The Slackers
Encyclopedia
The Slackers are a New York City
band, formed in Brooklyn in 1991. The band's sound is a mix of ska
, rocksteady
, reggae
, dub
, soul
, garage rock
, and jazz
. The Slackers' notability is credited to their prolific career, tours of North America, Europe, and elsewhere, and signing to notable punk label Hellcat Records
.
There are several side projects of The Slackers, including David Hillyard & The Rocksteady Seven
, Crazy Baldhead Sound System
, Da Whole Thing, the SKAndalous All Stars, as well as an acoustic solo project by Vic Ruggiero
.
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...
band, formed in Brooklyn in 1991. The band's sound is a mix of ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
, rocksteady
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor to ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The Gaylads, The Maytals and The Paragons. The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
, and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. The Slackers' notability is credited to their prolific career, tours of North America, Europe, and elsewhere, and signing to notable punk label Hellcat Records
Hellcat Records
Hellcat Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. The label, an off-shoot of Epitaph Records, was started as a partnership between Brett Gurewitz carp Bad Religion, the owner of Epitaph, and Tim Armstrong of Rancid, the latter of whom is generally responsible for...
.
There are several side projects of The Slackers, including David Hillyard & The Rocksteady Seven
The Rocksteady Seven
The Rocksteady Seven, also known as, David Hillyard & The Rocksteady Seven, are a ska band formed in 1998 by tenor saxophonist Dave Hillyard.-Discography:*Playtime - , Hellcat Records*United Front - , Do Tell Records / Brixton Records...
, Crazy Baldhead Sound System
Crazy Baldhead Sound System
Crazy Baldhead Sound System is a side project of The Slackers headed by Jayson "Agent Jay" Nugent. Crazy Baldhead started in 1997 and in 2004 their first album was released. The band's style is a mix of reggae, ska, dub, and dancehall....
, Da Whole Thing, the SKAndalous All Stars, as well as an acoustic solo project by Vic Ruggiero
Vic Ruggiero
Victor "Vic" Ruggiero, is a musician, songwriter and producer from New York City who has played in many ska bands, such as The Slackers, Stubborn All-Stars, SKAndalous All Stars, Crazy Baldhead and The Silencers...
.
Current lineup
- Vic RuggieroVic RuggieroVictor "Vic" Ruggiero, is a musician, songwriter and producer from New York City who has played in many ska bands, such as The Slackers, Stubborn All-Stars, SKAndalous All Stars, Crazy Baldhead and The Silencers...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals - Jay "Agent Jay" NugentJay NugentJayson Nugent is a guitarist and DJ from New York who plays in the style of several Jamaican music genres....
- guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Dave HillyardDave HillyardDave Hillyard is a tenor saxophonist originating from San Diego, California. He has performed with many groups such as The Slackers, The Rocksteady Seven, The Donkey Show, Hepcat, Stubborn All-Stars, and has guested with the likes of Rancid, Victor Rice, Skinnerbox NYC and Alexandra Lawerentz...
- 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... - Glen PineGlen PineGlen William Pine is an American musician and songwriter from Boston, MA. He is most known for his role in The Slackers where he plays the trombone and sings. Pine joined the Slackers before the release of The Question on which he contributed with the song Mountainside. Glen was an original member...
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, vocals - Marcus Geard - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Ara BabajianAra BabajianAra Babajian is an American drummer who has been a member of such bands as Leftöver Crack and The Slackers. Ara is of Armenian descent, and is named after Ara, an Armenian king....
- 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 ....
Former members and contributors
- Marq "Q-Maxx 4:20" Lyn - vocals
- TJ Scanlon - guitar
- Luis "Zulu" Zuluaga - drums
- Jeremy "Mush One" Mushlin - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, vocals - Allen Teboul - drums
- Dunia Best- Vocals, Flute
- Jeff "King Django" BakerKing DjangoJeff Baker, better known as King Django, is a New Brunswick, NJ-based ska musician. He was the leader of Skinnerbox and Stubborn All-Stars....
