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Sick Of It All

Biography

Formed by brothers Lou and Pete Koller in the mid-'80s, Sick of It All became a seminal band in the New York City hardcore scene. While remaining true to their roots and without compromising their style, Sick of It All have progressed from an indie band with a strong live following to a major-label act touring with the likes of Helmet and Rancid. Sick of It All remain a vital influence on the hardcore scene. They released Built to Last in early 1997 to critical acclaim and an expanding audience.

The brothers came up with the band's bluntly expressive name in their parents' basement in 1984. SOIA's original lineup -- with Lou on vocals, Pete on guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Arman Majidi on drums -- released an initial self-titled EP in 1987 on the independent Revelation label. After playing N.Y.C. clubs like CBGB's and building a strong local following, SOIA released, on the Combat label, their first album, Blood Sweat & No Tears, a collection of 19 songs of intense energy, 17 of which clocked in at less than two minutes. Following the release of the album, SOIA embarked on their first national tour. Majidi left during the tour to work with Rest in Pieces and was replaced by Max Capshaw. Majidi rejoined to record the We Stand Alone EP, which was released in early 1991 on the Relativity label. Neither Majidi nor Cipriano played with the Koller brothers on the tour preceding the release; Eddie Coen substituted on bass, plus E.K. on drums.

SOIA recorded and released Just Look Around for Relativity in 1992 with the original lineup intact, and then Cipriano left for good prior to an international tour that brought SOIA to Europe and Japan. Craig Setari came on to play bass and to establish the lineup that has remained intact through the release of Built to Last. Just Look Around was instrumental in revitalizing the declining N.Y.C. hardcore scene. SOIA left the Relativity label after the release of the album, citing dissatisfaction with the efforts of the indie label. They released Scratch the Surface in 1994 on the Eastwest label, facing accusations of selling out from fans and industry members.

Two releases in 1995 on the Lost & Found label -- a live album entitled Live in a World Full of Hate and a collection of early recordings, Spreading the Hardcore Reality -- bridged the gap between the releases of Scratch the Surface and Built to Last, which was released on the Elektra label. During that time, SOIA continued to tour extensively, including visits to South and Central America.

SOIA has suffered from associations with violence. Frequent fights at early shows gave them the unwanted and unfounded image of condoning violence. The bandmembers have attempted to disassociate the group from the violent acts of their fans. In the early '90s, Wayne Lo, a Massachusetts prep student, shot and killed several classmates while wearing a Sick of It All T-shirt, and The New York Times granted space to the bandmembers to issue a statement of vindication, in which they explained how Lo had misinterpreted their lyrics. Rolling Stone also ran an editorial in defense of the band. "Goatless," a song on Scratch the Surface, is inspired by the episode.

SOIA's steady progression has been colored by numerous accusations of selling out. The band once debated the pseudo-anarchist band Born Against live on N.Y.U. radio about that very subject. The band generally dismisses any such accusations. Only in recent years have the members of the group been able to give up their "day jobs." They are not overly concerned about their image, and in fact have stated in interviews that they have no image. They are more concerned about writing music inspired by real events in their own lives, and performing it with more emphasis on impact and energy than on melody.

Still going strong into the new millennium, Sick of It All returned with their second release on Fat Wreck Chords, Yours Truly, in the fall of 2000. Next came the band documentary video The Story So Far in 2001, their contribution to Fat's Live in a Dive series (2002), the studio album Life on the Ropes (2003), and the B-sides collection Outtakes for the Outcast (2004). Marking 20 years together in 2006, they began the year over in the U.K. with Dropkick Murphys before their ninth full-length, Death to Tyrants, dropped in April on Abacus. ~ Nick Kemper, All Music Guide

Continued…

Selected Discography

Death To Tyrants
2006

Outtakes For The Outcast
2004

Yours Truly
2000

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Vash the Stampede says:

09-16-2009

If everyone else keeps requesting the "Built to Last" and "Scratch the Surface" albums be added, they'll get the albums on here quicker!! :)

Vash the Stampede says:

09-16-2009

Here's what I got back to my inquiry.

Hey there xxxx,

Thanks for the great album recommendati o n s by Sick of it All. We greatly appreciate your feedback! We're getting so many great music suggestions every day. So it may take us some time, but we will look into checking out this cool new music. I've added this to our to-research list. Thanks for taking the time to write to us and for your interest in Pandora!

Cheers,
Jasmyn

Jasmyn
Listener Advocate @ Pandora

mike hawk says:

08-26-2009

these guys kick so much a**

Vash the Stampede says:

07-29-2009

I'm writing Pandora right now to get "Built to Last" and "Scratch the Surface" added. Our collective voice WILL be heard!!

erik says:

06-28-2009

the greatest

tbc801 says:

03-26-2009

DONT WASTE MY TIME!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! AMAZING

renegadeejay says:

02-28-2009

The Godfathers of Hardcore ... period.

sendtorayg says:

01-27-2009

Once they joined Fat Wreck Chords SOIA lost all there creativity. They must have signed a deal that strained their ability to write great songs. But no one can touch the fact that this band has been blowing people away since many of you were s**tting in your diapers(or before). "Built to last" recorded ten years in and over ten years out from when I wrote this. Enough said.

JRKHOPKINS says:

01-18-2009

Sick of It All became a seminal band in the New York City hardcore scene. Not a true statement Agnostic Frount is NYC Hardcore. Sick of it all did give up there roots.

Vash the Stampede says:

edited on 08-15-2008

Absolutely love and worship this band. Best live show I've ever seen- back in 1994. They had Korn and Orange 9mm open for them. SOIA destroyed that place :) And I have to agree with the person below- where is "Scratch the Surface" and "Built to Last?" Not to mention previous records, but those two stand alone as masterpieces !

jason caudill says:

08-13-2008

SOIA rocks!! saw them with slayer in 03

lucifers.lad y says:

06-24-2008

My second tattoo was the Sick Of It All dragon way back in 1989 by the famous Salior Moses. May he rest in peace, probobaly giving Jesus a tat right now.

Shelley says:

edited on 05-31-2008

I was turned on to SOIA by my best friend and have since seen them 4 times in the past year.....the last time in a church basement (not kidding, either) in Philly! They even came to my hole-in-the- w a l l hick town and played to about 80 people in a room no bigger than my living room, but they totally rocked the place! There was none of that "I'm too good to play a place like this" kind of attitude.

fyrfytr998 says:

05-19-2008

WTF? How can "Scratch The Surface" and "Built To Last" not be in the discography?

rottweiler7 says:

04-25-2008

if you know rott 7 than you know i know these guys ive seen twenty times and i left ten pounds lighter and bruized love em

grogalien says:

02-27-2008

lol! thats like saying black sabbath sounds like down...both are some of the best and honest bands ever but you got your cart b4 your horse

FiveFingerDe a t h P u n c h says:

12-12-2007

SIOA is exacly how I feel at work today. These guys sound just like Pro-Pain!

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