Discharge (band)

Discharge
Discharge live in Rome on 17 December 2006
Background information
Origin	Stoke-on-Trent, England
Genres	D-beat, hardcore punk, heavy metal, crossover thrash
Years active	1977–1987, 1991–1995, 2001–present
Associated acts	Broken Bones, Varukers
Members
Anthony "Rat" Martin Tony "Bones" Roberts Roy "Rainy" Wainright Dave'Proper'Caution
Past members
Kelvin "Cal" Morris Terry "Tezz" Roberts Andy Green Stephen Brooks Les "The Mole" Hunt Peter "Pooch" Purtill Anthony Morgan Nick Bushell Nigel Bamford Nick Heymaker Garry Maloney Dave "Bambi" Ellesmere Tony "Akko" Atkinson Mika Kristian "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen

Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal. While the band had substantial lineup changes over its history, the core members over the early 1980s, when the band produced its key recordings, were Kelvin "Cal" Morris (vocals), Tony "Bones" Roberts (guitar), Roy Wainwright (bass), and Terry Roberts (drums).^[1]

The band's music is characterized by a heavy, distorted, and grinding guitar-driven sound and rawly shouted vocals similar to a speech, with lyrics on anarchist and pacifist themes. The band's first album in 1982, Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing, went to number two on the UK Indie Charts and number 40 in the UK Album Chart. In the early 1980s, the group had a number of singles and EPs place in the top 10 of the UK Indie Charts, including the 1981 EP Why? (#1) and the 1982 single State Violence State Control.

After 1982, the addition of guitarist Peter "Pooch" Purtill brought significant thrash metal crossover elements to the band. In the 1990s, the band released several metal-influenced albums, which alienated some of the original fan base. In the early 2000s, the original line up was reunited and they released a self-titled album using the 1980s musical style.

Discharge's music influenced hardcore punk, thrash metal, crust punk, grindcore and various extreme metal subgenres. The musical genre of d-beat is named for Discharge and their distinctive drumbeat.

Career

Late 1970s

Discharge was formed in 1977 in Stoke-on-Trent by Ivan Rivera (vocals) and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright (guitar).^[1] They soon recruited Terry's younger brother Tony "Bones" Roberts on lead guitar, Nigel Bamford on bass and Tony "Akko" Axon on drums.^[1] Engaging Tanya Rich as their manager, led to the band recording their first demo, and saw them supporting bands such as The Ruts, The Clash and The Damned at The Victoria Hall, Hanley. Tanya then 'badgered' Mike Stone to visit them in rehearsals, and to eventually signing the band to Clay Records. (Realities of War is 'Dedicated to Tanya' next to the label.) After arranging their first tour to Scotland (Paisley) and other parts of Northern England, Tanya left the band as Kelvin wanted to manage them himself. This line-up recorded a demo in 1977. Atkinson left, followed by Bamford, and the band recruited Kelvin "Cal" Morris (previously one of their roadies) as vocalist, with Tezz moving to drums and Rainy moving to bass.^[1] The musical style of the band was initially influenced by 1977-era punk bands such as the Sex Pistols, The Damned and The Clash.

When Cal joined the band, the group abandoned their previous Sex Pistols-style material, and developed a new set of songs for the lyrics written by Cal. With this new lineup, the band's sound changed. "Bones" played guitar with a heavy, distorted, and grinding sound and Cal shouted or screamed vocals in an anti-melodic fashion. The tempo of the band's songs also steadily increased over the next year or so.^[1] The stylistic transition made by the band was part of a broader trend in the early 1980s in the UK, which is known as "UK 82" or Second Generation UK Hardcore. Discharge and bands such as Chaos UK, Amebix, and Charged GBH took the existing 1977-era punk sound and melded it with the incessant, heavy drumbeats and "wall of sound" distortion guitar sound of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) bands such as Motörhead. The new, harder-edged style also tended to use much darker, more nihilistic, and more violent lyrics, and vocals were often shouted rather than sung.

