The Freeze - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

For the peace organisation, see Peace Action
Peace Action
Peace Action is a peace organization formed through the merger of The Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy and the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign...

The Freeze are a hardcore punk rock

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 from Cape Cod

Cape Cod

Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...

, 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 Freeze formed in late 1978. At the time all members were in high school. The Freeze are generally considered to be a 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...

band, but they never truly fit into the typical Boston mold. Like most hardcore groups, the band was started by enthusiastic teenagers. Indeed, despite the popularity of their first record, the band's ability to capitalize on their local fame was limited only by their age at the time. Most members weren't old enough to drive to 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...

, the local mecca of hardcore.

The Freeze were neither 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...

nor 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 like their Boston

Boston

contemporaries 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...

and SSD

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...

. The Freeze have a more melodic sound which hints more to pure punk rock

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...

than hardcore

Hardcore punk

.

Clif Hanger (real name: Clifton Croce), the lead singer of the Freeze, set up dozens of all-ages shows in Cape Cod

Cape Cod

Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...

in the early years of American hardcore music. Virtually all of the Boston hardcore

Boston hardcore

bands played with The Freeze at these shows, as well as nationally known bands like Black Flag. They also went on two considerably successful tours following the release of their "Guilty Face" EP and "Land of the Lost" LP.

The Freeze have undergone numerous lineup changes, but they are praised for their longevity and unwavering idealism. Currently, Clif Hanger is the only remaining original member. The Freeze have not had the greatest success in the realm of hardcore punk

Hardcore punk

, but their influence on more recent punk and melodic hardcore is far more reaching than their fan base. Yet even that seems to be changing as band's such as The Unseen

The Unseen

The Unseen is an American punk rock band that was formed in 1993 in Hingham, Massachusetts. One of the more prominent bands to revive street punk, The Unseen were originally called The Extinct.-History:...

, who's cover of the Hanger/Close tune "Talking Bombs" on their most recent release brought the music of The Freeze to a younger audience.

2010 will be the band's busiest year in their long 32 year history. They will be following up their successful 2009 tour of Europe with a larger scale two month jaunt in May and June. Their 2009 tour was highlighted by the return of legendary guitarist (and Clif Hanger's songwriting partner since 1982) "East Coast" Bill Close. Although no decision has been made whether Bill will be joining the band again this year, one thing is for certain. Bill and Clif will be writing songs together for the first time in over a decade for inclusion on the band's first new studio album since 1999's "One False Move" with a tentative release date of November. Rabid Records will be the band's new label. The EP titled "Blood Flows Home" is scheduled for release in July 2011 just prior to their European tour with a full length LP to follow later in the year.

Current members

Clif Hanger - Vocals

D.B. – Guitar, Vocals

Arvin Mani – Bass Guitar

Gizz Lazlo – Drums, Vocals

Dave Diamond - Guitar, Vocals

and whenever he wants to play:

Bill Close – Guitar

Former members

Johnny Baxter – Drums

Rob (DeCradle) Rosenthal – Guitar

Pat Leonard – Bass (RIP)

Pat Brady – Drums (RIP)

Paul Delano – Guitar

Scott Mouliasson – Drums, Vocals

Steve Wood – Guitar

Rick Andrews – Bass

Marc Thalasitas – Guitar, Vocals

Daniella Thalasitas – Bass

Craig Adams – Bass

Pete Santos – Drums

Eric Short – Guitar

Joe Koonz – Guitar and Vocals

Ron (HeXe) Cormier – Lead Guitar

Kevin Vicha ("Kev") – Drums (original drummer, performed on the "I Hate Tourists" single)

Lou "Chip" Cataldo-Drums

Walter Gustafson-Drums

Chuck Stilphen – Guitar

Zackory Carmichael – Bass

and on and on...
Mark Leonard – Bass

Chris Barone – Drums

Mark Leonard – Bass Guitar

Anthony Pizzo – Guitar

Patrick "Swedish" Souza - Drums

Slade Anderson – Guitar

John - Guitar

Molusk - Bass Guitar

Jason - Drums

Joshy Wastrel – Guitar, Vocals

"I Hate Tourists"

The band's very first release was the "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourist's[sic]" 7" in 1980. "I Hate Tourist's" became a local hit, and then became a regular lunchtime favorite played on Boston

Boston

's WBCN radio station. The Freeze released the "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourist's" 7" on their own Rebel Records. The project was funded by a high school friend of the band who had become their manager. Rumor had it that some of the money needed to pay for the recording of the 45 came from drug dealing. The Freeze pressed a total of 2,000 records in 1980.

