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Youth Of Today




  Img Cov8jpg220px
  Img Capt Can't Close My Eyes EP
  Background group_or_band
  Origin New York ,
  Genre Hardcore Punk <br> Youth Crew
  Years Active 1985 – 1990
  Label Revelation Records
  URL
  Current Members Ray Cappo <br /> John Porcelly <br /> Walter Schreifels <br /> Sammy Siegler


Youth of Today was a Straight Edge Hardcore band from Connecticut , but commonly referred to as a New York Hardcore band. The band played an important role in establishing the Youth Crew subgenre of hardcore.


HISTORY


Youth Of Today was formed in 1985 by two members of the New York Hardcore band Violent Children , Ray Cappo (vocals) and John Porcelly (guitar), aiming to start a Straight Edge band at a time when most Old School Straight Edge bands had disbanded. Having difficulty finding a bassist and drummer, Ray and Porcell found help from two high school friends, Graham Philips and Darren Pesce , who had played with Porcell in a band called The Young Republicans in the past.

In 1985 , Youth Of Today recorded their debut EP '' Can't Close My Eyes '' for Kevin Seconds ' (singer of the popular hardcore band 7 Seconds ) label- Positive Force Records .

After touring for a while both Graham and Darren left the band, and two members of New York band Straight Ahead joined
Ray and John, Craig Setari (bass) and Tommy Carroll (drums).

Tommy left during their second tour, and Drew Thomas , drummer of brotherband Crippled Youth , (who later changed their name to Bold ) was asked to finish the rest of the tour.

A short while later, Underdog vocalist Richie Birkenhead joined the band on second guitar. With this line-up, the first Youth Of Today album
was recorded, entitled '' Break Down The Walls '', and released by Wishingwell Records , the label of California Straight Edge bands Unity and Uniform Choice .

Soon after recording the album Drew was replaced by Mike "Judge" of Death Before Dishonor . (Later to be the singer, along with John Porcelly on guitar, in the band Judge ).

Craig left to reform Straight Ahead (and later played in Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All ), and Walter Schreifels of Gorilla Biscuits joined on as the new bassist.

At the end of the '' Break Down The Walls '' tour that followed the release of the LP, second guitarist Richie left the band to concentrate on singing in Underdog , and with that line-up Youth Of Today appeared with two songs on the Revelation Records sampler " New York Hardcore - The Way It Is ", along side New York bands like Bold , Gorilla Biscuits , Side By Side and Sick Of It All .

At the end of 1987 Mike left the band, and Sammy Siegler (ex- Side By Side ) became the new drummer. In 1988 Youth Of Today recorded their classic second LP " We're Not In This Alone ", which was released in America by Caroline Records and in Europe by Funhouse Records .

The beginning of the next year, , Norway , Denmark , Germany , Switzerland , Austria , Italy , France , Belgium , the Netherlands and England .

In 1990 Youth Of Today decided to quit and recorded 4 songs for a farewell 7" on Revelation Records . Three of those songs appeared on the single "Disengage".

When Youth Of Today split, it seemed the beginning of the end for the second Straight Edge wave, which had begun in 1985 , and which was at its height in 1988-1990. Together with bands like Uniform Choice , Insted , No For An Answer , Chain Of Strength , and Gorilla Biscuits , Youth Of Today were an inspiration for hundreds of bands all over the world, who combined the message of Positive Thinking and Straight Edge with energetic and fast hardcore.


Post-breakup




Aside from several one-off reunion shows, Youth Of Today did a European reunion tour in 2004 with original members Ray, Porcell and Sammy. Ray's friend Ken Olden from Battery and Better Than A Thousand filled in on bass.


DISCOGRAPHY


Albums



Singles



Live Albums/Singles

  • Yesterday 7"

  • Take A Stand 12"/ LP/ CD

  • Anarchy In Vienna LP

  • Live At Van Hall 1989, Amsterdam 7"

  • Live At CBGB's 7"



Compilations



TRIVIA


  • About the band name: "It was an Abused song. It was also mentioned in an Avengers lyric. Cause For Alarm also mentioned it in their lyrics, ''Youth of today can be the tool''. That was our inspiration for the name."


  • . 1987.



  • In 2006, the track ", where it was remixed by Edgey and dubbed "Stalwart Carapace."


  • First songs: ''We Just Might'', ''Youth Of Today'', ''Polluted Mind''


  • First appearance: V/A Make It Work 7"




  • Tours: from 1985 to 1990 , 3 USA tours and one in Europe



  • Last tune: ''Goodbye, Hello'' (a.k.a. One Night Stand)


  • Last album: ''s/t'' (a.k.a. Disengage) 7"


  • Last show: L.A. 1989




SEE ALSO



REFERENCES



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