The first gig with this new line-up and new sound was at Northwood Parish Hall. Among the audience was local record shop owner Mike Stone. He had just started the Clay punk record label, and had attended the gig at their manager's (Tanya Rich) request.^[1] Cal's lyrics focused on anarchist and pacifist themes emphasizing the grisly effects of nuclear warfare and the social ills caused by capitalism. Cal's approach to lyric-writing also added to the raw power of the band's sound. Cal's songs often stripped down the lyrics to a guttural, repeated message, to forcefully express a song's theme. Perhaps the most extreme example of this approach is the song "Free Speech for the Dumb", which consists solely of the words from the song's title.

The band also expressed its political and social themes in its albums' artwork, which depicted the horrors of war using an iconic black-and-white photography style.

1980s

In 1980, Discharge signed with Clay Records, and recorded their first single Realities of War in February 1980, which made the UK Indie Chart when it was released in April, after being played on John Peel's show, peaking at number 5 and spending 44 weeks in the chart.^[1] The band also performed their first shows outside of Stoke-on-Trent in 1980, playing in Leicester, Preston and Glasgow. After two further EP releases in that same year, founding member Terry Roberts (drums) departed, later joining UK Subs, and he was replaced by Dave 'Bambi' Ellesmere (formerly of The Insane) before the Why? EP was recorded.^[1] Ellesmere did not stay long, and the band replaced him with Garry Maloney of The Varukers on drums. Why? gave the band their first UK indie number one.^[1]

A reviewer from Punknews.org calls the music from this period "ugly and jagged without the artistic convolution of their no-wave contemporaries overseas", composed of "catchy, repetitive, stomping chords[,]...drumming that seems to emphasize creating a hellacious racket rather than keep a steady beat" and "very serious and socially conscious" song lyrics. The reviewer notes that "instead of creating a melody, vocalist Cal’s grunting shout...blends in with the rhythm", in effect becoming "a fourth [rhythm] instrument".^[2] The reviewer argues that the early 1981 EP Why? "...revolutionized everything...[paving the] way for the atonal shredding of hardcore punk, thrash, death metal, and grind, but also the dead-serious political ideals and brutal backing of crust hardcore".^[2] Ian Glasper described the EP as "one of the most potent anti-war records ever made".^[3]

Discharge recorded their first album, 1982's Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing, which was the number one punk album of all time in a poll by Terrorizer magazine.[1] The album reached number two on the indie album chart and number 40 in the UK Album Chart.^[1] The group played regularly throughout the UK, often appearing with bands such as GBH and The Exploited, and the success of the debut album also saw them touring Canada, the United States, Italy, Yugoslavia, Holland, Finland, and Sweden.^[1]

Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost credited Discharge as "a revolution, much like Venom", saying, "When I heard the first two Discharge records, I was blown away. I was just starting to play an instrument and I had no idea you could go so far. And to me, they were unlike other punk bands--they sounded more like metal."^[4]

Guitarist Tony "Bones" Roberts departed after 1982's "State Violence State Control"/"Dooms'day" single, described in local punk fanzine Love and Molotov Cocktails as "...just about the most perfect realisation of a combination of the musical power of Motorhead and the lyrical mastery of Dead Kennedys at their best. Discharge are out there on their own, at the top of their game and it's hard to see how they can improve on this." Roberts later joined his brother Terry in Broken Bones, and he was replaced by Peter "Pooch" Purtill who brought significant metal influences. The Warning... EP shows drastic stylistic differences, with Cal changing his angry shouts to a mix of regular singing and football chants. As well, the band used significantly slower tempos and their D-beat punk style was replaced with metal-oriented beats. With the release of Ignorance, Purtill and Maloney left the band to form the punk/metal crossover band HellsBelles. The lineup changed once more in 1986 for Grave New World, a mainstream metal album with a glam sound from Cal's high-pitched singing style. Although the album reached the indie top 10 (before exiting the chart as swiftly as it had entered), the change from punk band to a typical hard rock band prompted a negative reaction from fans, and the group disbanded in 1987.

