In was 1980, the Punk Rock revolution had gone global. In cities around the world, small scenes were cropping up and taking hold. In Washington D.C., an ever expanding list of bands began cultivating a revolution of their own. Making an indelible slash upon music history, D.C. Hardcore was born. At the forefront of that movement, a handful of bands were leading the charge; namely Minor Threat, Bad Brains, S.O.A, and Iron Cross.
From the beginning, Iron Cross were different. They stood apart from their Hardcore contemporaries both in look and sound, gravitating towards the burgeoning Oi movement coming out of England (where Grey had lived as a child). They didn't play fast yet lacked none of the power, volume or stage presence of the influential acts of the day.
In 1981, they recorded three songs for the FLEX YOUR HEAD compilation on DC's premiere punk/hardcore label, Dischord Records ("New Breed," "Wargames," and "Live for Now"). By this time, lead singer Sab Grey had relocated to Dischord House from Baltimore, and Iron Cross would take turns with Minor Threat, Scream, and Double O practicing in the basement of his new found home.
In 1982, Iron Cross recorded their first EP "Skinhead Glory," which was released jointly on Dischord and Skinflint (Sab's own imprint). The record would yield the eventual Skinhead anthem, "Crucified for your Sins." Upon its release, the band began headlining Hardcore shows around town and making a name for themselves... mostly positive, but some negative.
In response to this unsolicited negativity directed at the band from within and outside the scene, mainly for being skinheads and not fitting the D.C. Hardcore mold (they drank like fish for one thing), Iron Cross released "Hated & Proud" in 1983 on Skinflint. Produced by Lyle Preslar (guitarist for Minor Threat), this 3-song offering demonstrated the band's developing sound and lyrical content. Featuring "You're A Rebel," "Grey Morning" and "Wolfpack," it showed a depth of understanding and character that few had anticipated from this "boot boy" outfit.
After playing an innumerable amount of shows with an ever changing line-up: three to four different drummers, a total of 12 to 13 bass players and several guitarists, Iron Cross finally hung up their boots (so to speak) in 1985. They had grown tired of being pigeonholed by people who didn't know them and who persisted in pursuing their own agendas, however completely unfounded and untrue. Sab in particular just didn't want to do it anymore. He left the U.S. and returned to London, England, shortly thereafter. He soon began exploring other musical avenues and eventually formed Sab Grey and the Royal Americans, a blend of Punk, Folk, Rockabilly and Reggae music.
In 2000, the 20 year anniversary of Iron Cross' inception, Sab, upon returning from England, reformed the band with all new members for a series of reunion shows. Mainly for the fun of it, the drinking, and the exploitation of young girls (wink). Approached by GMM, a notable American Oi! label keen on releasing Iron Cross' entire back catalog on CD, Iron Cross' old standards were given new life to a new generation with "Live for Now" in 2001. A collection of both 7" EPs, the contributions to FLEX YOUR HEAD, as well as unreleased tracks, "Live for Now" represents the definitive offering from the original line-up (produced by Brian Baker of Minor Threat/ Bad Religion fame). Coincidentally, Dischord released its own collection in 2002, "20 Years of Dischord," which also featured the track "Live for Now."
The band has been playing out ever since, performing shows across Europe and the U.S. fairly regularly. Along the way, Sab has taken some satisfaction in seeing new generations of non-racist skins carry the banner for truth, justice, democracy and pride in one's self (as well as drinking heavily). He was also heartened to witness his songs become mainstays of Punk music and covered by such luminaries as Agnostic Front, The Business, and The Dropkick Murphy's.
The band recently released a split EP CD of new Iron Cross material with three songs from Sab Grey and the Royal Americans entitled "2 Piece and a Biscuit." Some of those same songs will also appear on a limited edition split 7" with KEYSIDE STRIKE in the UK (release: Summer 2009). IRON CROSS is also prominently featured in the DVD documentary, SKINHEAD CROSS CULTURE (Out Now on Unified Pride Video), the first American made documentary about traditional skins!
To be continued...
Sab Grey performs "Crucified" with AGNOSTIC FRONT at Ottobar in Baltimore.
UNIFIED PRIDE The pictures say it all!
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IRON CROSS"Live for Now" CD
Contains the complete original recordings from 1980 - 1983. Featuring: "Crucified for your Sins," "You're a Rebel," "Live for Now," "New Breed" and many other Oi core classics!
IRON CROSS"2 Piece and a Biscuit" CD
First Iron Cross release in 20 years! Split CD with the Royal Americans. Featuring: "Pride and Freedom," "I Don't Love You Anymore," "Catch your Grave" and "Wasted in DC."
Temporarily Out of Stock!
IRON CROSS"Hated & Proud" T-shirt
Temporarily Out of Stock!
