Hot Snakes were an American rock band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis , formed in 1999 in San Diego, California . Reis and Froberg had previously performed together in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu , after which Reis found international success with Rocket from the Crypt . Hot Snakes disbanded in 2005 but reunited in 2011, remaining active until Froberg's death in 2023.
55-671: Although they shared musical similarities with members' previous outfits, Hot Snakes forged a sound that was much more primal than that of Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu or Rocket from the Crypt. Reis and Froberg were also heavily influenced by bands such as The Wipers , Suicide , and the Michael Yonkers Band, with these influences giving Hot Snakes a distinctive sound that has been described by PunkNews as " hardcore garage punk ." The band's recordings and merchandise were produced using principles of DIY , with Froberg providing all of
110-399: A hardcore punk act, over time their music evolved to incorporate other styles. Steven Blush , author of American Hardcore: A Tribal History , writes that they "vied with Minor Threat as the top [Washington, D.C. hardcore] band in 1981–1982" and that Legless Bull "best exemplified smartass suburban HC." But by 1982, with Brian Baker and Tom Lyle in the lineup, the band began to develop
165-520: A new record label and drummer, Reis started his own label Swami Records and experimented with other musicians, resulting in the formation of both Hot Snakes and the Sultans . Hot Snakes originated when Reis recorded a batch of songs with The Delta 72 drummer Jason Kourkounis, then contacted former bandmate Froberg to contribute vocals to the tracks. Most of this recording session was released in 2000 as Hot Snakes' first album Automatic Midnight , which
220-577: A problem." Lyle took over the guitar position and Mitch Parker joined on bass for Government Issue's 1983 debut LP Boycott Stabb , which was produced by Ian MacKaye. Rob Moss replaced Parker on bass for a time, before Mike Fellows joined for 1984's Joyride , produced by Brian Baker. Fellows soon moved on to Rites of Spring and was replaced by John Leonard, and the band recorded 1985's The Fun Just Never Ends . Government Issue changed labels from Fountain of Youth to Mystic Records in hopes of better marketing, putting out two more releases in 1985:
275-427: A recording project. The plan was to record 15 albums in 10 years without touring or promotion. Sage thought that the mystique built from the lack of playing traditional rock 'n' roll would make people listen to their recordings much deeper with only their imagination to go by. He thought it would be easy to avoid press, shows, pictures and interviews. He looked at music as art rather than entertainment; he thought music
330-776: A series of gigs including All Tomorrow's Parties and Fun Fun Fun Fest . The band toured the West Coast of the United States from March to April 2012, and performed at the Metallica -curated Orion Music + More festival in New Jersey in June. On August 14, 2017, Hot Snakes announced a fall tour starting in November as well as new album tentatively scheduled for release in spring 2018 via Sub Pop . Hot Snakes' discography
385-424: A sound more akin to heavy rock than pure hardcore. Steve Huey of Allmusic notes that the band "carried the torch for traditional hardcore punk on their early records, but evolved into something more adventurous by adding bits of metal , new wave pop , and psychedelia ". By 1986's Government Issue Stabb was moving in a more melodic direction influenced by the gothic rock of The Damned , and by 1988's Crash
440-584: A tour, during which Sage announced that the band was ending due to music business frustrations and the loss of their studio space. Sage then relocated to Phoenix, Arizona , and Davidson left to move to London. After building a new recording studio in Arizona, Sage released a second solo album, 1991's Sacrifice (For Love) . Two compilations were released in this era: The Best of Wipers and Greg Sage in 1990 by Restless, and Complete Rarities '78–'90 in 1993 by Germany's True Believer Records. The latter included
495-661: Is a group again, and it was so much fun playing Damaged City Fest 2014, we decided to just keep it going." The band continued in 2015, playing the Bad Ass Weekend festival in Houston that February and a five-date tour of the Southeastern United States in October and November, including a performance at The Fest . Stabb died of stomach cancer on May 7, 2016 at the age of 54. Government Issue
550-505: Is not an exhaustive list; songs that were first released on the band's albums are not included. The Wipers Wipers was a punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon , in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Greg Sage , along with drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. The group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion were hailed as extremely influential by numerous critics and musicians. They are also considered to be
