falseprophetslive's Channel

87 subscribers

66,237 video views

Play All

Uploaded videos

1-10 of 56

About falseprophetslive

Video clips spanning this classic NYC punk band's lengthy career!!!

"False Prophets are doomed to always be referred to as a hardcore punk band, which they often were. However, at times they were also an aggressively political folk band, a hard-edged funk outfit, and a crack new wave band led by a prolific poet. To say that this music stretched the limits of hardcore is to understate how diverse it all was -- this is hardcore as cabaret, complete with lyrical passages, a cappella sections, and song structures rivaling progressive rock dinosaurs. The only other band to ever make hardcore this interesting was the Minutemen, and that's good company for anyone." ~ Richard Foss, All Music Guide

less

Created by

falseprophetslive

Latest Activity

Oct 21, 2007

Date Joined

Apr 15, 2007

About this user

NYC's False Prophets debuted in 1980 to the tune of 43 noise complaints and police termination of the performance after only six songs--an appropriate debut for one of hardcore's first bands. The first single, Overkill (1981), was followed in 1982 by Good Clean Fun, which Rockpool called "one of the classic singles of the era." In 1986 Jello Biafra tracked singer/poet/activist Stephan Ielpi down on the Lower East Side and signed the band to Alternative Tentacles. The resulting album, FALSE PROPHETS, was "one bitchin proud rampaging brain-melting slab of vinyl" (Jim Testa, The BOB). It captured the band's sense of humor and intelligent take on "traditional hardcore themes like war, authority, violence and rebellion" (Trouser Press). In addition to Ielpi, who wrote all the lyrics, the lineup was Steve Wishnia on bass, Peter Campbell on guitar and drummer Ned Brewster. Campbell left before the album was released and George Tabb and Debra Adele joined on guitars.

In '87 False Prophets recorded IMPLOSION with legendary producer Giorgio Gomelsky & Ramones engineer Jorge Esteban. The album included guest appearances from Gordon Gano, Jeanette from Apple, James White, Ed Pastorini and Lefferts Brown. "Light years better" according to Ira Robbins (Trouser Press), "speedcore takes a back seat as False Prophets reveal their expansive and temperate rock imagination." Disagreements led to Wishnia's departure after the first US tour for IMPLOSION; he was replaced by the band's roadie, Anthony Sepulveda.

False Prophets toured extensively throughout the US and Canada, including a stint sharing DOA's schoolbus with "the Italian Black Flag," CCM. CCM lead singer Syd and his wife Lorelei became False Prophets' European booking agents, bringing the band over for yearly tours starting in 1989.

False Prophets developed a large following in Europe, supporting the anti-fascist scene and playing squats, youth centers and rock clubs from Italy to Tromso, Norway. The band traveled into the Eastern bloc, playing an illegal show at a church in East Berlin and performing in Poland and civil-war-torn Yugoslavia.

Meanwhile, George Tabb had moved on to form Furious George and work as Johnny Ramone's guitar tech. His replacement, Steven Taylor, was also Allen Ginsberg's accompanist. Taylor involved the band in the St. Mark's Church Poetry Project scene, and with such '60s activists and artists as Ginsberg, Tuli Kupferberg and Abbie Hoffman. The band had a Spinal Tap-like rotating cast of drummers until it recruited Billy Atwell from El Paso's The Rhythm Pigs. Old friend Nick Marden (Stimulators, Deans of Discipline) stepped up on bass, cementing the band's final lineup, which also included violinist Heather Hardy. (Another friend, Carbon and Ritual Tension bassist Marc Sloan, covered one European tour and played on the INVISIBLE PEOPLE album.)

False Prophets formed a partnership with LES artist/activist Eric Drooker, who designed the band's logo and merchandise, and the cover/insert art for INVISIBLE PEOPLE (Cargo 1991). INVISIBLE PEOPLE received mainstream raves("a record worth shouting about"-Paper "For those who want to think while they thrash"-Playboy "brilliant"-Reflex). False Prophets continued to present its "astoundingly manic hour of blistering rock/consciouness raising/guerrilla theater" (Domnion Post)and lend its support to Rock Against Racism, Refuse And Resist, Rock for Choice, ALMS (Artists for Limiting Military Spending) and other activist groups until it disbanded in 1993.

In 2000 Alternative Tentacles released BLIND ROACHES AND FAT VULTURES: PHANTASMAGORICAL BEASTS OF THE REAGAN ERA, a 21-song CD collection of demos, singles, and tracks from the first album.

False Prophets Triva Questions!!

1. What was the name of Stephan's beloved monkey-skull cane?
2. What was Anthony Sepulveda's nickname?
3. What was the name given to the George Tabb and Debra Adele guitar team?
4. Steve Taylor played (and still sometimes plays!) in what legendary '60s band?
5. What incestuous West Virginia band did Billy Atwell play in?
6. Who is Nick Marden's famous aunt?
7. Under what name did the band perform when it backed up Allen Ginsberg?
8. What nightclub on Avenue B is in the band's old rehearsal spot (which it shared with Jesse Malin)?

Hometown

New York City

Country

United States

less

Featured Playlists

56 videos Play all(56) Uploaded videos by falseprophetslive

9 videos Play all(9) My Top Videos by falseprophetslive

view all