The Infected (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Infected
Genre = punk rock
Years_active = 1993 - 2003 / 2006 - present
Label = Brotherhood of the Snake, 40 Amp, & Eugene Records

The Infected (or simply, Infected) is one of the longest standing punk bands from Lexington, Kentucky [The Infected on the short list of Lexington bands recognized by [http://history.louisvillehardcore.com/index.php?title=Kentucky:Lexington Louisville Punk/Hardcore History] . Retrieved 27-Aug-2008] , formed in 1993 and having released eleven albums and EPs [ [http://www.myspace.com/eugenerecords Eugene Records Discography] ] . The band, signed on the Eugene Records label, went through many iterations, before going on hiatus in 2003 [ [http://www.scannerzine.com/infected.htm Scanner Zine Interview with the Infected] ] and returning in 2006 as "hometown heroes". [August 2007 article on local music from Lexington monthly Arts magazine, [https://www.nougatmagazine.com/music.html Nougat Magazine] . Retrieved on 27-Aug-2008]

History

The Infected were formed by Nathan Waters, Robert Gunning and Brandon Faukner in 1993. This was the lineup for the limited release of "All the Shit You Hate", recorded in 1994 and 1995.

"Buff" Mike Nagiec joined to play bass in 1995, and Sean Degan joined as second guitarist later on. Faukner left in late 1996, citing creative differences, and Degan was pressed into drumming. [Nathan Waters, 1998] This lineup released the band's first full-length studio LP, "New Defiance" and the notable 'Alano' show, bootlegs of which are one of the only known live recordings of this version of the band. This lineup was stable through the end of 1996 and is considered to be the first lineup by most fans.

Kevin Davis, former member of several local punk bands, notably 'Blatherskyte' with Nathan Waters, replaced Degan on drums in 1996. A few weeks later, Andrew "Andy-Boy" Hibpshman joined as second guitarist, but moved to bass when Naigec decided to quit the band. This lineup lasted a year. [Liner notes for "Tales of a Tortured Mind"]

Gunning left the band in 1997, and the band was searching for a replacement guitarist for some time. Many guitarists were auditioned but none were recalled. Mark Borders, originally a member of the seminal Berea, Kentucky hardcore punk band Deep 13 eventually joined to play guitar, and the most stable lineup of the band, lasting from 1997 to 2000, was complete. The cassette EP "Progress in the Downtime", the full-length album "Tolerance for Failure", the "Floormodeled" EP, a split 7" record with local band Redheaded Stepchildren and the second installment of "All the Shit You Hate" were all produced during this time, along with the band's first cross-country tours and many regional performances.

Kevin Davis was fired, after an intervention because of his extensive drug abuse, in 2000 and was replaced by a rotating door's worth of other drummers. Edgar Purdom was the longest-lasting of these, filling the role for a little under a year. He left, however, to join label mates The Brassknuckle Boys. Rocky Borders, of Redheaded Stepchildren and Mark's brother, eventually joined as drummer. This was the longest-lasting lineup for the Infected, producing the unreleased studio album "All-Time Low" and the "I5" single, as the band disbanded in 2003.

