Siege (band)
Encyclopedia
Siege was an American punk
/Thrashcore
band from Weymouth, Massachusetts
. They were active in the 1980s Boston hardcore
scene from 1983 to 1985, and reunited briefly in the early 1990s.
Siege's form of intense hardcore incorporated fast tempos together with vocalist Mahoney's screeches and growls. Though rather short-lived and little-known during their existence, subsequent musicians have cited the group as a profound influence, including the famous British
grindcore
band Napalm Death
and the American thrashcore
band Dropdead
, whose namesake was derived from the title of Siege's demo of the same name
.
, Massachusetts
. The band's original lineup consisted of vocalist and saxophonist Kevin Mahoney, guitarist Kurt Habelt, bassist Hank McNamee, and drummer Rob Williams. Mahoney was from Braintree
, while the rest of the band was from Weymouth.
Siege's first official show was at a "Battle of the Bands
" in the spring of 1984 at their Weymouth high school. They were disqualified when McNamee smashed his bass onstage.
Despite their proximity to Boston, Siege did not fit into the Boston Crew-dominated Straight edge
hardcore scene as they performed most of their gigs further away in Western Massachusetts
, Connecticut
, and Rhode Island
. The band played gigs in Greenfield
with local hardcore bands DYS
, Cancerous Growth, The Freeze
, B.I.U, Outpatients, and Deep Wound
, out-of-state at the Living Room in Providence
, and at Anthrax in Stamford
.
In 1985, Siege was scheduled to play their first show in New York City
at CBGBs with The Necros
. Mahoney did not show up for the gig, and Siege disbanded shortly after. Williams later formed the band Nightstick
.
In 1991, Siege reformed with Anal Cunt
frontman Seth Putnam
on vocals. They recorded a demo tape from which only 1 track has so far been released, appearing on the 13 Bands Who Think You're Gay Compilation LP. Ironically, their track "Life of Hate," with original singer Mahoney, denounces homophobia. Siege disbanded again the following year.
at Radiobeat Records in Kenmore Square
on February 6, 1984. The demo was produced by Lou Giordano
(who is also the producer of Hüsker Dü
, Negative FX
, SS Decontrol
, Goo Goo Dolls
, and many others), and has been extensively bootlegged. In October 1984 the band recorded three more songs at Radiobeat with Giordano for Pushead
's classic 1985 hardcore compilation called Cleanse the Bacteria
. Those 3 songs were Siege's only official original release.
Giordano later recalled those sessions:
Siege's 3 songs from the Cleanse the Bacteria compilation and 6-song demo were released by Relapse Records
in 1994 as the Drop Dead
CD. The same material was released on 12" vinyl in 2004 by Deep Six Records.
However, two separate additional reissues of the original Siege material done on lp in 2006 and 2009 by the Deep Six record label mysteriously contained an additional three tracks, "Two-Faced," "Trained To Kill," and "Questions Behind The Wall". According to the sticker on the cover of the 2006 reissue, it states that these tracks are "unreleased tracks from original sessions," but it is unclear if the songs were recorded in 1984 and remained unreleased until now, or if only the music is from the original sessions with vocals added later (by either the original vocalist or by Seth Putnam).
covered "Walls" on their second John Peel session as well as "Conform" on Leaders Not Followers: Part 2
.
Witch Hunt covered "Conform" on their Crucial Chaos Session.
Lycanthrophy covered "Conform" on their split with Say Why
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...
/Thrashcore
Thrashcore
Thrashcore is a fast tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore punk, with bands often using blast beats. Songs can be very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less dissonant, less metallic forerunner of grindcore...
band from Weymouth, Massachusetts
Weymouth, Massachusetts
The Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth...
. They were active in the 1980s Boston hardcore
Boston hardcore
Boston hardcore is the hardcore punk scene of Boston, Massachusetts. Boston hardcore is the hardcore punk scene of Boston, Massachusetts. Boston hardcore is the hardcore punk scene of Boston, Massachusetts. (Not to be confused with Boston metalcore (also known as metallic hardcore; itself an...
scene from 1983 to 1985, and reunited briefly in the early 1990s.
