Infernal Noise Brigade

The Infernal Noise Brigade was a Seattle, Washington-based musical group, who originally formed to participate in the protests at the WTO Meeting of 1999. [http://www.infernalnoise.org/text1.html Untitled page on official site] , accessed 27 March 2007.] Over its seven-year history, the group performed as part of several large-scale protest actions, such as those at the 2000 IMF/World Bank Meeting in Prague, [Graeme Chesters and Ian Welsh, [http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:2m04YFCTFLwJ:www.cardiff.ac.uk/schoolsanddivisions/academicschools/socsi/publications/workingpaperseries/10357.dld+Infernal+Noise+Brigade&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=141&gl=uk The Rebel Colours of S26: Social Movement: ‘Frame-work’ during the Prague IMF/WB protests] ( [http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/schoolsanddivisions/academicschools/socsi/publications/workingpaperseries/10357.dld PDF] ), Working Paper Series Paper 18, University of Cardiff School of Social Science, November 2001. p. 14. Accessed online 27 March 2007.] the 2003 WTO Ministerial in Cancún, [The front cover of the [http://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/resource/Handbook.doc University of London’s Institute of Commonwealth Studies handbook MA in Understanding and Securing Human Rights] uses a photo of the INB in Cancún as an illustration. Accessed online 27 March 2007.] Mexico, the 2004 United States Republican Party National Convention in New York City,Christopher Frizzelle, [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=22703 Enduring Freedom: Marching Through Europe With The Infernal Noise Brigade] , "The Stranger", Aug 18 - Aug 24, 2005.] [Josh Feit, [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=19241 Parade Rout] , "The Stranger", September 9 - September 15, 2004. Accessed online 27 March 2007.] as well as at numerous events in their homebase of Seattle. [http://www.infernalnoise.org/dates.html Untitled] list of performances and tours on their official site. Accessed online 27 March 2007.] In July 2005, they participated in the protests against the 31st G8 summit in Scotland as part of a European tour that also brought them to England, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Austria.

Their website describes their music as combining "elements of drumline, taiko, Mughal and North African rhythms, elements of Balkan fanfares, breakbeats, and just about anything else." Although best known for their free (and often confrontational) public performances at political protests,Christopher Frizelle, [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=50114 R.I.P., INB (1999-2006)] , "The Stranger", posted online on August 8, 2006, accessed 27 March 2007.] they sometimes performed at more conventional concerts and club gigs, usually featured as part of a musically eclectic program.

Christopher Frizzelle, in an "obituary" for the band in the Seattle-based arts weekly "The Stranger", remarked that their "most important and dramatic public events were standoffs with cops" and that they "can be credited for keeping WTO protestors energized, focused, and photogenic… What their parties and their protests had in common was intensity, vividness, and a fun, frightening sense that anything could happen. They were lessons in liberation."

Frizzelle, who travelled with INB on a portion of their European tour, wrote in his review of that tour that the members used "band names", partly to "retain the mystery of the band" and partly to preserve their anonymity from their employers: almost none of the band members are professional musicians. As example, Frizzelle provided the roster from the mainland portion of the European tour: "Annemat, Atomika, B. Q. (whose band name is Red Dot, but no one calls her that), Bluer Than You, Bookworm, Brassbelle, D. P. Punkass ("My whole name is Dread Pirate Punkass, but in print I like to be D. P. Punkass"), DK Pan, Flash, Grey Filastine, Hawtpantz, Ice Frog, In Phase, Megor, Mildred, Mr. Rose, the Professor, Ramon, Satsuma, Skunk, Spider, and Violet."

The Infernal Noise Brigade officially disbanded on July 29, 2006. [http://www.infernalnoise.org/ Official site, home page] , accessed 27 March 2007.]

Recordings

*"Insurgent Selections for Battery & Voice" [http://www.infernalnoise.org/audio.html Audio samples and release info] , official web site, accessed 27 March 2007.]
*"Vamos a la Playa" (live in Cancún), 2003
*"L'étincelle"/"Manguera" (single), 2004
*"Final Report", 2008
*(with Filastine) "No G8 Japan Action Benefit," 2008 [ [http://a.sanpal.co.jp/irregular/nog8_benefit.html Page] at Irregular Rhythm Asylum, accessed 10 April 2008.]

Related Acts

Filastine

¡Tchkung!

Notes

External links

* [http://www.infernalnoise.org/ Official site]
* [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=23580 Organization: Ones to Watch] , "Stranger" Genius Awards 2005, "The Stranger", October 13 - October 19, 2005
* [http://www.seattleweekly.com/2006-03-22/arts/infernal-noise-brigade.php Performance Picks: Infernal Noise Brigade] , "Seattle Weekly", March 22, 2006
*J.B. Rabin, [http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=29727&category=22101 Beat the Band] , "Portland Mercury", September 4 - September 10, 2003
*Alan Roden and Linda Summerhayes, [http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=739452005 They came looking for trouble. . they got their wish] , "Edinburgh Evening News", 5 July 2005.
*Alex Nunns, [http://redpepper.blogs.com/g8/2005/07/the_story_of_ho.html The strange affair of the Gleneagles G8 demo] , 7 July 2005, part of "Red Pepper's" G8 coverage.