- trombone - Tobias Fields - congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
s - Eric "E-ROC" Singer - alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
- Victor Rice - bass
- Dave Hahn - lead guitar
- Ben Lewis - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Justin Redekop - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
Former Producers and Collaborators
- Marq Lyn - Producer
- Tobias Fields - Producer, Songwriter
- Zack levine - Producer
- Eric Sierra - Song Writer
- David Lindome - Producer
Studio Albums
- Better Late Than Never (1996)
- RedlightRedlightRedlight is an album by The Slackers, released on September 23, 1997 on Hellcat Records. It solidified the Slacker's sound, with ska, reggae, and dub remaining prevalent. The track "Watch This" received airplay on college radio stations. The band's lineup was finally solidified...
(1997) - The Question (1998)
- Wasted DaysWasted DaysWasted Days is an album by the ska/reggae band The Slackers, released on February 21, 2001 on Hell-Cat Records. Unlike other releases by the Slackers, the songs on the vinyl LP version of the album differ significantly from their counterparts on the CD release; additionally, there are several...
(2001) - The Slackers and FriendsThe Slackers and FriendsThe Slackers and Friends is an album by the ska/reggae band The Slackers. It saw limited release in November 2002 , and was later re-released with two additional tracks on January 27, 2004 ....
(2002) - Close My Eyes (2003)
- An Afternoon in DubAn Afternoon in DubAn Afternoon in Dub is an album by the New York ska band The Slackers. It was released in 2005. Several of the songs on the album have been released on previous albums, however the versions on this album are different...
(2005) - SlacknessSlackness (album)Slackness is a collaborative album between acoustic ska vocalist Chris Murray and the New York City ska band The Slackers. Two songs also appear on The Slackers and Friends, as different versions. "Rastaman Rock" is renamed to "I Am a Rasta Man" on The Slackers and Friends...
(with Chris Murray) (2005) - PeculiarPeculiar (album)Peculiar is an album by the New York City ska band The Slackers. It was released on Hellcat Records in 2006.-Track listing:# "86 the Mayo" – 4:23# "Peculiar" – 4:08# "Propaganda" – 4:31...
(2006) - The Boss Harmony SessionsThe Boss Harmony SessionsThe Boss Harmony Sessions is an album by the New York City ska band The Slackers. It was released on Special Potato in 2007 .-Track listing:# "Boss Harmony Speaks" - 0:33# "Robots" - 4:41...
(2007) - Self Medication (2008)
- The Great Rocksteady SwindleThe Great Rocksteady Swindle-Side one:#"Cheated"#"Because"#"A Long Way Off"#"The Same Everyday"#"Mr. Tragedy "-Side two:#"Bo Evil"#"Tool Shed"#"Don't Look Back"#"How It Feels"#"Ain't No Sunshine"#"Thank You"-Players:* Ara Babajian - drums* Marcus Geard - bass...
(2010)
Singles
- 2-Face (1996)
- Minha Menina (2007)
- Dreidel (2009)
- New Years Day (2010)
Demo Cassettes
- Do the Ska with The SlackersDo the Ska with The SlackersDo The Ska With The Slackers was a cassette-only release by The Slackers, released in 1992. Essentially the tape is a set of demo recordings. Track 7, a version of which was later released on Better Late Than Never, features Dunia Best of Agent 99 on vocals....
(1992) - The SlackersThe Slackers (album)The Slackers was a cassette-only 1993 album by The Slackers. Although self-released, Moon Records assisted in distribution of the release.-Track listing:# "Ray Gun Sally"# "Rude Boy"# "Sister Sister"# "Red Onions"# "Tarantula"# "Rain Is Falling"...
(1993)
Live albums
- Live at Ernesto'sLive at Ernesto'sLive At Ernesto's is an album by The Slackers released in 2000 by Hellcat Records. The album was recorded live March 8th and 9th, 1999 at a restaurant called Ernesto's http://www.ernestos.nl/ in Sittard, the Netherlands.-Artwork:...
(2000) - Upsettin' Ernesto'sUpsettin' Ernesto'sUpsettin' Ernesto's is a live album by the New York ska band The Slackers. It was released in 2004. The album is recorded during a show in Ernesto's Cantina Mexicana in Sittard, the Netherlands. It was released on both CD and as a Double Vinyl album...
