Neighborhood Watch (band)

Neighborhood Watch
Origin	Palms, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Hardcore punk Heavy metal Thrash metal Crossover thrash
Years active	1981–1985, 1992, 2006–present
Labels	Deeder Deets Records
Associated acts	Beowülf, Suicidal Tendencies, No Mercy, Excel
Members
Chris Howly-Bra Mark Conway Brian Fortenberry Dave Hutchinson
Past members
Mike Jensen John Flitcraft

Neighborhood Watch is a crossover thrash metal and punk band from Palms, Los Angeles, California who defined the "Venice Scene" in the '80's with bands like Suicidal Tendencies, Beowülf, No Mercy and Excel, who all played a mix of skate punk, hardcore, heavy metal and thrash. Not to be confused with the San Diego punk band, the Canadian punk band, and Gainesville, Florida indie-pop band of the same name.

Biography

Neighborhood Watch started in 1981 and were friends of Suicidal Tendencies, with which they played many shows, and part of the "Suicidal Scene" which was strong in Venice in the beginning of the '80's.

The first line-up of the band featured Chris Howly-Bra (real name: Chris Howell) on vocals, Mike Jensen on guitar, John Flitcraft on bass and Dave Hutchinson on drums. Jensen soon quit to join Black Sheep which turned into Beowülf, so he got replaced by former Symbol Six member Mark Conway.

Managed by future Suicidal Tendencies guitar player Jon Nelson, the band signed on Deeder Deets Records and released their self-titled LP in 1983, which Nelson produced.

During that time, Flitcraft and Hutchinson lived in an old house with Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies, who wished to include Neighborhood Watch on the Welcome to Venice compilation he was about to release in 1985 on his own Suicidal Records. However, Flitcraft and Hutchinson had a falling out with Muir about the rent and were never included on the comp.

The band split in the mid 1980s but re-united in 1992 for an infamous reunion gig at the Anti Club. They reformed in 2006 with all original members, except Flitcraft who now plays jazz-fusion in the band Altered. Brian Fortenberry, (former Bass player for Dry Entry, Guardian and Strain 999) now takes care of the bass duties.

The band recorded two new songs for the Welcome 2 Venice compilation, due to be released in 2007 and two of their old tracks, "Creation" and "Riot", were also featured on the Farewell to Venice compilation, released in 2006 on CD by BDF RECORDS and on vinyl by WWW.PUNKRECORDS.COM.

Members

• Chris Howly-Bra - vocals
• Mark Conway - guitar
• Brian Fortenberry - bass
• Dave Hutchinson - drums

Former members

• Mike Jensen - guitar (1981–1982)
• John Flitcraft - bass (1981–1985) 1992

Discography

Neighborhood Watch - Deeder Deets Records 1983

Compilations

• Farewell to Venice BDF Records/punkrecords.com 2006
• Welcome 2 Venice Built on an Ounce Records 2007

External links

• Official Neighborhood Watch MySpace Page