Siege's form of intense hardcore incorporated fast tempos together with vocalist Mahoney's screeches and growls. Though rather short-lived and little-known during their existence, subsequent musicians have cited the group as a profound influence, including the famous British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
and the American thrashcore
Thrashcore
Thrashcore is a fast tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore punk, with bands often using blast beats. Songs can be very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less dissonant, less metallic forerunner of grindcore...
band Dropdead
Dropdead
Dropdead is a hardcore punk band based in Providence, Rhode Island. Dropdead has been active in the punk scene since 1991. Dropdead tends to address subjects such as animal rights, pacifism, and anti-authoritarianism. The band members are supporters of the ALF.Their name is derived from the demo of...
, whose namesake was derived from the title of Siege's demo of the same name
Drop Dead (Siege album)
Drop Dead is an album originally released in 1984 by Weymouth hardcore band Siege. It is the only album the band ever released. The original "album" was a self-released demo cassette with six songs recorded at Radiobeat studios in Boston and produced by Lou Giordano. There were also three songs...
.
Biography
Siege formed in 1983 in WeymouthWeymouth, Massachusetts
The Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The band's original lineup consisted of vocalist and saxophonist Kevin Mahoney, guitarist Kurt Habelt, bassist Hank McNamee, and drummer Rob Williams. Mahoney was from Braintree
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
, while the rest of the band was from Weymouth.
Siege's first official show was at a "Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bands
Battle of Bands is a contest in which two or more bands compete for the title of "best band". The winner is determined by a panel of judges, the general response of the audience, or a combination. The winning band usually receives a prize in addition to bragging rights. Traditionally, battles of...
" in the spring of 1984 at their Weymouth high school. They were disqualified when McNamee smashed his bass onstage.
Despite their proximity to Boston, Siege did not fit into the Boston Crew-dominated Straight edge
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 scene as they performed most of their gigs further away in Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley, and some or all of the Swift River Valley. The region is always considered to include Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, and the...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, and Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. The band played gigs in Greenfield
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair...
with local hardcore bands DYS
DYS (band)
DYS is an American straight edge hardcore band from Boston, Massachusetts who were part of the notorious "Boston Crew" in the 1980s, along with contemporaries such as SSD and Negative FX...
, Cancerous Growth, The Freeze
The Freeze
The Freeze are a hardcore punk rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Freeze formed in late 1978. At the time all members were in high school. The Freeze are generally considered to be a Boston hardcore band, but they never truly fit into the typical Boston mold. Like most hardcore groups, the...
, B.I.U, Outpatients, and Deep Wound
Deep Wound
Deep Wound was a hardcore punk band formed in 1982 in Westfield, MA. They released one self-titled 7" and contributed two songs to the compilation LP, Bands That Could Be God, both of which are sought after by fans and record collectors alike.-Overview:...
, out-of-state at the Living Room in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, and at Anthrax in Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
.
In 1985, Siege was scheduled to play their first show 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...
at CBGBs with The Necros
Necros
Necros were an early American hardcore punk band from Maumee, Ohio, although they are usually identified with the Detroit music scene. They are the first band to record for Touch and Go Records.-History:...
. Mahoney did not show up for the gig, and Siege disbanded shortly after. Williams later formed the band Nightstick
Nightstick (band)
Nightstick are a sludge metal band from Weymouth, Massachusetts, who are often compared to Black Sabbath or Monster Magnet.The band was formed by ex-Siege drummer Rob Williams....
.
