Warzone (band)
Encyclopedia
Warzone was an American hardcore punk
band formed on the Lower East Side
of Manhattan
in 1982. The band helped develop the New York hardcore
sound, the hardcore skinhead
style and the youth crew
subgenre. During the band's 15 years and many line-up changes, their primarily hardcore sound was flavored by influences ranging from Oi!
(they toured several times with The Business
and played a cover of their song The Real Enemy), to traditional punk rock
, and a heavy metal
phase (on their self-titled LP, Warzone
). Their fan base was diverse, with their concerts usually attended by skinheads (both anti-racist and racist), straight edge
teens, metalheads and punks of all ages.
Frontman Raymond "Raybeez" Barbieri was the band's only consistent member, from its formation
until Barbieri's death on September 11, 1997 due to pneumonia
. A U.S. Navy veteran, he was receiving treatment in a Veterans Health Administration
facility when the illness damaged his liver and took his life at the age of 35. For more than a year following his death, every release on the Victory Records
label was dedicated to his memory, as well as two independent compilations. These albums — as well as benefit concerts following his death — raised funds for several non-profit groups Ray had worked for which helped at-risk youth.
The band featured several non-white members through its history. Tim Glomb of MTV's Viva La Bam
played guitar in 1993 and wrote the song "Can I Get A Witness" on Old School to New School. Barbieri sang lyrics urging unity and spoke out strongly against anything that divided the youth of America against itself. Their song "Under 18" decried the age-based discriminatory practices at many venues that demanded IDs for entry; "War Between Races" demanded an end to racial violence and prejudice within the hardcore scene, and "Brother and Sisterhood" encouraged young women and girls to become active in the traditionally male-dominated hardcore punk scene.
Their concerts were often marred by violence, so Barbieri usually sang out in the crowd, using it as an opportunity to stop fights before security could respond. This tactic often cooled tempers more quickly than stopping the show might have, and prevented fans from being escorted out of the show. His position in the crowd rather than elevated on a stage also endeared him to fans in a way few other performers in the genre have ever achieved. Warzone fans were not simply encouraged to sing along, they often dictated the band's entire set list and even decided how long the group would play, with some sets lasting until Raybeez could barely speak.
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 formed on the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in 1982. The band helped develop the New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
sound, the hardcore skinhead
Hardcore skinhead
Hardcore skinheads are skinheads who mainly associate with hardcore instead of Oi!, ska, soul or other music genres associated with the skinhead subculture....
style and the youth crew
Youth crew
Youth crew is a music subgenre of hardcore punk attributed to the band Youth of Today who were primarily active during the early to mid-1980s particularly during the New York hardcore scene of 1988...
subgenre. During the band's 15 years and many line-up changes, their primarily hardcore sound was flavored by influences ranging from Oi!
Oi!
Oi! is a working class subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and other working-class youths ....
(they toured several times with The Business
The Business (band)
The Business are an English Oi!/punk rock band formed in 1979 in Lewisham, South London. Their album Suburban Rebels became influential in the Oi! movement...
and played a cover of their song The Real Enemy), to traditional 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...
, and a 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...
phase (on their self-titled LP, Warzone
Warzone (Album)
Warzone is the fifth studio album by the American death metal band Jungle Rot, released through Crash Music in 2006.A music video was made for the opening track-Track listing:#"Victims of Violence" – 2:43#"Cut in Two" – 2:09#"Savage Rite" – 2:51...
). Their fan base was diverse, with their concerts usually attended by skinheads (both anti-racist and racist), 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...
teens, metalheads and punks of all ages.
Frontman Raymond "Raybeez" Barbieri was the band's only consistent member, from its formation
until Barbieri's death on September 11, 1997 due to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. A U.S. Navy veteran, he was receiving treatment in a Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through the administration and operation of numerous VA outpatient clinics,...
facility when the illness damaged his liver and took his life at the age of 35. For more than a year following his death, every release on the Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
label was dedicated to his memory, as well as two independent compilations. These albums — as well as benefit concerts following his death — raised funds for several non-profit groups Ray had worked for which helped at-risk youth.
The band featured several non-white members through its history. Tim Glomb of MTV's Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
played guitar in 1993 and wrote the song "Can I Get A Witness" on Old School to New School. Barbieri sang lyrics urging unity and spoke out strongly against anything that divided the youth of America against itself. Their song "Under 18" decried the age-based discriminatory practices at many venues that demanded IDs for entry; "War Between Races" demanded an end to racial violence and prejudice within the hardcore scene, and "Brother and Sisterhood" encouraged young women and girls to become active in the traditionally male-dominated hardcore punk scene.
Their concerts were often marred by violence, so Barbieri usually sang out in the crowd, using it as an opportunity to stop fights before security could respond. This tactic often cooled tempers more quickly than stopping the show might have, and prevented fans from being escorted out of the show. His position in the crowd rather than elevated on a stage also endeared him to fans in a way few other performers in the genre have ever achieved. Warzone fans were not simply encouraged to sing along, they often dictated the band's entire set list and even decided how long the group would play, with some sets lasting until Raybeez could barely speak.
Discography
- Lower East Side Crew (1987) - EP
- Don't Forget The Struggle, Don't Forget The StreetsDon't Forget The Struggle, Don't Forget The StreetsDon't Forget the Struggle, Don't Forget the Streets was the first full-length album from New York hardcore band, Warzone.It was released in 1988 on Caroline Records, following the band's 1987 debut release, the Lower East Side Crew EP...
(1988) - LP - Open Your EyesOpen Your Eyes (Warzone album)Open Your Eyes was the second full-length album from New York hardcore band, Warzone – who originated in Lower East Side, Manhattan, United States. It was released in 1989 on Caroline Records and follows on from their first album, Don't Forget The Struggle, Don't Forget The Streets, the previous...
(1989) - LP - Warzone (1990) - LP
- Live at CBGBs (1993) - live EP
- Old School to New School (1994) - LP
- Split with Cause for Alarm (1995) - split 10" EP
- Lower East Side (1996) - EP
- The Sound of Revolution (1996) - LP
- Fight For Justice (1997) - LP
- The Victory Years (1998) - partial discography LP