The first 200 original press records were wrapped in pink construction paper stolen from the Freeze's high school art department and labeled in plain black marker. The next 300 were wrapped in orange construction paper obtained by the same method. The remaining 1,500 of the original 2,000 records that were pressed in 1980 were just wrapped in clear plastic and handed out as demos. Up until 2005, "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourist's" 7", was hardly available, and were going for up to $500 with original wrapping. In 2005 Schizophrenic Records re-pressed the "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourists" 7". The record was wrapped in a faux orange construction paper sleeve which sought to imitate the original. The re-press comes with a second sleeve, in addition to the orange one, which contains liner notes and alternate cover art. In the liner notes of the re-issue of "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourists" 7" Clif Hanger discusses how this album almost never happened.

The parents of Rob Rosenthal A.K.A. Rob DeCradle, the guitarist of the Freeze, objected to the language and topics of the songs. His parents found it to be so offensive that they attempted to involve a Cape Cod based Christian organization to help intervene in the production and distribution of the record. In fact, to appease DeCradle's and Hanger's parents' concerns, Clif and Rob changed their last names for the record. One must remember that though the A-side song, "Don't Forget Me Tommy", may have had very low appeal to many hardcore punk

Hardcore punk

listeners, the song's bizarre lyrics and dark synth sound did not connect with the target audience, the song was written in 1979, over a year before HC Punk struck. Criticism aside, the "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourists" 7" served its purpose as a first release, helping the Freeze gain a record deal with Modern Method Records

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 established a dedicated, modest yet ever growing fan base.

This Is Boston, Not L.A.

In 1982, the greatly influential This Is Boston, Not L.A.
This Is Boston, Not L.A.
This Is Boston, Not L.A.is a hardcore punk compilation album released in 1982. It is considered the definitive album from the Boston hardcore scene, as several of the bands that were prominent in that scene appear on the album...

compilation of Boston hardcore

Boston hardcore

bands was released. This Is Boston, Not L.A.
This Is Boston, Not L.A.
This Is Boston, Not L.A.is a hardcore punk compilation album released in 1982. It is considered the definitive album from the Boston hardcore scene, as several of the bands that were prominent in that scene appear on the album...

competed with the equally important, but more popular Flex Your Head
Flex Your Head
Flex Your Head is a punk rock compilation album. It was originally released in January 1982, and was re-released on CD in August 1995. A remastered CD version was released in 2002...

compilation released in 1982 by Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

based label Dischord Records

Dischord Records

Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...

. The Freeze contributed eight songs to the compilation, including the title track, "This Is Boston, Not L.A." They also provided "Broken Bones", "Idiots at Happy Hour", "Now or Never", "Sacrifice Not Suicide", "It's Only Alcohol", "Trouble If You Hide", and "Time Bomb". The Freeze presented some of their most powerful, fast, and truly hardcore driven work on this record. "Broken Bones" is regarded as a great punk anthem, which fully embodies the mindset of punk rock

Punk rock

. Much of the meaning of "This Is Boston, Not L.A." was lost on the members of the Boston scene. According to Clif Hanger the song's true lyrical meaning is simply 'establish your own identity when starting your band". This basic punk DIY message was directed at the newly forming Boston bands who seemed to be drifting dangerously close to adopting either the west coast look and identity of Black Flag or the skinhead/straight edge DC scene led by Minor Threat. It was never intended to be used as the LP's title track which twisted the song's meaning to one of competition between U.S. scenes rather than the simple friendly advice to the band's hometown friends and peers. Regardless of the meaning behind the motivation of "This Is Boston, Not L.A." it is undeniable that the compilation and The Freeze's contribution to it are a keystone of the development and growth of hardcore punk

