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Unsane (band)

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Unsane
Unsane in 2005
Unsane in 2005
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active1988–2000, 2003–2019, 2021–present
LabelsMatador, Amphetamine Reptile, Relapse, Ipecac, Alternative Tentacles, Southern Lord
MembersChris Spencer
Cooper
Jon Syverson
Past membersDave Curran
Vincent Signorelli
Pete Shore
Anthony DeLuca
Charlie Ondras

Unsane is an American noise rock trio from New York City, formed in 1988. The band's music incorporates elements of hardcore punk and metal. Patrick Kennedy of Allmusic wrote, "while developing the blueprint for noise-metal bands to follow, Unsane cut a remarkable swath through underground music, inspiring a devoted, cult-like following around the world."[3]

History

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The band's logo

In 1988, the singer/guitarist Chris Spencer, bass guitarist Pete Shore and drummer Charlie Ondras were students at Sarah Lawrence College when they formed Lawn-Chair-Blisters[4] before changing the name to Unsane. The band signed to Circuit Records and recorded tracks with Wharton Tiers for what was supposed to be their first album Improvised Munitions, but the label did not release it.[4][5]

The band's first album, Unsane, was released in 1991,[6] and was known for its harsh music and gruesome cover art with a photo of a decapitated man on a New York subway track wearing a Members Only jacket. The band obtained this photograph from a friend who was working at the time with the police department, which was investigating the scene of the accident.[7]

In 1992, Ondras died of a heroin overdose and was replaced by Vincent Signorelli (formerly of Foetus and Swans).[6]

The band toured heavily, and released Total Destruction in 1993 on Matador Records/Atlantic Records.[6] Their third album, Scattered, Smothered & Covered, was issued by Amphetamine Reptile in 1995.[6]

The band continued touring heavily (including a spell opening for Slayer). Their next album, Occupational Hazard, was released by Relapse Records in 1998. Later that same year, Spencer was attacked by four people after playing a concert in Vienna, Austria.[8]

Band members

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Current members

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  • Chris Spencer – vocals, guitar (1988–2000, 2003–2019, 2021–present)
  • Cooper – bass (2021–present)
  • Jon Syverson – drums (2021–present)

Former members

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  • Dave Curran - bass guitar (1994–2000, 2003–2019)
  • Vincent Signorelli - drums (1992–2000, 2003–2019)
  • Charlie Ondras - drums (1988–1992; died 1992)
  • Anthony DeLuca - drums (1992)
  • Pete Shore - bass guitar (1988–1994)

[9] [10]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Compilation albums

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Live albums

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Singles

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  • "Scumbait #1" split with Cows, Pagans, Bastards (Unsane - "Burn") (Treehouse) - 1989
  • "This Town" single (Treehouse) - 1989
  • "Concrete Bed" single (Glitterhouse) - 1990
  • "Vandal-X"/"Streetsweeper" single (Sub Pop) - 1990
  • "Jungle Music" single (PCP) - 1991
  • Split 7" with Slug (cover of Slug's "Breathe the Thing Out") (Matador) - 1992
  • "Body Bomb" 7" red vinyl single (Matador) - 1994
  • "Sick"/"No Soul" single (Man's Ruin) - 1996
  • "Committed"/"Over Me" single (Galaxia) - 1998
  • "This Plan"/"Ha, Ha, Ha" single (DC Records) - 2001
  • "Fix It"/"Wrung" single for Bash 17 (Amphetamine Reptile Records) - July 2017

The Peel Sessions

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The band recorded three sessions. The first two were released as an EP in 1994,[4] while the third session remains unreleased.

References

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  1. ^ "Explore: Noise-Rock (Top Artists)". AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  2. ^ "Explore: Post-Hardcore (Top Artists)". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  3. ^ Unsane's Biography, AllMusic
  4. ^ a b c "Matador Records | Unsane Biography". Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  5. ^ Joseph, Daniel. "Life at the Bottom - Unsane on Noise, Growing Up, and Surviving NYC in the '80s". Space City Rock. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 464. ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
  7. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (October 29, 2015) (October 29, 2015). "Exclusive: Have A Religious Experience With Unsane In Clip From Amphetamine Reptile Doc 'The Color Of Noise'". Indiewire.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "::: LOWCUT #28 - Interviews :::". March 12, 2006. Archived from the original on March 12, 2006. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  9. ^ https://southernlord.com/band/unsane/
  10. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/unsane-mn0000184471#biography
  11. ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 21/05/1991 Unsane, BBC
  12. ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 26/11/1992 Unsane, BBC
  13. ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 07/06/1994 Unsane, BBC
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