The Casualties

The Casualties are an American street punk band from New York City founded by vocalist Jorge Herrera, Hank (guitar), Colin Wolf (vocals), Mark Yoshitomi (bass) and Yureesh Hooker (drums) in 1990. On July 11, 2017 it was announced on the band's Facebook page that original frontman Jorge Herrera had officially retired from touring.[2][3] As of July 2017, the band consists of members Jake Kolatis (guitarist), Marc Meggers (drums), Rick Lopez (bass), and David Rodriguez (vocals).

The Casualties
The Casualties in 2006.
Background information
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
GenresStreet punk[1]
Years active1990–present
LabelsSeason of Mist, SideOneDummy, Tribal War, Cleopatra, Punk Core
Associated actsThe Krays, The Manix, Starving Wolves, Krum Bums
MembersJake Kolatis
Rick Lopez
Marc "Meggers" Eggers
David Rodriguez

History

Early years (1990-1998)

The Casualties were formed in 1990, with original members Jorge Herrera (vocals), Hank (guitar), Colin Wolf (vocals), Mark Yoshitomi (bass) and Yureesh Hooker (drums). The members aimed to return to what they viewed as the "golden era" of street punk, embodied by bands such as The Exploited and Charged GBH which they believed had disappeared by 1985.[3] During the early years, the lineup was fluid, with several changes.

In early 1991 Hank left the band, to be replaced by Fred Backus on guitar to record Political Sin in March 1991 for the Benefit for Beer compilation.[4] Soon more changes were in the works, with new guitarist Fred heading off to school. C Squat's Scott temporarily filled Fred's shoes until he returned a short time later. During this period, guitarist Hank filled in for a couple of shows, and Steve Distraught also played briefly with the group on second guitar. The Casualties stabilized long enough to record the first demo in the fall of 1991 and the 40 oz Casualty EP in the spring of 1992, and was building up a fan base in their hometown of New York City. At the end of 1992, Mark and Fred left the band and were replaced by Mike Roberts on bass and Jake Kolatis on the guitar, followed by the departure of Yureesh and Colin in 1994, to be replaced on drums by Shawn, while the band went down to a single vocalist.[3][4] 1994 sees the recording of the 4 song EP, Drinking Is Our Way Of Life, however it would not be released. The songs would later appear on the Casualties "early years 1990-1995" CD in 1999.[4] In 1995, the band's second release, the 4 track A Fuckin' Way Of Life E.P. was released on Eyeball Records. After recording A Fuckin' Way of Life, Shawn left the band, and Marc Eggers (nicknamed Meggers) of the Rivits became the regular drummer. The line-up of Jorge, Jake, Mike and Meggers continued until 1997.[4]

In 1996 the Casualties became the first American band to appear at the "Holidays in the Sun" Festival in London. 1997 saw the release of the band's debut album, For the Punx is released on Tribal War Records, and the band embarks on its first American tour with The Varukers. Mike (the bassist) left the band in 1998, to be replaced with Johnny Rosado, from The Krays.[4][5] They released their second LP that year, Underground Army, and begin a world tour. Jon leaves the band during the European leg of the tour, to be temporarily replaced by Dave Punk Core.

Later years (1998-2017)
The Casualties live in Poland 2007

After the world tour, Dave would be replaced by Rick Lopez from the band Manix. The line-up was now solidified for the band, and would continue to the present day.[6] The end of the millennium, 1999, saw the band produce a compilation album, Early Years 1990–1995, which included tracks which appeared on earlier ED's, as well as never before released songs, such as the four songs they had recorded on the never released EP Drinking is Our Way of Life back in 1994.[4][6]