Hardcore punk

Conflicts and differences with the Boston hardcore music scene

The Freeze drew fans from Boston's hardcore music scene and the more "traditional punk" sound that preceded hardcore's emergence in 1981. Members of the Freeze were amongst many Boston musicians who questioned the rigidity of the music, mentality, and behavior of the hardcore punk

Hardcore punk

Bostonians, best known as "The Boston Crew". Some clique-driven Boston hardcore

Boston hardcore

listeners considered the Freeze members as high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

"townies" from Cape Cod

Cape Cod

Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...

. Clif Hanger and crew welcomed this seemingly immature brush-off as a challenge that they have gone on to make a mockery of, for the Freeze have outlasted all of their early naysayers. Today The Freeze remain the sole band from that divisive period who are still active as a live, touring and recording unit. (Gang Green and Jerry's Kids are actively touring but have not recorded new material.)

Other releases

The Freeze has released over 17 records, including 7 compilations, 2 LPs, 1 EP, and 5 full length CDs, a split CD with The Bollweevils as well as one with the German band The Killrays. They have released records for their own Rebel Records, Modern Method, Gasatanka/Enigma, Weird System, Ax/ction, Taang!, Lost & Found, and Dr. Strange, respectively. Schizophrenic Records, Bitzcore, and Dr. Strange added 3 re-issues to the Freeze's discography. Following their first release, The Freeze featured one song, "American Town", on the "Wicked Good Time vol.2" compilation LP produced by Modern Method Records in 1981. In 1983 The Freeze also had one song, "Refrigerator Heaven", on the "Unsafe At Any Speed" 7" EP which was a collection of out takes from the "This Is Boston, Not L.A.

This Is Boston, Not L.A.

This Is Boston, Not L.A.is a hardcore punk compilation album released in 1982. It is considered the definitive album from the Boston hardcore scene, as several of the bands that were prominent in that scene appear on the album...

" recording sessions. In 1984 they released the "Guilty Face" 7" EP, considered the most powerful and truly hardcore of all The Freeze's work. Later that year The Freeze released their first full length record, "Land of The Lost" LP, on Modern Method. Again in 1984, on "Flipside Vinyl Fanzine" compilation LP The Freeze featured the song "No One's Ever Coming Home". In 1985 the Freeze followed up their busiest year with the release of their "Rabid Reaction" LP on Modern Method, and afforded the track "Warped Confessional" on Modern Methods "Mr. Beautiful Presents: All Hard" compilation LP which included songs by fellow Boston hardcore

Boston hardcore

bands, and collaborators on the "This Is Boston, Not L.A.

This Is Boston, Not L.A.

" compilation, Gang Green

Gang Green

Gang Green is a band originally from Braintree, Massachusetts. Chris Doherty , Bill Manley and Mike Dean started the band in 1980 and broke up in 1984...

and The F.U.'s

The F.U.'s

The F.U.'s were an early-mid 1980s Boston hardcore punk band, who later changed their name to Straw Dogs, moving toward heavy metal and reformed under their original moniker in 2010.-History:...

. "Life Is A Joke vol.3" compilation LP by Weird System Records, released in 1987, offered songs by Government Issue

Government Issue

Government Issue was an American hardcore punk band from Washington, D.C. active from 1980 to 1989. The band experienced many changes in membership during its nine-year existence, with singer John Stabb as the only consistent member in an ever-fluctuating lineup that at various times included...

, White Flag

White flag

White flags have had different meanings throughout history and depending on the locale.-Flag of temporary truce in order to parley :...

and The Freeze, among others. The Freeze featured the already released "Refrigerator Heaven" on the "Revenge of the Kamikaze Stegosaurus From Outer Space" compilation LP from Ax/ction Records in 1988. This compilation had mostly unreleased or re-recorded songs. The LP included work by G.G. Allin, Wretched, and The Mentors

The Mentors

The Mentors are an American heavy metal band noted for its deliberately sexist shock rock lyrics.They formed in 1977 in Seattle, Washington and relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1979, where their irreverent attitude aligned them with the city's punk rock scene. Their music has developed...