1990s-2000s

Morris formed a new version of the band in 1991 following the release of the Live at City Garden, New York City album by Clay, with Andy Green on guitar, Anthony Morgan on bass, and Garry Maloney on drums.^[1] In 1991 they released Massacre Divine, which retained the metal sound, though with a noticeably harder edge than on Grave New World. Cal changed his vocal style, this time to rougher growling, similar to Brian Johnson of AC/DC. They toured widely in support, including their only visit to Japan, but the tour was negatively received. In 1993 they released Shootin' Up the World, which continued Cal's new vocal style, but the songs were significantly heavier than on Massacre Divine. The album retains the metal direction, although experiments with strange lyrics and song structures, coming close to thrash metal at times. The album received no publicity, and the band did not tour in support of it, resulting in the group's disbandment once more.

In 2001, the original line up reunited after meeting at a party held by original bassist Bamford, and in 2002 they released their self-titled album Discharge, a return to their early 1980s style of politically infuriated and aggressive playing.^[1] As well, they brought back their intense D-beat drumming style, although combined with the remaining metal influence, it gave the album a speed metal influence with its thrashy riffs. Cal would not commit to touring to promote the album and left the band, to be replaced by "Rat" of The Varukers. The single The Beginning of the End was released in 2006, finally casting off all metal influences to a return to true hardcore D-beat punk. The band is currently recording a new album with Rat, slated for release in 2008. A book is also currently being written about Discharge, although as Cal's whereabouts are unknown, and his input is essential on documenting the history of Discharge, it is indefinitely on hold.[2]

Influence

Vocals

James Hetfield of Metallica nominated Cal for Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Singers poll. Cal was #17 on a list of 20 singers that James nominated.^[5]

D-beat

The intense Motörhead- and Buzzcocks-influenced drum beat used by Discharge early in their career is referred to as D-beat. It became a subgenre of hardcore punk, especially in Japanese, Brazilian, and Scandinavian hardcore and punk scenes.

Many bands that followed Discharge's stylistic approach, primarily in Sweden, began using the "Dis-" prefix and "-charge" suffix in their names, and even began using "Des-" words with "Dis-" in its place as a parody. Examples include Disaccord, Disfear, Disclose, Discard, Recharge, Kegcharge, Disarm, and Distraught. The bands who followed this naming trend also imitated Discharge's logo. This resulted in UK anarchist punk band Active Minds issuing an EP in 1995 entitled Dis Is Getting Pathetic, which parodied the cover of Fight Back.^[6]

As cover songs

Discharge's influence on the musical scene can also be seen in recordings of Discharge songs by range of hardcore punk and metal groups from the 1980s to the 2000s. The Scottish anarcho-punk band Oi Polloi covered the song "State Violence, State Control". During the same period, the Swedish hardcore punk band Mob 47 covered "Never Again" on their Ultimate Attack recording. New York City anarchist crust band Nausea, which was active from 1985–1992, recorded "Ain't No Feeble Bastard" along with "Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing", on The Punk Terrorist Anthology, Vol. 1. Swedish grindcore band Nasum covered "Visions of War" for a tribute compilation. The Southern American punk metal band The Cooters covered "A Hell on Earth/Cries of Help" on their 2005 album Chaos or Bust. D-beat/hardcore punk band From Ashes Rise recorded the nuclear war-themed "Hell on Earth". In 2003, US hardcore band, Ensign, covered "Protest and Survive" on their album of covers Love the Music, Hate the Kids. In 2009 peruvian crustpunk band Reciklaje cover "The Nightmare Continues" for their album El Declive de las Estructuras.

Metal groups from several metal subgenres have recorded Discharge songs. Thrash metal bands covering Discharge material include Metallica ("Free Speech For The Dumb" and "The More I See", on their studio covers album Garage Inc.); Anthrax ("Protest and Survive" on their studio album Attack of the Killer B's); and Brazilian Sepultura ("A Look At Tomorrow", "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" and "Protest and Survive").

Discharge songs also attracted interest from other metal subgenres, such as doom metal and black metal. UK doom metal band Solstice covered "Protest & Survive", and Norwegian black metal band Carpathian Forest covered "The Possibilities of Life's Destruction" on their compilation album We're Going to Hell for This - Over a Decade of Perversions, while the grindcore/death metal band Napalm Death covered "War's No Fairytale" on their Leaders Not Followers: Part 2 album. As well, the Swedish melodic death metal pioneers At the Gates covered "The Nightmare Continues" as a hidden track on their With Fear I Kiss the Burning Darkness album. French doom/sludge band Monarch! also covered "A Look at Tomorrow" on their A Look At Tomorrow/Mass Destruction EP. UK drone / sludge monsters Moss covered 'Maimed And Slaughtered' on their 'Tombs Of The Blind Drugged' EP.

