Rites of Spring

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rites of Spring


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Washington, D.C., USA
Genre = Alternative rock Indie rock Post-hardcore Hardcore punk Emotional hardcore
Years_active = 1984–1986
Label = Dischord Records
Associated_acts = Happy Go Licky
One Last Wish
Fugazi
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Past_members = Guy Picciotto
Eddie Janney
Michael Fellows
Brendan Canty

Rites of Spring was an early American hardcore punk band from Washington, D.C. in the mid-1980s, known for their energetic live performances.

Though the band disapproved of the term, they are credited with being one of the first, and arguably the definitive "emotional hardcore" band. [Azerrad, Michael. "". Little Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1]

Band history

Rites of Spring formed in March, 1984 [ [http://www.dischord.com/band/ritesofspring Dischord Records /band/ritesofspring ] ] and comprised guitarist/lyricist/singer Guy Picciotto, guitarist Eddie Janney, bassist Mike Fellows, and drummer Brendan Canty.

Though rooted in the loud-and-fast style of hardcore punk, Rites of Spring is claimed after the fact for being the founders of the post-hardcore or emotional hardcore genre, [Azerrad, Michael. "". Little Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1] with unusual musical structures and lyrics that reflected personal issues more than common hardcore subjects of government and society. They didn't play live often--according to Dischord, their label, they played only about 15 times total [ [http://www.dischord.com/band/ritesofspring Dischord Records /band/ritesofspring ] ] --but their impassioned performances became nearly legendary, and inspired a strong local following.

"Rites of Spring" was the band’s eponymous debut album from 1985. Its twelve songs were recorded at Inner Ear Studios in February of 1985, produced by Ian MacKaye of Fugazi and Minor Threat, and released on vinyl in June of that year as Dischord Records #16. The album was re-released on CD and cassette in 1987, with an additional track from the same session, "Other Way Around", as well as the four songs from the Rites' follow-up EP, "All Through a Life", Dischord #22. The CD and cassette originally retained the number "16" while the 1991 repress, as well as the 2001 remastered version of the same seventeen songs, were numbered "16CD" and given the new title "End on End".

The band broke up in January, 1986.

Post-breakup

Picciotto, Janney, and Canty formed One Last Wish with Embrace alumnus, guitarist Michael Hampton (not to be confused with Michael Hampton, lead guitarist for Funkadelic).

The Rites of Spring personnel reunited for a quasi-reincarnation called Happy Go Licky, releasing an LP/CD of various live concert recordings though never producing any studio work. The music was much more experimental than Rites of Spring, heavily improvised and featuring tape loop effects.

Picciotto and Canty eventually teamed up with bassist Joe Lally and former Minor Threat, Skewbald, Egg Hunt, and Embrace singer Ian MacKaye (co-owner of the band’s label, Dischord Records) in Fugazi. Mike Fellows went on to do session work for the Drag City label and form Miighty Flashlight.

Discography

Albums

* "Rites of Spring" (1985)

Compilations

* "End on End" (1991)

EPs

* "All Through a Life" (1987)

References