. After the release of the "Revenge of the Kamikaze Stegosaurus From Outer Space" compilation LP The Freeze remained under the radar until 1991, with the release of their "Misery Loves Company" LP on Taang! Records. After their brief stint with Taang! Records, the bands welcomed the interest of the German HC Punk label, Lost & Found. From 1991-1995, The Freeze and Lost & Found would record and release a Live CD, FIVE WAY FURY, and two superb studio works; CRAWLING BLIND and FREAK SHOW, which would remain almost totally unheard in the States until Dr. Strange took charge.

Dr. Strange Records, over the past 3 or 4 years have re-released most everything from The Freeze's back catalog. Bill Plaster, the "Doc" from Dr. Strange, first put the band into the studio to record 4 new tunes for release on a shared CD with label mates The Bollweevils titled A DEADLY DUO. The band then went to work collecting all of their out of print, hard to find and unreleased material, 30 songs strong, which Dr. Strange released as the Cd TOKEN BONES.
In 1999 Dr. Strange released what is arguably the band's strongest all around CD to date in One False Move. What made/makes One False Move even more special is in its artistic collaboration between Freeze vocalist Clif Hanger and the world renowned artist and Illustrator, the late Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey

Edward St. John Gorey was an American writer and artist noted for his macabre illustrated books.-Early life:...

. Hanger and the then-74-year-old Gorey had constructed a personal friendship one would assume, surrounding all things macabre. Mr. Gorey mentioned liking a Green Day

Green Day

Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...

album which led Hanger to offer his band up for listening. Upon excited approval, Gorey offered to create totally original front and rear cover artwork for the project, even adding a few lyrics of his own to one of the band's songs. The 5 Freeze members were asked by Dr. Strange to each autograph 1000 numbered and limited edition, colored vinyl LPs. But it was when Edward Gorey also offered to sign the copies that an instant collector's item was born. Sold out prior to the publication date, the Gorey/Freeze signed LP once offered for sale at $15 a pop now easily commands $100 and up on the collector's market since Gorey's death in 2000.

Fresh attention quickly came the band's way once again when Dr. Strange decided to put onto one disc the band's two seminal full length works from the 1980s: "Land of the Lost" and "Rabid Reaction." The Doc also added the band's four tracks from its equally legendary "Guilty Face" EP and suddenly a 27 track hardcore punk "must have" CD was created. The same "two LPs on one disc" idea was later repeated as Dr. Strange doubled up the band's "Freak Show" and "Crawling Blind" allowing listeners here their first chance to hear a pair of The Freeze's strongest yet most elusive releases to date.

In 2006 Schizophrenic Records reissued The Freeze's "Guilty Face" 7", adding two long lost and never before released on vinyl songs recorded for the "This is Boston Not LA" session. The new six song 7" included liner notes from Clif Hanger. For collector's reference 200 copies included an extra insert of graphics and hand written lyrics signed by Mr. Hanger.

In 2007 Schizophrenic Records and Clif Hanger released the "Live at The Mill Hill Club in 1980" LP, recorded live on April 12, 1980 at the now defunct Cape Cod club. This was only the band's 6th live show. The LP contains many unreleased songs, as well as songs later reworked into The Freeze's classic LPs. 2007 also saw the release, again on Schizophrenic Records of what is arguably the band's best known recording, Rabid Reaction. Another vinyl only release, it is superbly packaged, with lyrics, individual behind the scenes song stories written by Clif. The vinyl itself is a colorful red and green split. A limited amount came packaged with a poster signed by Clif. Next up, in early 2008 will be the re-release of the band's self produced first LP, "Land of the Lost", again on Schizophrenic Records. Future collaborations between the two partners will include a double LP including an assortment of recordings, including live shows from the early 1980s "Hardcore matinee" events held at New York's fabled CBGB's, rare acoustic performances, practice sessions before hitting the studio to record Rabid Reaction, as well as the long-awaited/rumored drug induced mind fuck project named "Rope's End". Some song titles from the "Rope's End" sessions include "Beyond Noah's Ark" which describes the successful interbreeding of human and non-human animals; a reworked version of the Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...

classic "I Walk The Line

I Walk the Line

"I Walk the Line" is a song written by Johnny Cash and recorded in 1956. It was performed with the help of Marshall Grant and Luther Perkins, two mechanics that his brother introduced him to following his discharge from the Air Force. Cash and his wife, Vivian, were living in Memphis, Tennessee,...