In 1991, Siege reformed with Anal Cunt
Anal Cunt
Anal Cunt, also known as AxCx and A.C., was an American grindcore band that formed in Newton, Massachusetts in 1988. Since its inception, the band underwent a number of line-up changes. Known for its grindcore musical style and controversial lyrics, Anal Cunt released eight full-length studio...
frontman Seth Putnam
Seth Putnam
Seth Edward Putnam was the founder of grindcore band Anal Cunt. He was known for his brutal screaming and lyrics that either shock, offend, or invoke morbid humor...
on vocals. They recorded a demo tape from which only 1 track has so far been released, appearing on the 13 Bands Who Think You're Gay Compilation LP. Ironically, their track "Life of Hate," with original singer Mahoney, denounces homophobia. Siege disbanded again the following year.
Recording history
Siege recorded a six-song demo tapeDrop Dead (Siege album)
Drop Dead is an album originally released in 1984 by Weymouth hardcore band Siege. It is the only album the band ever released. The original "album" was a self-released demo cassette with six songs recorded at Radiobeat studios in Boston and produced by Lou Giordano. There were also three songs...
at Radiobeat Records in Kenmore Square
Kenmore Square
Kenmore Square is a square in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, consisting of the intersection of several main avenues as well as several other cross streets, and Kenmore Station, an MBTA subway stop. Kenmore Square is close to or abuts Boston University, Fenway Park, and Lansdowne Street, a...
on February 6, 1984. The demo was produced by Lou Giordano
Lou Giordano
Lou Giordano is a record producer and recording engineer who worked at Radiobeat Studios and Fort Apache Studios. He has produced a wide variety of bands, including Hüsker Dü, the Goo Goo Dolls, and many others....
(who is also the producer of Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart....
, Negative FX
Negative FX
Negative FX was a hardcore straight edge band from Boston formed in 1981. Though the band lasted only a short time, playing only a total of five shows , the band was well-known for their involvement in the local straight edge scene of the early '80s...
, SS Decontrol
SSD (band)
SSD were a straight edge hardcore 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...
, Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...
, and many others), and has been extensively bootlegged. In October 1984 the band recorded three more songs at Radiobeat with Giordano for Pushead
Pushead
Pushead is an artist, record label owner, and writer within the hardcore punk and heavy metal field. He has created artwork for many bands, artists, and athletes including Metallica, the The Misfits, Dr. Dre, Travis Barker, and Craig Johnson. He has designed many record covers, T-shirts,...
's classic 1985 hardcore compilation called Cleanse the Bacteria
Cleanse the Bacteria
Cleanse the Bacteria is a hardcore punk compilation LP released in 1985 by Pushead on Pusmort Records. It is an international compilation of early hardcore music, and represents grindcore pioneers Siege's only original official release...
. Those 3 songs were Siege's only official original release.
Giordano later recalled those sessions:
- "The way our studio operated was that anything that comes in –there’s no value judgements made about the music. We just record it. Still, one of the things that I guess was cool about being a staff engineer is that I wouldn’t have sought out a band like that. I wasn’t philosophically into anything that they were doing, but they were all good musicians –you would have to be to stay together at the speeds they were playing at. So there was that aspect of it, and just the whole pushing the envelope thing. It sounds like it’s just gonna completely break apart going 700 miles through the sky and then all of a sudden everything just comes right together again."
- "And they were some of the most unassuming, laid-back people to ever work with. I mean, they had no attitude at all. They just came in and they were just really polite and very thankful, and then when they turned on the amps and made that noise, it was just unbelievable that it was coming from them."'
Siege's 3 songs from the Cleanse the Bacteria compilation and 6-song demo were released by Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
in 1994 as the Drop Dead
Drop Dead (Siege album)
Drop Dead is an album originally released in 1984 by Weymouth hardcore band Siege. It is the only album the band ever released. The original "album" was a self-released demo cassette with six songs recorded at Radiobeat studios in Boston and produced by Lou Giordano. There were also three songs...
CD. The same material was released on 12" vinyl in 2004 by Deep Six Records.
