Cro-Mags
Biography
Before the Cro-Mags, the idea of combining heavy metal and hardcore together was unheard of. But with the release of their classic debut, The Age of Quarrel, hardcore-metal was born, and in its wake came a legion of similarly styled offspring (Biohazard, Vision of Disorder, etc.). Although the group endured an endless amount of lineup shifts (which is probably the main reason they never became as well known as they should have), the Cro-Mags continued to record and tour in one form or another. Through it all, the New York City-based group's leader has been bassist Harley Flanagan who, in 1977 at the ripe old age of ten (!), started his first punk band during a European trip. Upon returning to NYC, Flanagan supplied drums for the Stimulators, a band that performed quite a bit locally and in Washington, D.C., alongside Bad Brains. The early '80s saw the initial Cro-Mags lineups formed with a variety of members playing alongside the only constant: Flanagan. By the middle of the decade, the best-known Cro-Mags lineup was in place -- Flanagan on bass, former Bad Brains roadie John Joseph on vocals, Parris Mayhew on guitar, and Mackie Jayson on drums -- and soon built a rabid following via shows at CBGB's.
The quartet recorded a 13-track demo that made the rounds throughout the underground -- eventually officially released in 2000, as Before the Quarrel -- and landing the Cro-Mags a record deal with Profile's Rock Hotel label (with second guitarist Doug Holland joining, as well). Similar to how Bad Brains aligned themselves with Rastafarianism, it was around this time that members of the band became closely associated with the Hare Krishna faith. With a loud buzz forming, the Cro-Mags issued their aforementioned debut, The Age of Quarrel, in 1986. With such bands as Slayer and Metallica becoming increasingly popular, it seemed like the musical tides were changing in favor of groups like the Cro-Mags, as nationwide tours with such groups as Motörhead and Megadeth expanded their audience. But it wasn't meant to be, as both Joseph and Jayson exited the group after its supporting tour (the latter of which would later turn up in the Bad Brains and the Fun Lovin' Criminals). Instead of following up their debut right away, it wasn't until 1989 that Best Wishes was released, which saw Flanagan double as lead vocalist. With increasing troubles with their label, Mayhew left the group, but by the early '90s, the Cro-Mags were up and running once more, as Flanagan and Joseph resuscitated the band with a pair of albums for the Century Media label -- 1992's Alpha-Omega and 1993's Near Death Experience. However, after the release of a double-live album, Hard Times in an Age of Quarrel, the Cro-Mags split up. Since then, various versions of the Cro-Mags have recorded and toured (including a brief reunion of Flanagan and Mayhew which resulted in 2000s Revenge). Flanagan eventually returned with a new band, Harley's War (which included ex-Suicidal Tendencies guitarist Rocky George); who issued their debut in 2003, titled Cro-Mag. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
todom3: don't waste your breath on Kyle types. he's insecure cuz he has a small d**k. you rock out to whatever you want if you can back it up with your fists.
i grew up with the DKs and early Black Flag but i'll fight anybody who says Queen sucks. bring it! |
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kyle dean kirk the 3rd (commenter below)would leave a CroMags show without any teeth left for disrepecting back in the day before the internet allowed loser p**sys to run their mouths. So you heard some gay poser band on Myspace and thats what 9th graders are on about. CroMags are the part of the reason much of the music you have listened to exist. Back then the bands that thought they were hard sang falsetto fairytales about wizards and demons and stupid crap, over ridiculous guitar solos.
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Great music for beating the f**k out of Neo-Nazi's. SPG represent!
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NYHC at its finest. Check out Stigma and Agnostic Front. If you like your NYHC a little dirtier check out Warzone...go o d ol' skin-punk
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Yeah Man - Girls didn't go to their shows - lots a Skinheads jumping on each other - feeling each other up - and NO they don't tune down to D - Standard 440
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saw "the mag's" a few times in DC - intense, driving, adenine fueled madness - awesome
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lota metal dudes have no idea how much cro mags, and like hardcore punk, influenced whatever new blackened,br u t a l , d e a t h m e t a l term they come up with these days.cro-mag pit as heavy as it gets...
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they left us a couple of great records didnt they.
too bad,bullshit + egos got in the way. they where best as a four members. I still remember those Rock Hotel shows, NYHC f**kin ruled |
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My dad introduced me to them. And Id like to see them in concert some day but I dought there still touring.
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Still have the scar on my lip from a cro mags show at Irving plaza in 86.
Cro mags and A front are the heaviest shows Ive ever seen. NYHC4E Who remembers the Crunbsuckers ? |
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They remind me a lot of Slayer and Venom. Some of the earlier extreme metal bands. Really brutal oldschool thrash and black metal. Not surprising as both of those genres I just mentioned are heavily punk influenced.
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The Cro-Mags are more metal than most metal bands. Funny though, cuz the Cro-Mags were MOTHERF**KIN G HARDCORE PUNK!!!!!!!! ! ! ! Punk 'till Deat, Hardcore 'till my heart stops, and The Cro-Mags 'till I'm in a bodybag!!!!! !
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this bands age of quarrel, is what it was about back tere and then love em wishes john joseph whould have stay but what ablister the firt recoding did to the seen , seen them with cival disobedeance in cleve land and they were the s**t .
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saw them in concert with DRI, Biohazard, and Sepultura, kicked a**, cro-mags, rock
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Sheer Terror were Homos?
Sheer Terror and the Cro-Mags were amazing in the early days. Both kind of strayed from their original formula, but you can't say anything negative about Age of Quarrel or Just Can't Hate Enough. |
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It is fine office music. Almost makes me want to loosen my tie.
This is my space to write something about yourself. |
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Cro-mags...b e s t band ever! too bad they JJ and what's his name hate each other.
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read below these kcoc srekcus below my input are idiots sheer terror were homos compared to these guy cromags were one of the best crossover bands ever along with such as d.r. i.
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wtf is up with these similar artists? What about Warzone, or hmmm Gorilla Biscuits? oh well....
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