" retitled "I Talk To Twine;" and many other "sanity in question" songs.

Current news

2011: September. The Freeze have just finished their 5th headlining tour of Europe. Their new Cd-Ep, BLOOD FLOWS HOME, has been released and the band is currently putting the dates together for an extensive tour of the U.S., tentatively scheduled for March-April 2012.
As of early 2010, a newly reformed Freeze have been playing regularly on both the East and West coasts. Their return has been enthusiastically embraced by punk fans old and young alike. They are currently on the West coast performing around California.

Towards the end of the last tour their drummer had to return home due to an aggravated injury. For the small final west coast part of their tour they used fill in drummers two of which were Franke from the band the Pugilistics (Phoenix, Arizona) who played in both Oakland and Sacramento, California shows, and Anthony Barbaria, formerly of the bands Aggro, Bilharzia, Katkiller and LA/Walls from San Jose, CA, who played with the Freeze in San Jose and Santa Cruz, California. Their friend/tech Nick Gavoni filled in on Guitar for the final shows of the Tour as well. The main thing is that they persevered, as they continue to do to this day!

The Freeze have also currently taken up a new Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/rabidreaction

Cliff Hanger can be contacted through his own Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/thefreeze

Discography

"Don't Forget Me Tommy/I Hate Tourist's" 7" 1980
"Wicked Good Time: Vol. 2" (compilation) 1981
"This Is Boston, Not L.A.
This Is Boston, Not L.A.
This Is Boston, Not L.A.is a hardcore punk compilation album released in 1982. It is considered the definitive album from the Boston hardcore scene, as several of the bands that were prominent in that scene appear on the album...

" (compilation) 1982
"Unsafe at Any Speed" (compilation) 1983
"Guilty Face Ep" 10" 1982
"Land of the Lost" 1983
"Rabid Reaction
Rabid Reaction
Rabid Reaction is the second full album by The Freeze-Track listing:#Warped Confessional#Nothing Left#Misguided Memories#Extremities#No One's Coming Home#Trouble If You Hide#Insanity#Echoes#Princess Die#Before I Hit the Rubber Room...

" LP 1985
"Life is a Joke vol. 3" (compilation) 1987
"Revenge of the Kamikaze Stegosaurus From Outer Space" (compilation) 1988
"Guilty Face + 3" EP 10"1990
"Misery Loves Company" LP 1991
"PTP" 7" 1991
"Bloodlights" 7" 1991
"Five Way Fury" LP 1992
"Double Dosed" LP 1992
"Crawling Blind" LP 1994
"The Freeze and the Kilrays" CD 1995
"Freakshow" CD 1996
"The Freeze 11/2/96" 7" 1996
"A Deadly Duo" 10" (w the Bollweevils) 1996
"Token Bones" 1997
"One False Move" LP 1998
"Boston Wolfpack" 1999
"Welcome to Planet Earth" 7" 1999
"Live at the Mill Hill Club in 1980" 2007
"Blood Flows Home" CD-EP 2011

External links

http://www.myspace.com/rabidreaction – The official FREEZE website on Myspace. Current.
http://www.myspace.com/thefreeze – MySpace site for all news 'Clif hanger' as well as The Freeze
Maximumrocknroll Interview – The Freeze interview from 1984
Scanner zine interview – Interview with Clif Hanger from August 2005
http://www.schizophrenicrex.com – Schizophrenic records has re-issued I Hate Tourist's 7", Guilty Face 7" with bonus tracks, and a 1980 Live LP.
Drink, Fight, And Fuck! Interview – A Freeze interview which will be part of the liner notes for the 1980 Live LP.

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