605-650: The Washington, D.C. hardcore scene but added elements of heavy metal , new wave , and psychedelic rock on later records. Though this has caused the band to be sometimes overlooked in relation to other Washington, D.C. hardcore acts, their stylistic diversity made them influential to later punk rock groups. Government Issue performed occasional reunion shows in the 2000s and 2010s with various lineups, until Stabb's death from stomach cancer in 2016. Government Issue originated in 1980 as The Stab, from which lead singer John Schroeder derived his pseudonym John Stabb. As
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#1732790721994660-589: The 2007 Riot Fest concert were donated to Stabb to pay for his medical bills, as well as to J. Robbins, whose son had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy . In 2009 DC-Jam Records released The Punk Remains the Same , an EP of live Government Issue tracks recorded in 1982 and 1983. Government Issue reunited a second time for a performance in Washington, D.C. on December 11, 2010. The show, which included local bands The Goons & Set to Explode, featured
715-852: The Barracudas, while Froberg resides in New York and works as a visual artist and illustrator. In early 2008 Froberg debuted a new musical act called Obits , while Reis, Wood, and Kourkounis reunited in The Night Marchers . On July 29, 2010 The Night Marchers and Obits performed together at The Casbah in San Diego ; for the encore , the original Hot Snakes lineup of Reis, Froberg, Wood, and Kourkounis reunited to perform "If Credit's What Matters I'll Take Credit", "Automatic Midnight", and "No Hands". The following year Hot Snakes reunited, with Kourkounis and Rubalcaba taking turns on drums, for
770-443: The Crypt, and in 1995 Drive Like Jehu stopped playing together. Reis would continue to work with Rocket From the Crypt until 2005, while Froberg moved to New York to start a career as visual artist and illustrator. Hot Snakes essentially began as a " side project " in 1999 while Reis was taking time off from Rocket from the Crypt, who were in between record labels and had lost their longtime drummer Atom Willard . While searching for
825-504: The DC band I liked the best who needed somebody — Government Issue. They were a great band, especially early on." Government Issue also contributed two tracks to Flex Your Head , Dischord's 1982 compilation album of D.C.-area hardcore punk bands. Lineup shuffles ensued as Barry left the band and Baker moved to guitar, with Tom Lyle joining in late 1981 as the new bassist. Baker later commented that his guitar style did not mesh well with
880-823: The EP Give Us Stabb or Give Us Death and the live album Live on Mystic . Leonard and Alberstadt left the band during the recording of 1986's eponymous Government Issue , for which the band returned to Fountain of Youth, and the album was completed with drummer Sean Saley and ex-Minor Threat bassist Steve Hansgen . Government Issue saw Stabb moving in a more melodic direction, away from traditional hardcore and taking influence from The Damned 's gothic rock sound. Hansgen and Saley subsequently left and were replaced by J. Robbins and Peter Moffett , respectively, and Government Issue moved to Giant Records for 1987's You , an album which chronicled Stabb's relationship with an underage girl. 1988's Crash continued
935-657: The Rat " on the Eight Songs compilation), and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain 's mention of Wipers as a major influence. As did Cobain's wife Courtney Love, whose band Hole covered "Over the Edge" both on recording and frequently at live performances. The Wipers were influential for the grunge music scene in general, also being cited by the Melvins , Mudhoney , and Dinosaur Jr. German grunge band Alien Boys named themselves from
990-515: The Rats , and Koupal moved to Ohio. Later in 1980, Park Avenue released the Alien Boy EP, consisting of the title track and three demo outtakes. With the new rhythm section of bassist Brad Davidson and drummer Brad Naish (ex-Stiphnoyds), Wipers recorded a second album for Park Avenue, the last for that label. Youth of America , released in 1981, contrasted with the short/fast punk songs of
1045-591: The Whirlees. The expanded CD release, retitled Fourteen Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers , also included covers by Hazel , Calamity Jane, Saliva Tree, Honey, Nation of Ulysses , and Thurston Moore and Keith Nealy. The Wipers had an influence on Nirvana. Wipers gained significant exposure as a result of Nirvana's 1992 covers of two songs from Is This Real? ("D-7" on the EP Hormoaning , and " Return of
1100-549: The Wipers song Alien Boy . Final lineup Former members Timeline Government Issue Government Issue was an American hardcore punk band from Washington, D.C. active from 1980 to 1989. The band experienced many changes in membership during its nine-year existence, with singer John Stabb as the only consistent member in an ever-fluctuating lineup that at various times included notable musicians Brian Baker , Mike Fellows , Steve Hansgen , J. Robbins , and Peter Moffett . Government Issue originated from
1155-603: The age of 65. Plouf operated a vintage goods/Zeno Records store in Portland, appropriately named Zeno Oddities, which closed sometime between 2009 and 2010. McNabb formed the Beggars, and went on to work as a session and tour drummer for artists including Vigilantes of Love , Billy Pilgrim, Shawn Mullins , Indigo Girls , Brendan Benson , Howie Day , Dar Williams , Mandi Perkins , Big & Rich and Gavin DeGraw . McNabb
