Flint, Michigan, April 5th, 1991. Our first real gig. 'Twas a sublime eve indeed. In the early days our name was probably misspelled more often than not. If you look closely, you can see the Repulsion flyer on the flip side of this.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1993. We managed to get through one song before the Police shut us down. In the chaos that followed, numerous squads responded to provide back up as an angry crowd surrounded officers violently harassing patrons and making arrests. Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1993. #2 Flyer art by John Griffin of Barbed Wire Playpen.
February, 1993.
February, 1993. #2 Despite the numbers mentioned in both articles, attendance was estimated at around 350. In a college town where massive frat parties often carry on unabated, three different DIY venues hosting all ages gigs were shut down in less than a year's time.
Maximum Rock n Roll Michigan scene report, issue #100, 1991.
1991 scene report. #2
Detroit, Michigan, 1991. We were added to the bill last minute, late on the afternoon of the 21st. This was not only our first gig at the 404, but also our first time playing in Detroit. Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. When management at the Half Way Inn backed out, this gig was relocated to The Lab. The Lab was a short lived basement venue that put on some amazing shows during it's brief tenure. Flyer art by Gabe Heiss of Nadsat Nation.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. #2
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1993. #3 Flyer art by Spanky Lux and M. F. Delicious.
Detroit, Michigan, 1993. Chaos UK had to cancel. The final line up was Civil Disobedience, Social Outcast, Public Nuisance and Dog's Breath (Detroit). Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
Detroit, Michigan, 1993. #2 Like too many shows in Detroit during the late 80's and early 90's, this one was marred by violence. Nazi punk boneheads attacked people outside the 404 during our set and put Bill from Dog's Breath in the hospital. Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
NYC, 1996.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1996. Right after stepping out of the van we saw some unlucky bastard get stabbed 16 times. Fortunately, there was a hospital just at the end of the block. Despite the crazy shit that happened before, and after, this gig was one of the best we played on tour.
Detroit, Michigan, 1992.
Art by Spanky Lux, 1991.
Royal Oak, Michigan, 1993. Most memorable quote of the night: "Get us a fucking pizza ya cunts!" Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
Caro, Michigan, 1993. You want some REAL Punk Rock? Imagine, if you will... A farm full of rockers and freaks dosed to the gills. Drums and guitars pounding. Bonfires burning. Mad revelry into the wee hours 'til dawn. Flyer art by M. F. Delicious and Spanky Lux.
Caro, Michigan, 1993. #2 The Red Shed was located on an old farm way out in the boondocks and was perfect for gatherings like this. The bands played in a large pole barn with a dirt floor and a homemade stage. Flyer art by John Griffin.
Caro, Michigan, 1993. #3 Hand drawn marquee poster by Spanky Lux.
Sticker, 1991. Art by Forbisquis.
Flint, Michigan, 1991. It's worth noting that in the 80's and much of the 90's, it was common for bands representing a wide variety sounds and influences to play together. Many of the current ideas about classification, genres and sub-genres, simply didn't exist then.
The Saginaw News, 1992. On the left is the one and only Forbisquis. Like most other media at the time, as far anything having to do with Punk Rock was concerned, the local press were only interested in exploiting violent reputations or talking about fashion and hair styles.
Flint, Michigan, May 25th, 1991.
Detroit, Michigan, 1993. #3 Flyer art by Martial Flaw.
October 1991 show schedule, Flint, Michigan.
Toledo, Ohio, 1993. The somewhat infamous Antique Alley show, also known to some as the "Toledo riot show." Definitely a night none in attendance will ever forget. Flyer art by John Griffin.
Toledo, Ohio, 1993. #2 Numerous knuckleheads, most of whom had never been to a punk show before and came looking for a fight, showed up. Not surprisingly, some mindless violence ensued. After the chaos had subsided, and the idiots and the cops were finally gone, a grand time was had by all. A live album that has yet to be released, was also recorded.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1996.
Sherbrooke, Quebec, 1995. We breezed through customs with the aid of faked documents provided by the promoters. Claiming a made up record label was sending us to an expensive studio that didn't exist. High grade noise pollution and beer soaked adventure awaited to the north.
Montreal, Quebec, 1995. Tabernac!
T-shirt and sticker graphic, 1993. Art by M. F. Delicious.
Lima, Ohio, 1994.
Clio, Michigan, 1995. Our last gig in Michigan before relocating to Minneapolis later that same year. The ruckus was brought, rust belt style.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1994.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1996.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1996. #2 Flyer art by Spanky Lux.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1996. #3
Havoc Records ad, 1994. In the olden days, when the internet was still in it's infancy, fanzine and catalog mail order were king.
Flint, Michigan, 1991. #2
Brooklyn, New York, 1994.
Brooklyn, New York, 1994. #2 The Front was an abandoned bar under the Brooklyn bridge. With stolen electricity, cases of malt liquor behind the bar and a home made stage. Hands down one of the best gigs we ever played.
Record review page from Slug and Lettuce, issue #34, 1994. http://www.slugandlettuce.net
In a Few Hours of Madness... EP review from Slug and Lettuce, issue #34, 1994. http://www.slugandlettuce.net
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1996.
Dayton, Ohio, 1996.
Detroit, Michigan, 1994. Flyer art by Jack Spinny.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994. Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
Flint, Michigan, 1992. Art by Rikkir.