The 2000s have seen the band to continue to tour[3][6] and produce albums (an album list can be seen below). They have toured with several other bands, such as The Exploited, GBH, Cockney Rejects, Slaughter & the Dogs,[4] and the English Dogs.[6] In December 2009, The Casualties toured alongside Hatebreed, The Acacia Strain, Crowbar, and Thy Will Be Done as part of the Stillborn Fest.[3] In the summer of 2012, The Casualties co-headlined the Tonight We Unite tour along with Nekromantix, where they played For The Punx in its entirety, the first time they had played the album through since its release in 1997.[3] Later that year, The Casualties released their new album titled Resistance through Season of Mist.[7][8] In 2013, The Casualties played at the largest punk rock festival in the world,[9] the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, England, where they shared the stage with The Exploited, Special Duties, Chron Gen and Anti-Establishment, and others.[3]

Chaos Sound, departure of Herrera, and new member (2016-present)

On January 22, 2016, the band released their tenth studio album titled Chaos Sound. The album was recorded in Orange County, California at Buzzbomb Studio, produced by Paul Miner and released by Season Of Mist. It is the last album to feature original vocalist Jorge Herrera.

In the second quarter of 2017, Herrera retired from touring amid multiple alleged claims of sexual assault. Frontman of The Krum Bums, David Rodriguez officially replaced Herrera, changing the band's line-up for the first time in 19 years. [2][3] Guitarist Jake Kolatis and drummer Meggers are the two remaining long term members of the band, along with the band's bassist since 1999, Rick Lopez.

Members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums
  • 1999: Live at the Fireside Bowl
  • 2003: More at the Fireside Bowl
  • 2007: Made in NYC

Extended plays

Appearances on various artists compilations
  • 1991: Benefit for Beer - "Political Sin"
  • 1994 Pogo Attack LP - "25 Years To Late" - "For The Punx"
  • 1998: Punx Unite - "Punx Unite"
  • 2000: Punx Unite 2 - "Way of Life"
  • 2001 Warped Tour 2001 - "Fight For Your Life"
  • 2003 The Sound of Rebellion - "Killing Machine" - "Politicians" - "No Rules"
  • 2003: Warped Tour 2003 - "Made in N.Y.C."
  • 2004: AMP Magazine Presents: Street Punk, Vol. 2 - "Sounds From the Streets"
  • 2004: Warped Tour 2004 - "Tomorrow Belongs To Us"
  • 2005: Punx Unite-Leaders of Today - "Rebel"
  • 2006: Warped Tour 2006 - "Under Attack"
  • 2007: Warped Tour 2007 - "In It For Life"
  • 2007: Take Action Tour 2007 - "VIP"
  • 2010: Warped Tour 2010 - "We Are All We Have"

Music videos
  • 1998: Live At NewCastle Riverside
  • 1998: Underground Army World Tour
  • 2000: Nightmare
  • 2001: Get Off My Back
  • 2004: Tomorrow Belongs To Us
  • 2006: Can't Stop Us
  • 2006: On City Streets
  • 2009: War Is Business
  • 2009: We Are All We Have
  • 2013: My Blood. My Life. Always Forward.
  • 2015: Corazones Intoxicados
  • 2016: Chaos Sound
  • 2016: Running Through The Night
  • 2017: Brothers and Sisters
  • 2018: 1312
  • 2019: Ya Basta
  • 2019: Fucking Hate You

References
  1. Diehl, Matt. My So-Called Punk: Green Day, Fall Out Boy, The Distillers, Bad Religion—How Neo-Punk Stage-Dived Into the Mainstream. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0-312-33781-0.
  2. "The Casualties". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  3. "The Casualties Biography". Artistopia.com. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  4. "Casualties Biography". Sing365.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  5. "A Punk Temple Reborn". Washingpost.com. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  6. "The Casualties – Band History". Thecasualties.net. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  7. Yancey, Bryne (May 30, 2012). "The Casualties join Season Of Mist, plan new album". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  8. Paul, Aubin (July 18, 2012). "Tours: The Casualties to release 'Resistance' in September". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  9. "Punks party in Blackpool for Rebellion Music festival". Daily Record.
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