993)
External links
- Al Barile's SS Decontrol MySpace page
- X-Claim Records SSD biography
- X-Claim Records Gage page
- SSD music video for "Get It Away" on BlankTV.com