Flint, Michigan, 1992. #2
Slug and Lettuce late 80's and 1990's Hardcore Punk band collage poster insert. Photography by Chris Boarts Larson. http://www.slugandlettuce.net
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. #3 Flyer art by John Griffin.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1997. Flyer art by Martial Flaw.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. #4 Flyer art by John Griffin.
Dayton, Ohio, 1995.
Flint, Michigan, 1991. #3
Flint, Michigan, 1993.
Detroit, Michigan, 1995. Flyer art by Jack Spinny.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. #5 Flyer art by John Griffin.
404 Willis info hand bill, 1993.
Detroit, Michigan, 1993. #4 Despite the poor attempt at derisive humor, this was one of the few mentions of the 404 in the local press. Similar to 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley or ABC no RIO in NYC, it was an essential piece of the underground music landscape in the early 90's.
Flint, Michigan, 1992. #3 Flyer art by Forbisquis and Spanky Lux.
Flint, Michigan, 1992. #4
Know your rights hand bill, 1991.
Fall 1991 show schedule, Flint, Michigan.
Caro, Michigan, 1993. #4 Flyer art by M. F. Delicious.
Flint, Michigan, 1991. #4
Detroit, Michigan, 1991. #2 Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
Detroit, Michigan, 1992. #2 Flyer art by Generic.
Sticker, 1996. Art by Spanky Lux.
Flint, Michigan, 1991. #5
Pontiac, Michigan, 1995. Flyer art by Jack Spinny.
Pontiac, Michigan, 1995. #2 The Smile Bank was actually an old bank converted into a venue. Complete with living spaces and a still functioning vault. Flyer by Jack Spinny.
Lima, Ohio, 1993.
Flint, Michigan, 1992. #5 Flyer art by Spanky Lux and Forbisquis.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC, 1994. #3
Lima, Ohio, 1994. #3
Flint, Michigan, 1992. #6 Shows in Flint always drew the best crowds. Due to it's central location and the wide variety of both local and touring bands that played there regularly, people would come from cities all over Michigan and northern Ohio to see gigs at the Capitol.
Tour poster, 1996. Flyer art by Martial Flaw and Spanky Lux.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1996. #4 Flyer art by Forbisqius and the Watchtower.
Caro, Michigan, 1993. #5 Flyer art by M. F. Delicious and Rikkir.
ABC no RIO spring 1994 show schedule, NYC.
404 Willis show schedule, Detroit, Michigan, 1992. Since this flyer ins't entirely legible — April 28th - Asexuals (Montreal), May 22nd - Citizen Fish (UK), May 28th - Jaw Breaker (CA), June 4th or 5th - Green Day (CA), Coming up! - MDC and False Prophets (NYC).
Flint, Michigan, 1993. #2
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. #6 Our first gig at the Thayer Anarchist Center. During it's brief existence in the summer of 1992, the TAC hosted some of the best shows happening anywhere in Michigan. They were more like giant house parties. The energy, the crowds, were always top notch. Flyer art by John Griffin.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. #7 Flyer art by John Griffin.
Caro, Michigan, 1993. #6 Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
Art by Rikkir, 1991.
Art by Spanky Lux, 1992.
Flint, Michigan, 1993. #3
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. #8 Flyer art by M. F. Delicious and Spanky Lux.
Findlay, Ohio, 1994.
Detroit Free Press, April 28th, 1988. Second from the left is Nosferatu Smith.
Flint, Michigan, 1991. #6
Detroit, Michigan, 1992. #3
Lima, Ohio, 1993. #2
Sticker, 1990. This was the first graphic used by the band. Rikkir's love of alternative comics and the influence of artists like R. Crumb and Robert Williams is apparent in his work. Art by Rikkir.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. #9 Flyer art by Jason Outcast.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1996. #5
Dehumanization Magazine, issue #2, 1992.
Dehumanization Magazine, 1992. #2
Art by Rikkir, 1992.
Detroit, Michigan, 1995 .#2 After ripping through our set and watching BWPP rock the house... the night ended with us being forcibly ejected, without pay, and Rikkir getting jumped by bouncers.
Current Magazine, 1995.
CM, 1995. #2
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1993. #4 Flyer art by John Griffin.
New Paltz, New York, 1996.
Profane Existence, issue #21, 1994.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1995.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1997. #2
Minneapolis, 1996. #6
Summer 1997 show schedule, Minneapolis. During it's roughly two year run from the fall of 1995 to July of 1997, when it was shut down after being raided by the MPD, the Bomb Shelter was the Twin Cities' premier punk rock hole in the wall. Gigs there were always packed to the hilt and raging.
Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 20th, 1997. The story being spoon fed to the local media was largely fictional bullshit. Thanks to a few local journalists who found the police narrative didn't hold up to scrutiny, and witnesses who weren't afraid to speak out, the truth eventually came to light.
Star Tribune, July, 1997. The police responded with overwhelming numbers and unprovoked violence. Only to then cry foul and attempt to displace blame. They blocked the only exit to the over crowded venue and flooded it with teargas mace. Panic ensued and people got hurt.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1994. #2
Flint, Michigan, 1994.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1996. #2
Slug and Lettuce, issue #46, 1996.
Rolling Stone, May 21st, 2010.
Original Political Prisoners album cover art by Spanky Lux, 1992.
In a Few Hours of Madness... EP lyric sheet / poster insert, 1993. Art by Spanky Lux and M. F. Delicious.
"Ghost" T-shirt graphic, 1996. Art by Spanky Lux.