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#17327907219941210-501: The artwork and Reis releasing the material via his Swami Records label. As youths growing up in San Diego, Reis and Froberg had played together in the post-hardcore band Pitchfork from 1986 to 1990. Following that they formed Drive Like Jehu, which gained the attention of major labels and resulted in a record contract with Interscope Records . By this time, however, Reis had become seriously involved with his other band, Rocket from
1265-601: The band's evolution into greater musical variety, and Giant reissued the band's Fountain of Youth releases. However, the band broke up in 1989. According to Robbins, a van accident and creative differences were contributing factors to the breakup: The end of G.I. was in summer '89. After looking at the situation objectively, having done monster tours of the US and Europe, and after a terrible van accident in England where Pete shattered his ankle, we felt we were beating our heads against
1320-502: The band's final lineup of Stabb, Lyle, Robbins, and Moffett, and was a benefit to raise medical funds for a local GI Fan Steve 'Stereo Faith.' McPhereson On April 11, 2014, Government Issue reunited for the final time with the original Legless Bull lineup of Stabb, John Barry, Brian Gay along with drummer Karl Hill for the Damaged City Festival in Washington, DC. After the final reunion show, Stabb said "Government Issue
1375-462: The band's music draw ideas from pop, goth, psychedelia, Middle Eastern music and beyond. And while changes like these could seem like sellout moves for a group that once wrote a song called "Rock 'N' Roll Bullshit", they were a vital next step in the evolution of [insert whatever eclectic punk CD you're listening to today]. However, though they did have a following in the straight edge community, Government Issue's stylistic expansion from one album to
1430-650: The band's sound: "I wasn't a bass player and Government Issue was a chance to play guitar. They were better with John Barry on guitar but they were biggest when I was in the band. Their whole sound was his insane guitar playing, which I played nothing like. I played like Ace Frehley ." The Stabb/Baker/Lyle/Alberstadt lineup of Government Issue recorded the Make an Effort EP, released in 1982 through Fountain of Youth Records. Baker then rejoined Minor Threat in early 1982, recalling that his departure "was amicable after John Stabb calmed down but everyone else understood and didn't have
1485-592: The breakup of both Hot Snakes and Rocket from the Crypt, Reis focused his energy on running the Swami Records label. He continued to perform occasionally with Rubalcaba in the Sultans until that band's breakup in January 2007. Rubalcaba also plays in the San Diego band Earthless and is part owner of an independent record store called Thirsty Moon Records. Wood continues to record music and play in Beehive and
1540-454: The career retrospective Complete History Volume One , followed by Complete History Volume Two in 2002. Dischord Records reissued Legless Bull in 2002 while Dr. Strange released Strange Wine: Live at CBGB August 30th, 1987 in 2003, consisting of live recordings and studio tracks remastered by Tom Lyle. 2005 saw the release of the DVD Live 1985 . On July 17, 2007 John Stabb
1595-504: The continual evolution in sound over the band's nine-year lifespan made their music more influential to later generations of punk rock groups: Though they started out playing solid, standard-issue melodic hardcore, Government Issue weren't afraid to let their outside influences, no matter how incongruous, infect their music—or, in Stabb's case, their look, as well [...] So, while Stabb's hairdos and stage clothes got increasingly kookier, so did
1650-522: The early 80s. The next album, Over the Edge , issued in 1983 by Trap via Brain Eater Records, was the first Wipers record to gain significant modern rock airplay. It was led by the song, "Romeo", which had already been released the previous year as a 7" single by Trap. The band then embarked on their first extensive tour, documented on the Wipers Tour 84 cassette-only live album, which
1705-461: The first Pacific Northwest punk band. Sage's intense interest in music began with cutting records at home as an adolescent. "I was very lucky to have my own professional record cutting lathe when I was in 7th grade due to my father being involved in the broadcast industry. I would cut records for friends at school of songs off the radio and learned the art of record making long before learning to play music. I would spend countless hours studying
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1760-596: The first Wipers 7", the B-side of the "Romeo" 7", sampler contributions, and live material from 1986 and 1989. Sage restarted Wipers in 1993, rejoined by Plouf, releasing three additional albums as a duo: Silver Sail (1993) and The Herd (1996), both on the Tim/Kerr label, and Power in One (1999) on Sage's new Zeno Records. The band became inactive after 1999. In 2001, Zeno released Wipers Box Set , which included
