The Strychnine Babies
Encyclopedia
The Strychnine Babies are an American
punk rock
band
. They were formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in 1996 by Black President
front man Christian Martucci
, Eric "Dead" Bowr, and punk rock
artist
Dave Glass.
Stories of their disastrous live gigs on the east coast caught the attention of American Punk Records, who brought them to Baltimore to track the "Kill Society" 7 inch. Produced by Rude A. (Jakkpot) and Drew Mazurek, the record was released in early 1998 to rave reviews. Flipside magazine called them "catchier than anything you'll ever hear on the shitty airwaves" and a "must have;" while Maximum Rock n' Roll praised them for "catchy great dual vocals, likened to the Dead Boys and not that far off. A rocker!" The band continued touring the east coast, developing a rabid following that is stronger than ever to this day.
Their next release was the track "Give Me Guns" on the 1998 compilation album "This is American Punk, Volume 1." The album also featured local favorites Electric Frankenstein, Candy Snatchers and many others. Again the band received more praise from countless fanzines and entered the studio to record a full-length album.
Throughout the recording, their "live fast, die young" attitude became more than just a slogan, causing the band to self-destruct. The Strychnine Babies performed their final show at the legendary Coney Island High in January 1999. Christian Martucci (bass/vocals) went on play with Dee Dee Ramone, The Chelsea Smiles and eventually Black President. Eric Dead (Guitar/Vocals) formed the Dead City Psychos; while Dave Glass (Drums) continued his DIY artwork, designing album covers and merchandise for everyone from GBH to the Damned.
Fast-forward over a decade to 2009… 77 style punk rock is all but dead and The Strychnine Babies have returned to set the record straight with the release of the “New Religion EP” on their own Electric Nerve Records. A limited edition run of 500 clockwork orange 7 inches have been pressed with cover art featuring Szandora LaVey, in addition to a worldwide digital release.
With a full-length album and newly re-mastered back catalog in the works, The Strychnine Babies show no sign of slowing down in the future. “This is the band we’ve always wanted to be in,” says Christian Martucci. “It’s a good thing we’re all still around to finish what we started!”
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
. They were formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in 1996 by Black President
Black President (band)
Black President is an American punk rock band. It was formed in 2005 by Circle Jerks/Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson and Goldfinger guitarist Charlie Paulson.-History:...
front man Christian Martucci
Christian Martucci
Christian Martucci is an American guitarist, bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a founding member of Thousand Watt Stare, Black President, The Strychnine Babies and The Chelsea Smiles...
, Eric "Dead" Bowr, and 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...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
Dave Glass.
Biography
Formed in 1996 on South Street in Philadelphia, The Strychnine Babies were a chaotic demolition ride fueled by rancid beer and the idea that 3 unhealthy, malnourished, twig boy punk rockers would wake up the streets of Philly from their slumber. Releasing their debut EP, "Six Songs for Self-Destruction" in 1997, they accomplished that and much more.Stories of their disastrous live gigs on the east coast caught the attention of American Punk Records, who brought them to Baltimore to track the "Kill Society" 7 inch. Produced by Rude A. (Jakkpot) and Drew Mazurek, the record was released in early 1998 to rave reviews. Flipside magazine called them "catchier than anything you'll ever hear on the shitty airwaves" and a "must have;" while Maximum Rock n' Roll praised them for "catchy great dual vocals, likened to the Dead Boys and not that far off. A rocker!" The band continued touring the east coast, developing a rabid following that is stronger than ever to this day.
Their next release was the track "Give Me Guns" on the 1998 compilation album "This is American Punk, Volume 1." The album also featured local favorites Electric Frankenstein, Candy Snatchers and many others. Again the band received more praise from countless fanzines and entered the studio to record a full-length album.
Throughout the recording, their "live fast, die young" attitude became more than just a slogan, causing the band to self-destruct. The Strychnine Babies performed their final show at the legendary Coney Island High in January 1999. Christian Martucci (bass/vocals) went on play with Dee Dee Ramone, The Chelsea Smiles and eventually Black President. Eric Dead (Guitar/Vocals) formed the Dead City Psychos; while Dave Glass (Drums) continued his DIY artwork, designing album covers and merchandise for everyone from GBH to the Damned.
Fast-forward over a decade to 2009… 77 style punk rock is all but dead and The Strychnine Babies have returned to set the record straight with the release of the “New Religion EP” on their own Electric Nerve Records. A limited edition run of 500 clockwork orange 7 inches have been pressed with cover art featuring Szandora LaVey, in addition to a worldwide digital release.
With a full-length album and newly re-mastered back catalog in the works, The Strychnine Babies show no sign of slowing down in the future. “This is the band we’ve always wanted to be in,” says Christian Martucci. “It’s a good thing we’re all still around to finish what we started!”
Current lineup
- Christian MartucciChristian MartucciChristian Martucci is an American guitarist, bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a founding member of Thousand Watt Stare, Black President, The Strychnine Babies and The Chelsea Smiles...
- Vocals, Bass (1996–present) (see also Dee Dee RamoneDee Dee RamoneDee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
, The Chelsea SmilesThe Chelsea SmilesThe Chelsea Smiles are a hard rock/sleaze rock band formed in 2004 featuring guitarist Todd Youth , Karl Rosqvist of Danzig, Steel Prophet, Skye Vaughan-Jayne of Bullets and Octane, Johnny Martin and RJ Ronquillo....
, Black PresidentBlack President (band)Black President is an American punk rock band. It was formed in 2005 by Circle Jerks/Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson and Goldfinger guitarist Charlie Paulson.-History:...
) - Eric Dead - Vocals, Guitar (1996–present)
- Dave Glass - Drums (1996–present)
Discography
- Three Song Demo Tape - (1996)
- Six Songs for Self Destruction EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
- (1997) - Kill Society/Dead Love 7" - (1998)
- This is American Punk, Vol. 1 - (1998)
- New Religion EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
- (2009) - Six Songs for Self Destruction (Remastered) EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
- (2009)