Why isn't there a huge blog dedicated to this band alone? They were the essence of what hardcore punk was all about as a movement and as a catalyst for change. They're also the band that proved just how weak hardcore ultimately was when you try to consider it as a movement, leaving a huge footprint in Vegas music history but falling far short of changing the world. Their story had all the drama and intensity that made hardcore so powerful and emotional and in some ways tragic. Music scenes are built on people and people aren't perfect so perhaps they were doomed to fail from the start. But no band before or since has had such an amazing back story. They exemplified the best and the worst of hardcore's promise. I haven't even started to describe their music yet, which was catchy, intelligent, and of all things played on a professional level.
Books, documentary films- just about any history or reference to hardcore says it happened in the late 70's and ended around 1983. But none of these douchebags seems to give much regard to the thousands of bands that developed as hardcore moved from the big cities to the smaller communities. The Las Vegas hardcore scene lasted well into the late 80's but eventually blew itself apart shortly after the breakup of Fuck Shit Piss. It was an ugly end to that chapter in musical history which went out in a violent and scary way as nazi skinheads grew in number and suddenly the scene was split down the middle. It's a long story I won't get into here but one I'd like to return to on this blog.
The music is amazingly catchy hardcore with a definite west coast flavor. I think it's because of this band that I always thought east coast hardcore was second best. But don't get me wrong the west coast has some shitty hardcore bands as well.
Fuck Shit Piss had plenty of hooks and they weren't overly concerned with speed. Great political lyrics by Danny Breedon. Johnny Bangs on the bass. Incredible Mike Fouts on drums. Jeez I always forget the guitar player on this demo. He nails it though! If you got any old Fuck Shit Piss stickers send em my way!!!
I guess someone is supposed to send me the other FSP 7 song demo sometime soon. After I digitize that I'll post it here too.
If you haven't heard their music or heard of them, and chances are good you haven't then do yourself a favor and download this now. Thanks to Michelle Fournier for the sticker!
Download all the Fuck Shit Piss songs I have in one click here
or download songs individually below:
Fuck Shit Piss-Call Me Paranoid Demo
1. Newsman
2. Living the American Dream
3. Dead Man Stares
4. Whore of War
5. Call Me Paranoid
The guitar player's name is Kevin... I forget the last. I lived a block away from Johnny and Grant. LVHC!!!!!!There were some good shows at the Order of Eagles Hall with V A, and house parties like Bergiefest!
ReplyDeleteHey dude, love the blog. Hard not to considering I'm from Vegas too. Unfortunately, I'm also commenting with the news that mediafire has this demo blocked. Would you be able to re-up it?
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