The GC5
Encyclopedia
The GC5 was a punk rock
band from Mansfield, Ohio
, formed in 1997 and split in 2003.
The GC5 provided a political charge to their music comparable to that of The Clash
and Stiff Little Fingers
. Lyrics included themes of social and political discontent, leftist politics, and the struggle of the working class
. In 2000, The GC5 released their debut album Kisses From Hanoi, and in 2001, the band released the EP Horseshoes and Handgrenades. In 2002, the band released the album Never Bet the Devil Your Head. While most definitely presenting the sound of the streetpunk genre, the album was noted for not relying on the street fighting
, hard-drinking themes that overruns many of the genre's songs. In 2003, Thick Records re-released their two albums Kisses From Hanoi (which was out of print) and Horseshoes and Handgrenades (which was originally only available as an import) on one CD. It was the final release from the band. After splitting up Doug and Dave formed Motel Blonde together with Ryan Foltz
, who just left the Dropkick Murphys
. Motel Blonde didn't last long and broke up in March 2004. Doug then joined Rosavelt on the bass guitar, and formed Doug McKean & The Stuntmen a year later. Dave is now playing with The Magpies.
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 Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
, formed in 1997 and split in 2003.
The GC5 provided a political charge to their music comparable to that of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
. Lyrics included themes of social and political discontent, leftist politics, and the struggle of the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
. In 2000, The GC5 released their debut album Kisses From Hanoi, and in 2001, the band released the EP Horseshoes and Handgrenades. In 2002, the band released the album Never Bet the Devil Your Head. While most definitely presenting the sound of the streetpunk genre, the album was noted for not relying on the street fighting
Street fighting
Street fighting is a colloquial term used to denote unsanctioned, illegal in some countries, hand-to-hand fighting in public places, between individuals or groups of people....
, hard-drinking themes that overruns many of the genre's songs. In 2003, Thick Records re-released their two albums Kisses From Hanoi (which was out of print) and Horseshoes and Handgrenades (which was originally only available as an import) on one CD. It was the final release from the band. After splitting up Doug and Dave formed Motel Blonde together with Ryan Foltz
Ryan Foltz
Ryan Foltz is an American producer, audio engineer and musician from Cleveland, Ohio. A former member of Dropkick Murphys and Motel Blonde , Foltz has also played tin whistle, trumpet, , in renowned The Pogues cover band, for ten years...
, who just left the Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
. Motel Blonde didn't last long and broke up in March 2004. Doug then joined Rosavelt on the bass guitar, and formed Doug McKean & The Stuntmen a year later. Dave is now playing with The Magpies.
Band members
- Doug McKean - bass and vocals
- Dave McKean - drums
- Pete Kyrou - guitar and vocals
- Chris Yohn - guitar
- Paul Weaver - guitar (replaced Yohn, post-Kisses From Hanoi)
Discography
- A More Aggressive Approach Towards Peacekeeping (1997 CD) - Guttersnipe Records
- Buy American (7") - Transparent Records
- Takin' It to the Streets (7") - Transparent Records
- The Price of Security (7") - Transparent Records
- Kisses From Hanoi (2000 CD) - Outsider Records
- Horseshoes and Handgrenades (2001 CD-EP/7") - Leprock Records
- 67,104 Miles Later (2001 Split CD-EP w/ Hudson Falcons) - Cosa Nostra Records
- Never Bet the Devil Your Head (2002 CD/LP) - Thick Records
- Singles Collection (1997–2000) (2002 CD) - Cosa Nostra Records
- Kisses From Hanoi/Horseshoes and Handgrenades (2003 CD re-release) - Thick Records