1815-673: The first three Wipers albums, which by that time had been long out-of-print, along with the songs from the Alien Boy EP and additional previously unreleased material. Jackpot Records and Sage later reissued Is This Real?, Youth of America and Over the Edge on vinyl. Henry formed Napalm Beach with Chris Newman in 1982. He remained an active musician in Portland, Oregon, and continued to play with Napalm Beach and Don't, as well as popular Pacific Northwest songwriters such as Pete Krebs , Morgan Grace and Jimmy Boyer. Henry died from complications of stomach cancer on February 20, 2022, at
1870-402: The grooves I would cut under the microscope that was attached to the lathe and loved the way music looked, moved and modulated within the thin walls. I might have spent too much time studying music through a microscope because it gave me a completely different outlook on what music is and a totally opposite understanding of it as well. There was something very magical and private when I zoomed into
1925-425: The group was at its most musically diverse. Stabb himself later remarked that Government Issue "proved that we were more than just a hardcore band. We'd graduated from the school of 'bang and howl' and we really bummed out a small portion of our punk audience", and that "we'd moved on from the hardcore world into melodic, well-crafted punk with a decidedly pop edge." Aaron Burgess of Alternative Press notes that
1980-658: The last for Peel's program, as he died shortly afterwards. This session was released as the Peel Sessions EP, which replaced a planned single for the song "Braintrust" in the UK market. In May 2005, while on tour in Australia, Hot Snakes recorded a live in-studio performance at ABC studios for Australian radio station triple j . On their return to the US, Reis announced that the band was breaking up. Audit in Progress
2035-427: The magnified and secret world of sound in motion. I got to the point that I needed to create and paint my own sounds and colors into the walls of these grooves." Inspired by Jimi Hendrix , Sage soon picked up the guitar, and in 1969, at age 17, he played on an eponymous album by professional wrestler Beauregarde . Sage founded Wipers in Portland in 1977 along with drummer Henry and bassist Koupal, originally just as
2090-464: The members of The Stab drifted apart, Stabb and drummer Marc Alberstadt recruited guitarist John Barry and bassist Brian Gay, changing the band's name to Government Issue. They made their live debut at the two-day Unheard Music Festival in December 1980, but not as Government Issue: Alberstadt was sick and unable to perform, so the band invited guest players to fill in on both nights and performed under
2145-571: The name The Substitutes. The band's second performance was shut down midway by the police. Government Issue's debut EP Legless Bull was recorded with this original lineup and released through local label Dischord Records in September 1981, after which Gay left to attend college and was replaced by Brian Baker of Minor Threat , who were on hiatus at the time. Baker later recalled that " Ian [MacKaye] and Jeff [Nelson] were gonna start something with Eddie [Janney] and John Falls, so I joined
2200-407: The next alienated much of their early hardcore audience. Blush writes that "Unfortunately, most who went to see G.I. through the 80s still expected to hear hardcore reminiscent of the first EP. The group was moving into a softer, R.E.M. direction, and none of their fans gave a shit about such profound maturity." Huey remarks that the band "has remained somewhat overlooked in relation to the rest of
2255-546: The punk movement because we didn't even wish to be classified, and that was kind of a new territory. ... When we put out Is This Real? ... it definitely did not fit in; none of our records did. Then nine, ten years later people are saying: 'Yeah, it's the punk classic of the '80s'". In 1992, tribute album Eight Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers was released by Tim/Kerr as a box set of four colored 7" records, featuring Wipers songs performed by Nirvana , Hole , Napalm Beach, M99, Dharma Bums , Crackerbash, Poison Idea , and
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2310-581: The recording studio in 2004, Rocket from the Crypt drummer Mario Rubalcaba (also of The Black Heart Procession , Clikatat Ikatowi, Earthless , 411, and Chicanochrist) was brought in to play the drums. The album Audit in Progress was released and the band extensively toured the United States, as well as Europe and Australia . While on tour in the United Kingdom that fall, the band recorded several songs for BBC radio at British DJ John Peel 's recording studio. Their performance would be one of
2365-480: The time. According to Sage, this change of pace was a reaction against the punk trend of releasing short songs. The album was, according to Sage, not well received in the United States at the time of its release, though it did fare better in Europe. Along with other Wipers records, Youth of America came to be acknowledged as an important album in the development of American underground and independent rock movements of