(2004) - Slack in JapanSlack in JapanSlack in Japan is a live album by New York ska band The Slackers. It was released in 2005 on Disk Union Japan records and recorded at the Shimokitazawa Shelter in Tokyo, Japan....
(2005) - NYC Boat Cruise 2009 (digital only, 2009)
- Slackfest NYC 2009 (digital only, 2009)
- Holiday Party With... (digital only, 2009)
- Live On the West Side 4/6/10 (digital only, 2010)
- Live In San Francisco 12/31/10 (digital only, 2011)
Collections
- Before There Were Slackers There Were...Before There Were Slackers There Were...Before There Were Slackers There Were... is a collection of recordings from 1992, 1994, and 1995 by The Slackers under the pseudonym, The Nods. Despite common misconception, the band was already known as The Slackers when this material was recorded and several of the tracks had previously appeared...
(1999) - Big Tunes! Hits & Misses from 1996 to 2006 (2007)
- Lost & Found (2009)
- Stash Box (2011)
- Before Hellcat (2011) (USB flash driveUSB flash driveA flash drive is a data storage device that consists of flash memory with an integrated Universal Serial Bus interface. flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than a floppy disk. Most weigh less than 30 g...
release) - Ganbare! (2011) (Japan only release)
- The Radio (2011)
Compilations
- Give 'Em the BootGive 'Em the Boot (album)Give 'Em the Boot is the first compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series.This, as of 2007, is the only entry not to include the boot design of all of the other covers.-Track listing:# "The Brothels" – Rancid – 2:57...
- Give 'Em the Boot IIGive 'Em the Boot IIGive 'Em the Boot II is the second compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series.This was the first entry to feature the standard boot design for the cover...
- Give 'Em the Boot IIIGive 'Em the Boot IIIGive 'Em the Boot III is the third compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series, released in 2002 .- Track listing :#"Sick of It All" - The Distillers#"The Legend of Finn MacCumhail" - Dropkick Murphys#"Die Alone" - U.S...
- Give 'Em the Boot IVGive 'Em the Boot IVGive 'Em the Boot IV is the fourth compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series, released in 2004 .- Track listing :#"Killing Zone" - Rancid#"Dirty Reggae" - The Aggrolites#"Atomic" - Tiger Army#"Propaganda" - The Slackers...
- Give 'Em the Boot VGive 'Em the Boot VGive 'Em the Boot V is the fifth compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series, released in 2006 .- Track listing :#"Tattoo" - Rancid#"Warriors Code" - Dropkick Murphys#"Cold Concrete" - Time Again...
- Give 'Em the Boot VIGive 'Em the Boot VIGive 'Em the Boot VI is an unofficial sixth entry in the Give 'Em the Boot series of albums. The compilations are periodically released by "Hellcat Records" and there is no record of it on the label's website. It has been distributed through the use of torrent download websites and features a...
- This Is Special Potatoe Vol. 1
- From New York to Luxembourg (Live @ the Kufa) (with P.O. Box, Kunn & the Magic Muffins and Toxkäpp)
- New York Beat: Breaking and Entering Volume 2
DVDs
- Give 'Em the Boot DVDGive 'Em the Boot DVDGive 'Em the Boot is the fifth release in the Give 'Em the Boot series. It was released in 2005 .-Track listing:#Give Em the Boot Intro#"Ruby Soho" - Rancid#"Never Die" - Tiger Army#"Light at the End" - F-Minus...
(2005): "And I Wonder" - The Slackers: A Documentary (2007)
- The Flamingo Cantina Series with The Slackers (2009)
External links
- The Slackers official homepage
- Interview with The Slackers on www.grundfunk.net
- Interview with the Slackers' singer Vic Ruggiero about the album Self Medication (2008)
- Interview and studio session with The Slackers on National Public Radio (2001)
- [ AMG entry]
- The Slackers collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive - The Slackers' Chords, a website dedicated to The Slackers' music
- Management (Europe) Tourbooking (GER, AUT, CZ, DK, CH)