However, two separate additional reissues of the original Siege material done on lp in 2006 and 2009 by the Deep Six record label mysteriously contained an additional three tracks, "Two-Faced," "Trained To Kill," and "Questions Behind The Wall". According to the sticker on the cover of the 2006 reissue, it states that these tracks are "unreleased tracks from original sessions," but it is unclear if the songs were recorded in 1984 and remained unreleased until now, or if only the music is from the original sessions with vocals added later (by either the original vocalist or by Seth Putnam).
Covers
Napalm DeathNapalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
covered "Walls" on their second John Peel session as well as "Conform" on Leaders Not Followers: Part 2
Leaders Not Followers: Part 2
Leaders Not Followers: Part 2 is the eleventh album by the British band Napalm Death. It contains covers of various hardcore punk and heavy metal songs...
.
Witch Hunt covered "Conform" on their Crucial Chaos Session.
Lycanthrophy covered "Conform" on their split with Say Why
Original line up
- Kevin Mahoney (Sept. 6, 1965 - Oct. 14, 2011) - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - Kurt Habelt - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Hank McNamee - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Rob Williams - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Reunion line up
- Seth PutnamSeth PutnamSeth Edward Putnam was the founder of grindcore band Anal Cunt. He was known for his brutal screaming and lyrics that either shock, offend, or invoke morbid humor...
- vocals - Kurt Habelt - guitar
- Hank McNamee - bass
- Rob Williams - drums
Albums
- Drop DeadDrop Dead (Siege album)Drop Dead is an album originally released in 1984 by Weymouth hardcore band Siege. It is the only album the band ever released. The original "album" was a self-released demo cassette with six songs recorded at Radiobeat studios in Boston and produced by Lou Giordano. There were also three songs...
(1994) (CD, Relapse Records) (Demo '84 + Cleanse The Bacteria Comp Tracks) - Drop DeadDrop Dead (Siege album)Drop Dead is an album originally released in 1984 by Weymouth hardcore band Siege. It is the only album the band ever released. The original "album" was a self-released demo cassette with six songs recorded at Radiobeat studios in Boston and produced by Lou Giordano. There were also three songs...
(2004) (12", Deep Six Records) (Demo '84 + Cleanse The Bacteria Comp Tracks) - Drop DeadDrop Dead (Siege album)Drop Dead is an album originally released in 1984 by Weymouth hardcore band Siege. It is the only album the band ever released. The original "album" was a self-released demo cassette with six songs recorded at Radiobeat studios in Boston and produced by Lou Giordano. There were also three songs...
(2006) (12", Deep Six Records) (Demo '84 + Cleanse The Bacteria Comp Tracks + "Two Faced" and "Trained to Kill") - Drop DeadDrop Dead (Siege album)Drop Dead is an album originally released in 1984 by Weymouth hardcore band Siege. It is the only album the band ever released. The original "album" was a self-released demo cassette with six songs recorded at Radiobeat studios in Boston and produced by Lou Giordano. There were also three songs...
(2006) (CD, Deranged Records) (Demo '84 + Cleanse The Bacteria Comp Tracks) - Drop DeadDrop Dead (Siege album)Drop Dead is an album originally released in 1984 by Weymouth hardcore band Siege. It is the only album the band ever released. The original "album" was a self-released demo cassette with six songs recorded at Radiobeat studios in Boston and produced by Lou Giordano. There were also three songs...
(2009) (12", Deep Six Records) (Demo '84 + Cleanse The Bacteria Comp Tracks + "Questions Behind The Wall")
Compilation appearances
- Cleanse the BacteriaCleanse the BacteriaCleanse the Bacteria is a hardcore punk compilation LP released in 1985 by Pushead on Pusmort Records. It is an international compilation of early hardcore music, and represents grindcore pioneers Siege's only original official release...
(1985) (12", Pusmort Records) (3 Tracks - Sad But True/Cold War/Walls) - 13 Bands That Think You're Gay (2004) (12", Menace To Sobriety Records) (1 Track - Cameras)
External links
- Live on public-access televisionPublic-access televisionPublic-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV in 1984 - Siege Lyrics
- Interview with Surburban Punk #6