Madball

Infobox musical artist
Name = Madball


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Origin = New York City, United States
Genre = Hardcore punk
Thrash metal [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gxfexqe5ldte Madball] at AllMusic] [ [http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/1355/Madball.html Madball at The Gauntlet] ] [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39foxqehldke "Ball of Destruction" album review] ] [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j9fqxz9jldse "Demonstrating My Style/Look My Way" album review] ]
Years_active = 1988–present
Label = Ferret Records
Roadrunner Records
Thorp
I Scream
Associated_acts = Agnostic Front
Sheer Terror
Hazen Street
URL = [http://www.madballnyhc.com/ www.madballnyhc.com]
Current_members = Freddy Cricien
Mitts
Hoya Roc
Mackie Jayson
Past_members = Vinnie Stigma
Rob Rosario
Will Shepler
John Lafata
Darren Morgenthaler
Rigg Ross
Roger Miret

Madball is a New York-based band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front (where Agnostic Front's front man Roger Miret would let his younger brother, Freddy "Madball" Cricien take the microphone on lead vocals during Agnostic Front shows).

Band history

Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members. Madball consisted of Agnostic Front's vocalist Roger Miret on bass, Vinnie Stigma on guitar, Will Shepler on drums, and vocalist Freddy Cricien, Roger Miret's younger brother. Madball's first few gigs consisted of un-used Agnostic Front songs. Madball's first release was the "Ball of Destruction" EP in 1989. After years of playing regional shows in and around the New York area, a second guitarist, Matt Henderson, would join the band. By then, they recorded and released the EP "Droppin' Many Suckers" for Wreckage Records. One year later Roger Miret left the band, and was replaced by bassist Hoya Roc — a good friend of Freddy Cricien — who was looking for a new band as his band, Dmize, was breaking up. The new incarnation of the band was signed by Roadrunner Records in 1994 and released a pair of full-lengths; "Set It Off" in 1994 and "Demonstrating My Style" in 1996. Touring steadily, the band built a sizeable fan base outside their hometown. [ [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/Madball/bio.aspx Madball biography @ roadrunnerrecords.com] ]

1995 saw the band participating in the N.Y.H.C. Documentary. Extensive interviews were conducted with Freddy as well as a performance on July 29th, 1995 at the now defunct "Coney Island High". Freddy's brother, Roger, broke several vertebrae in his back at that show, requiring him to be in traction for the better part of a year.

Consisting of Cricien, Henderson, Hoya, and new drummer John Lafatta, the band recorded "Look My Way", which was released in early 1998. "Hold It Down" followed two years later. The band briefly broke up from early 2001 until late 2002. The current lineup of Freddy Cricien, Hoya Roc, Mitts (ex-Skarhead), and Rigg Ross (ex-Hatebreed) began touring and recording at the end of 2002. Since then, Madball has come out with: "Best of Madball" in 2003, "N.Y.H.C." (EP) in 2004, "Legacy" in 2005, and "Infiltrate The System" in 2007.

Along with bands such as Agnostic Front, Vietnom, Bulldoze, Resistance and H2O, they comprise a part of New York's DMS Crew. Vocalist Cricien and bass player Hoya are also in the band Hazen Street, along with members of H2O, Cro-Mags

Members

* Freddy Cricien - vocals
* Hoya Roc - bass guitar
* Mitts - guitar
* Mackie Jayson - drums

Past members

* Rigg Ross - drums
* Vinnie Stigma - guitar (Agnostic Front)
*Roger Miret – bass guitar (Agnostic Front)
* Matt Henderson - guitar (Blind Approach, Agnostic Front)
* Will Shepler - drums (Agnostic Front)
* John Lafata - drums (Mind Over Matter, Neglect, Sheer Terror)
* Walter Ryan - drums (Possessed)

Discography

Studio Albums and EPs

*1989: "Ball of Destruction" 7" EP (reissued with 14 extra tracks in 1992)
*1992: "Droppin' Many Suckers"
*1994: "Set It Off"
*1996: "Demonstrating My Style"
*1998: "Look My Way"
*2000: "Hold It Down"
*2004: "N.Y.H.C." EP
*2005: "Legacy"
*2007: "Infiltrate The System"

Compilations and Soundtracks contributions

*2003: "Best of Madball" - Compilation of greatest hits
*1996: "N.Y.H.C. Documentary Soundtrack"

References

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gxfexqe5ldte Madball at Allmusic]
* [http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,5490.sm Madball at Rockdetector]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.madballnyhc.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/Madball Madball] at MySpace