Devils Brigade

This article is about the band. For the album, see Devils Brigade (album).

Devils Brigade
Genres	Punk rock, psychobilly
Years active	2000 (2000)–present
Labels	Hellcat
Associated acts	Operation Ivy, Rancid, Auntie Christ
Website	myspace.com/devilsbrigadeofficial
Members
Matt Freeman Tim Armstrong DJ Bonebrake
Past members
Brett Reed

Devils Brigade is an American rock band formed as a side project by Rancid bassist Matt Freeman in 2000. In Devils Brigade Freeman performs a mix of punk rock and psychobilly styles, singing lead vocals and playing a double bass in contrast to the backing vocals and electric bass guitar he performs in Rancid. He was backed by his Rancid bandmates for singles released in 2003 and 2005, and recruited X drummer DJ Bonebrake to play on Devils Brigade's eponymous debut album in 2010.

History

Devils Brigade was started in 2000 by Matt Freeman as a side project from his regular band, Rancid, when he and longtime bandmate Tim Armstrong began writing songs together in between Rancid tours.^[1][2] While Freeman plays the electric bass guitar and sings backing and occasional lead vocals in Rancid, Devils Brigade would feature him on lead vocals and playing a double bass, incorporating elements of psychobilly into his usual punk rock repertoire.^[1][3] Devils Brigade debuted with the song "Vampire Girl" on the 2002 compilation album Give 'Em the Boot III, released by Armstrong's label Hellcat Records. Freeman was backed by Armstrong on guitar and their Rancid bandmate Brett Reed on drums for this track and two subsequent 12" singles—"Stalingrad" / "Psychos All Around Me" (2003) and "Vampire Girl" (2005)—both released through Rancid Records during downtime between Rancid tours.^[1][3]

Following tours in support of Rancid's 2009 album Let the Dominoes Fall, Freeman revived Devils Brigade to record a full-length album.^[1] It was originally envisioned as a concept album based on an idea of Armstrong's for a musical about the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, titled Half Way to Hell Club after the informal fraternity of nineteen steelworkers who were caught by safety netting strung below the construction site, saving them from what would have otherwise been fatal falls into the bay below.^[1][2][4] "We grew up in the East Bay looking at that bridge and it has always been a part of our lives", said Freeman.^[1] Six of the album's twelve tracks originated from this concept, while the remaining six were re-recorded tracks from the first Devils Brigade demo.^[1] The album was recorded in early 2010 with Armstrong on guitar and drummer DJ Bonebrake of X and The Knitters, who had previously played with Freeman in Auntie Christ, and includes contributions from Rancid member Lars Frederiksen.^[1][2][5][6] "It was a great vibe in the studio," said Freeman, "The record has a real live and loose vibe. Loose in a good way. Tim's guitar style blended really well with DJ and everything clicked very quickly."^[1] The album was released as Devils Brigade August 31, 2010 through Hellcat Records.^[3] Devils Brigade toured the United States supporting Street Dogs from August through October 2010.^[7]

Members

Current members

• Matt Freeman – double bass, guitars, lead vocals (2000–present)
• Tim Armstrong – guitars (2000–present)
• DJ Bonebrake – drums, percussion, vibraslap (2010–present)

Former members

• Brett Reed – drums (2000–2005)

Discography

• "Stalingrad" / "Psychos All Around Me" 12" single (2003)
• "Vampire Girl" 12" single (2005)
• Devils Brigade (2010)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "Devils Brigade Biography". Hellcat Records. http://www.hell-cat.com/artists/artist/230/Devils_Brigade. Retrieved 2010-09-21. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Lymangrover, Jason. "Devils Brigade Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p1974850. Retrieved 2010-09-21. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Lymangrover, Jason. "Review: Devils Brigade". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1937141. Retrieved 2010-09-21. 
4. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about the Golden Gate Bridge". Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.. http://goldengatebridge.org/research/facts.php#HalfwayHell. Retrieved 2010-09-21. 
5. ^ Pelone, Joe (2010-09-07). "Review: Devils Brigade". Punknews.org. http://www.punknews.org/review/9603. Retrieved 2010-09-21. 
6. ^ "Devil's Brigade (Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong of Rancid) announce debut". Punknews.org. 2010-07-07. http://www.punknews.org/article/38964. Retrieved 2010-09-21. 
7. ^ "Tours: Street Dogs / Devil's Brigade (Rancid) / Flatfoot 56 / Continental". Punknews.org. 2010-07-07. http://www.punknews.org/article/38958. Retrieved 2010-09-21. 

External links

• Devils Brigade on Myspace
• Devils Brigade on Facebook
• Devils Brigade at Hellcat Records