2420-532: The two later reunited in Burning Airlines . Stabb reverted to his given name, playing with several Washington, D.C.-area bands in the 1990s before forming The Factory Incident in 2000 and then History Repeated in 2008 with whom Stabb's last ever performance was with on January 19, 2016. Over a decade after the band's dissolution, a number of compilation albums and reissues of their material began to be released. In 2000 Dr. Strange Records released
2475-444: The wall. It was clear that all four of us had different ideas of what we wanted to do. I think those guys just got tired of working with each other. We booked one last show at 9:30 Club , which was massive, ridiculous, and fun. That was it. Following Government Issue's breakup the members moved on to other musical projects. Lyle released a solo album titled Sanctuary in 1992. Robbins founded Jawbox while Moffett joined Wool , and
2530-403: Was assaulted by five men near his home and required extensive facial reconstruction surgery . To help him and then-wife Mika Ackerman pay for his medical bills and lost wages, a benefit concert was held on September 23, 2007 which featured a reunited lineup of Stabb, Tom Lyle, and Brian Baker, joined by drummer William Knapp, performing as "Government Re-Issue". A portion of the proceeds from
2585-485: Was a member of Better Than Ezra from 1996 to 2009. In 2007, he joined bluegrass / country music act Sugarland . Davidson (who had previously recorded with the Sage-produced Rancid Vat in 1985) played bass on The Jesus and Mary Chain 's 1993 EP Sound of Speed . Sage later remarked on their initial reception: "We weren't even really a punk band. See, we were even farther out in left field than
2640-488: Was also subsequently reissued by Sub Pop. As promised, Jericho Sirens was released in 2018 to positive reviews. In June 2023, Froberg revealed on Instagram that a fifth Hot Snakes record was "very near done". Froberg died two weeks later on June 30, 2023, at the age of 55. Hot Snakes' discography consists of four studio albums , one live album , one EP , six singles , and three music videos . The following Hot Snakes songs were released on compilation albums. This
2695-403: Was called in to play the bass guitar . After some touring Reis returned to work full-time with Rocket from the Crypt. In 2002 Hot Snakes reconvened to record the album Suicide Invoice and tour the United States. The following year Kourkounis left the band to play full-time with Burning Brides , and Reis once again returned to work with Rocket from the Crypt. When Hot Snakes again returned to
2750-404: Was issued in January 1980 on Park Avenue Records, a label that the band hoped would gain them wider distribution. It was originally recorded on a 4-track in the band's rehearsal studio, but the label insisted that the band use a professional studio. Once released, the album gained a cult following , although the band was best known for their live shows around the Portland area. Henry left to join
2805-589: Was named "best punk album" at the 2005 San Diego Music Awards , and shortly after Reis announced that Rocket from the Crypt would also be breaking up. That fall, Hot Snakes contributed a cover of the Government Issue song "Time to Escape" to the soundtrack to the Tony Hawk's American Wasteland video game. This was the last song recorded by the band. Their live Australian radio session was released posthumously in 2006 as Thunder Down Under . Following
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#17327907219942860-404: Was one of the best bands in the history of American Hardcore. For one reason or another, they were jinxed. Their van'd break down; they'd do tours and have ten people at the show because of no publicity — everything bad that could happen to a band happened to them. But they were amazing. – Dave Smalley , singer for DYS , Dag Nasty , All , and Down by Law Though Government Issue began as
2915-458: Was personal to the listener rather than a commodity. Wipers' first single, "Better Off Dead", was released in 1978 on Sage's own Trap Records. Sage wanted to make his own recordings and manufacture and run his own label without outside financing. In 1979, Sage approached several Portland punk bands (including Neo Boys , Sado-Nation and Stiphnoyds) and asked them to record singles for his new Trap label. The Wipers first album, Is This Real? ,
2970-617: Was reissued by Enigma Records in 1985 as Wipers . In 1985, Naish was replaced by Steve Plouf, and Enigma issued Sage's first solo album, Straight Ahead . Signing to Enigma's Restless Records division, Wipers released 1986's Land of the Lost , featuring the song "Let Me Know", used in the film River's Edge . It was followed by Follow Blind (1987) and The Circle (1988). All three records were recorded in Sage's studio 421 Sound . In 1989, drummer Travis McNabb joined Wipers for
3025-576: Was the first release by the Swami label. Although Reis and Froberg had previously collaborated in bands, Hot Snakes represented a new challenge logistically: Reis lived in San Diego, Froberg in New York, and Kourkounis in Philadelphia . This resulted in sporadic and intense touring and recording schedules. When a full touring band was needed, Gar Wood (Beehive and the Baracudas, Tanner , Fishwife )
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