In September, 2006, the Infected played a reunion concert in order to promote the CD "Tales of the Tortured Mind", a retrospective of material from 1996-2003. This release was pressed specifically to fund the release of “"All Time Low",” which has been in hiatus due to lack of funding for three years. [Mark Borders, September 4, 2006] A second show was played on September 30, 2006, also to fund the release of “"All Time Low" [ [http://www.eugenerecords.com/index.php?content_id=2&channel_id=4&news_id=120 Eugene Records & Fanzine | Central & Lexington, KY Band and Booking Resources ] ] ”. The first show featured the drummer from the Lexington-based rock and roll band HEARTTHROB, while the second has Rocky Borders returning to the lineup. Rocky Borders played his last show with the band on June 16, 2007, with Edgar Purdom rejoining the band a little more than a month later. The Infected recorded a three song demo directly after Purdom joined the band. However, this line up only lasted for 4 months, with the group deciding to let him go. In 2007, Kelly Patrick Cammack was hired to play drums.
In May of 2008 Infected parted ways once again, only for Nate to re group with an all new line up in July 2008. A clean and sober Kevin returned to play drums, along with original guitarist Robert Gunning and long time friend of the band, Mike "Beans" McCarter on bass.Gunning, going through a divorce, withdrew from the band again in September 2008, being replaced by a newly sober, Kris Anglin, former guitarist for Malign (Infected's brother group in the "All Time Low" era).Also placed on lead guitar in September 2008, Jackson Hogg, former guitarist of thrash metal outfit Nirvine, and bassist of The Yes People.
Infected are currently writing a new full length and ep, as well as revamping old material and new cover songs for live material.

Former Members

Andy is busy with solo work, playing drums for Burning Hammer, and writing a second Kill Toby Wyatt release.Mark Borders is currently drumming for the Lexington street punk supergroup Brassknuckle Boys and works as a recording engineer at Nitrosonic Studios in Lexington, KY. Rocky Borders is a bachelor of science graduate for media art, living in Seattle, Washington.Robert Gunning is an independent recording studio operator in Lexington, Kentucky,and is rebuilding his studio operations. Sean Degan is a member of the US Army.Kevin Davis has recovered from drug addiction, fathered a son and in July 2008 rejoined Infected. He is currently putting finishing touches on his first full length for his other group, K Davis and the Have Nots.The fates of 'Buff' Mike Naigec and Brandon Faukner are yet unknown.

Lineups

Related bands

The Infected shared many members with other Lexington, Kentucky punk and hardcore bands, most notably the Redheaded Stepchildren (Rocky Borders) and Deep 13 (Mark Borders and Andrew (Andyboy) Hibpshman). Kevin Davis was in the band "Blatherskyte" with Nathan Waters. Side projects were also very widespread, such as "Bitchkiller", featuring Andrew Hipschman with several ex-members of local grindcore band Ungrateful, and "Kane" (also known as "Cane"), which was a humorous hardcore band along the lines of Anal Cunt and Spazz, featuring the members of the Infected and Deep 13 playing instruments that they did not play in their normal band (with the exception of Mark, who played drums in Deep 13 at the time, and Tom Spalding of Deep 13, who played bass in both bands). Both of these bands were relatively short lived, however. The most significant side project was Squall Line. It also featured members of other local bands and former and present Infected members.

Discography

Studio albums:
* "New Defiance" - 1996 (Independent release)
* "Progress in the Downtime" - 1997 (Independent release)
* "Tolerance for Failure" - 1998 (Eugene Records)
* "All Time Low" - 2003 (Eugene Records, officially unreleased)
* "Tales of the Tortured Mind" - 2006 (Eugene Records) [cite web
url = http://eugenerecords.com/index.php?content_id=2&channel_id=4&news_id=113
title = Infected CD out September 5th!
last = Eugene Records website
accessdate = 2006-09-05]

EPs and 7"s:
* "All the Shit you Hate!" - 1995 (10-Gallon Records)
* "Infected/Redheaded Stepchildren Split 7" - 1997 (Eugene Records)
* "Floormodeled E.P." - 1999 (Eugene Records)
* "All the Shit you Hate Vol. 2 E.P." - 2000 (Eugene Records)
* "I-5 E.P." - 2003 (Eugene Records)
* "Insomnia, E.P." - 2007 (Eugene Records)

Compilations:
* "Fall Asleep to This", with the song "Format" - 1997 (Smart Ass Records)
* "Eugene Records Compilation '06", with songs "Lawington" and "I-5 (the Norbetta Song)" 2006 (Eugene Records)

References

External links

* [http://www.angelfire.com/ky/theinfected The Infected website]
* [http://www.eugenerecords.com/ Eugene Records website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/infectedky Infected on Myspace]