The Canadian industrial metal band Monster Voodoo Machine named their second album release State Voodoo/State Control after Discharge's "State Violence/State Control", and they included a cover version of "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing", on their "Bastard Is As Bastard Does" single. Other metal bands covering Discharge songs include Soulfly ("Ain't No Feeble Bastard" and "The Possibility of Life's Destruction") and Machine Head ("The Possibility of Life's Destruction" on The More Things Change... digipack).

Discography

Chart placings, unless stated, are shown are from the UK Indie Chart.^[7]

Singles

• State Violence State Control (1982) (#4)
• The Price of Silence (1983) (#5)
• The More I See (1984) (#3)
• Ignorance (1985) (#7)

EPs

• Realities of War (1980) (#5)
• Fight Back (1980) (#4)
• Decontrol (1980) (#2)
• Never Again (1982) (indie #3, UK Singles Chart #64)^[8]
• Warning: Her Majesty's Government Can Seriously Damage Your Health (1983) (#6)
• Beginning of the End (2006)

Albums

• Why? (1981) (#1)
• Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing (1982) (indie #2, UK Album Chart #40)^[8]
• Grave New World (1986) (#8)
• Massacre Divine (1991)
• Shootin' Up the World (1993)
• Discharge (2002)
• Disensitise (2008)

Compilations

• Never Again (1984) (#13)
• 1980–1986 (1986)
• Protest and Survive (1992)
• Vision of War (1997)
• The Clay Punk Singles Collection (1995)
• Hardcore Hits (1999)
• Society's Victims (2004)

Other

• Demo recording from 1977
• Limited edition live cassette: Live at the Lyceum (1981) - CHAOS Cassettes LIVE 001, recorded 24 May 1981
• Live album: Live at the City Gardens, New Jersey (1989)
• Live album: Live: The Nightmare Continues... (1990) recorded at Tunstall Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent in 1983
• Tribute album: Discharged (1992)
• Tribute album: In Defence Of Our Future: A Tribute To Discharge (1999)
• Split EP with MG15 (2006)

Past members

Vocals

• Anthony "Rat" Martin (2003–present)
• Terry "Tezz" Roberts (1977)
• Kelvin "Cal" Morris (1977–1987, 1991–1995, 1997–2003)
• Rob "Rocky Shades" Berkley (1987)

Guitar

• Roy "Rainy" Wainwright (1977)
• Tony "Bones" Roberts
• Andy Green (1990–1995)
• Stephen "Fish" Brooks (1986–1987)
• Les "The Mole" Hunt (1984–1986)
• Peter "Pooch" Purtill (1983–1984)
• Labanthorsen "The Torn" Ekeroth (1995–1999)

Bass

• Roy "Rainy" Wainwright
• Anthony "Jake" Morgan (1991–1995)
• Nick Bushell
• Nigel Bamford
• Davey Quinn (2003 US Tour)

Drums

• Dave "Proper" Caution (2006–present)
• Terry "Tezz" Roberts (1977–1981, 1997–2006)
• Micky Gibson (1984–1986)
• Garry Maloney (1981–1984, 1986–1987, 1991–1995)
• Dave 'Bambi' Ellesmere (1981)
• Tony "Akko" Atkinson (1977–1979)
• Keith Haynes (1981)

See also

• List of D-beat bands

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} Glasper, Ian (2004). Burning Britain: The History of Punk 1980–1984. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 1-901447-24-3. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Punknews.org | Discharge - Why [reissue]
3. ^ Glasper 2004, p. 171.
4. ^ J. Bennett, "Procreation of the Wicked", Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces, Albert Mudrian, ed., Da Capo Press, p. 34-35.
5. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/24160218/the_100_greatest_singers_inside_t/photo/9
6. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Active-Minds-Dis-Is-Getting-Pathetic/release/1134360
7. ^ Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1999. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1. 

External links

• Discharge on Myspace
• French Pages