Summer 1981. The Clash were in New York City to play a week at Bonds Casino on Broadway & 45th Street. The hottest gigs of the summer, these shows had already gained national attention as The Clashs only American appearances that year. The infamous ticket scandal broke..Bonds had oversold every show to double capacity. Both the club and The Clash became evening news items. The Clash themselves decided they would solve the problem by volunteering to play twice as many shows inorder to accommodate everyone that had bought tickets.
"More dates added", announced the media.."More support bands needed", thought every musician and agent in NYC. Doug Holland and Don Cowan. Decided that this was the ideal situation for the bands debut what a laugh it would be if they actually got the gig! With fellow KRAUTs, Davey Gunner(VOCALS), Doug Holland (GUITAR), and Johnny (Koncz) Feedback (DRUMS), Don Cowan (BASS), they plastered the city with KRAUT posters. Doug and Don quickly recorded a 3-song demo tape. " Mick Jones likes it!" " are they nazi?, No, GREAT! They got the gig!".
So on June 11, 1981, KRAUT made their first ever public performance, opening for The Clash at Bonds, and from that point on, theres no turning back. Though young (Johnny 13, Davey 15, Doug 18, and Don 22), they committed themselves to an irreversible course of action. They were a bit righteous to say the least, on a mission of sorts. They played a club called A-7, Maxs Kansas City, and just about anyplace that could hold a few punks.
In August 1981, KRAUT released their first single "Kill For Cash" B/W True Colour and Just Cabbage" , the songs from the original demo for The Clash, now re-recorded with the help of RYK OAKLEY(producer). RYK had become the fifth member of the band helping them record and giving the guidance only a producer can give. "Kill for Cash quickly sold out its 1000- copy pressing. More gigs followed, and in December KRAUT released their 2nd single, Unemployed" B/W" Last Chance and Matinee". This time they pressed and sold quickly 5000 copies. "Unemployed", established KRAUT as one of New York Citys top Punk/Hardcore bands.
KRAUT gigs became more frequent and noteworthy. In June 1982 they opened for The Professionals at The Channel in Boston along with T.S.O.L.. The Professionals featuring 2 ex-SEX PISTOLS, Steve Jones and Paul Cook, were greatly admired by KRAUT. At sound check Steve Jones took an immediate liking to KRAUT , especially Dougs guitar playing. Jones told Krauts Doug and Don that their songs were good, but KRAUT played "too fast" . Don replyed, " so are The Professionals songs, but you play too slow!" . That was the start of a good friendship between the boys. When The Professionals came to N.Y.C. to play The Ritz , KRAUT was there . A week later Doug ran into Jones on the street, the rest of the band had returned to England, but Jones wanted to check out New York City. KRAUT was working on their first LP, and Jones accepted their invitation to play ..s ( Onward, Sell out, and Kill For Cash remake). This led Jones living with Donny and Doug and doing several live appearances with KRAUT, joining them onstage to close the set with the LP tracks as well as a unbelievable version of " Bodies", Steves favorite Sex Pistols song.
KRAUT decided they needed help in putting out their LP and were introduced to Gary Valitri of Faulty Products/IRS. Faulty liked what they heard, and in January 1983 "An Adjustment To Society" was released. Critics liked it, and it sold very well. In February the band shot a video conceived by Don Cowan for "All Twisted", the LPs opening track. Things were going very well.
Spring 1983. Faulty Products went out of business. The British release of "An Adjustment to Society" was lost in limbo. Down, but not out KRAUT reverted to their original do-it-yourself approach. Ryk Oakley, now firmly a fifth member helped the band buy back from Faulty all KRAUT product. KRAUT kept themselves in the public eye by touring the states. Self financed the tour lost money, but kept the band in the public eye. Back in NYC, KRAUT played every gig they could get, even opening up new venues that no other band had played. KRAUT began recording new material. In
December 1983, fate flipped a coin, and it was heads up for KRAUT. The infamous "ALL TWISTED" video was put into rotation on MTV and hailed by the rock press as one of the definitive punk videos. KRAUT was the first "independent" band ever to be put into rotation on MTV. There was KRAUT on MTV, sandwiched between Duran Duran and Prince. KRAUT continued to write and record through the winter of 1984. Taking tapes theyd made over the previous 10 months, they assembled their second album, "Whetting The Scythe". Enigma Records released the album in November 1984. A tour of the west coast with CHANNEL 3 , saw the year in right.
But all was not right Doug Holland began to feel restless. He wasnt happy with the niche KRAUT had carved for itself in the music world. After much soul searching, Doug Holland left the band he had started to join The Cro-Mags .He left Donny, Davey and Johnny to carry on and look for a replacement guitarist for Doug. Donny placed an ad in the Village Voice looking for a guitarist, "must have tight A, and good G string", the ad said. They auditioned everyone from midgets to established guitarists hoping to get on the KRAUT experience. They found one, not at those auditions, but one night at Danceteria , in NYC. Chris Smith, formly of BATTLATION OF SAINTS was standing at the bar when Donny asked him if hed be interested in KRAUT. He said sure! After shows at Danceteria, Pyramid , and CBGBs the new line-up was intact and sounding great!
In the Summer 1985 KRAUT went back in the studio to finish 4 songs they started before Doug left. Chris added his virtuoso guitar playing to these tapes, it was a great combo Chris and Doug! The songs were sent out to record companies and the band started writing new material. They were rehearsing for recording their third album when fate took a turn. Chris Smith died in a freak accident slipping in the tub hitting his head and drowning. They had the recording studio booked for the following week.but the 3rd album wouldnt happen.not then.
That was just about all Donny, Davey and Johnny could take. After a few auditions Davey and Johnny left to form Gutterboy. Donny after the loss of his fiend Chris, took time for himself to get on with his life. But no one ever said it was the end. The band played a reunion show at The Ritz in New York in 1991.Then on June 21 & 22 2002, KRAUT played a 20th anniversary show for the release of the ROIR New York Thrash Cassette and CD at CBGBs in New York. Who cares when it will end?
Thanks for the add. Kraut ruled back in the day, and I can't believe Kraut is BACK! Almost makes me think I'm 20 years old again, haha. Looking forward to the Tompkins show on 7/25!
Thanks for the add! Please check out my artwork and leave me some comments, let me know what you think! Sales from several pieces will be donated to The Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research. Please spread the word and help find a cure. This is a video that I did for my dear friend James who wrote this great tribute song for Joey.
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