IRON CROSS"Hated & Proud (en español)" T-shirt
ROYAL AMERICANS"Third Right on the Left" CD
Sab's side project. A mix of folk, punk, blues and reggae. Featuring: "Skinhead Girl," "Wasted in DC," "Jonny Too Bad," and "Them Crazy Blues."
Backed up against a wall The animal takes a final stand He spits and shows his battered teeth He's a foreigner in his own land
When there's nowhere left to run You're a Rebel No more battles can be won You're a Rebel Stands out there with his pride And fights with no one on his side You're a Rebel
Without mercy the pack descends Their cries of justice drowned in his defense And with smug satisfaction they strip him bare And steal the soul that would have flourished there
When there's nowhere left to run You're a Rebel No more battles can be won You're a Rebel Stands out there with his pride And fights with no one on his side You're a Rebel
You're a Rebel but not a winner You're a fighter and now you're bloody...
You're a Rebel but not a winner You're a fighter but now you're beaten
(repeat 2nd verse and chorus)
Lyrics: Sab Grey Music: Iron Cross Copyright 1983 Skinflint
"An unflinching tale of Skinhead life on the back streets of Baltimore."
SKINHEAD ARMY White-knuckle fiction laced with incidents from the author's checkered past, SKINHEAD ARMY takes the reader on an intimate, and sometimes unsettling, journey through the Skinhead and Punk subculture.
From the high notes of a thriving underground music scene to the sex, violence and bitter trials of the central character's daily existence, it is a novel unlike any other in the genre.
Penned by legendary front man of IRON CROSS, Sab Grey's unique perspective and "no holds barred" approach provides a rich and detailed world... fraught with peril, conflict and sly wit. The book's unabashed ANTI-fascist stance combined with a complete lack of "sugar coating" only accentuates its appeal, while dispelling some long held myths about the culture.
A "must read" for die-hard fans as well as the curious outsider, SKINHEAD ARMY is a gritty novel you won't soon forget.
—Bryan Davis Former feature writer for FLIPSIDE
Check out all 5 videos on the UNIFIED PRIDE CHANNEL on YouTube
SAB GREY Sab Grey founded America's first Oi band, IRON CROSS, in 1980. As a
musician and author, he enjoys the written word, whether in lyrical
verse or in books (especially those with an historical perspective). He also enthusiastically indulges the simple pleasures of wine, women and song (or more aptly: Rum, Skinhead babes and Punk Rock). A
much maligned and misunderstood character, like the fictional alter-ego in his books, Mr. Grey's gruff manner and indignant remarks in
the face of what he deems ignorant or personally repugnant has earned
him a few enemies over the years. It has also earned him a loyal
following that relishes in his irrepressible distain for all things
unjust and hypocritical (not to mention, a catchy tune or two). Like
anyone with a public voice who doesn't conform to the rigid political
correctness of the times and elects not to censor his outspoken
views, he bears the brunt of the pundits and sideline critics who
love to have a go at him any way they can (just not to his face). He
has made peace with that (sort of). He lives with his two unfeasibly stupid
dogs, Sally and Pickles, and splits his time between his two favorite
cities, London and Baltimore. He supports Arsenal FC and regards anything north of Finsbury Park as an unutterable shithole.
SKINHEAD ARMY is the first installment in a trilogy. The next novel in the series, HATED & PROUD was recently completed! The cover is being designed and the book will be available sometime this summer (2009). Stay tuned to this page for updates and excerpts from that novel.
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Just stopping by to say hi and give you some news. The new album 'Welcome To Murraysville' from Phil Murray and the Boys From Bury is now available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
Ya disponible el Nº6 de La Nariz Roja donde encontrareis como siempre un par de bandas de Cantabria como son Tifer(Punk Hardcore desde San Vicente de la Barquera) y Smooth Beans(reggae rocksteady desde Santander). Y además Batallón Urbano (Oi! Bogota), Briatore(Ska Marbella), Jackson Milicia(Punk Rock Valencia), De-Rotxe(Punk Zaragoza), UKO (Punk Donostia),Liquidator(sello ska reggae de Madrid), Matxetazo Na Parrotxa(Punk HC Ourense),Steel Boots(Oi! Barcelona),Skontra(Punk Folk Asturies), Adizión Etilika(Punk HC desde Xixón), Bloque Negro(Black Block), Riot Grrrls, cartas, fanzines, criticas musicales, pelicula(La Haine), LSM(Punk HC desde Madrid),Patada en la Papada(Punk desde Vizkaia), saludo de los dedos en posición de V,menstruación, historia del circo,histopía,poesía,etc.
Todo ello en 52 paginas y acompañado por una pegatina de La Nariz Roja y un cd con la participación de 20 bandas y como siempre por 2 euros más 0'70 euros de gastos de envío, en caso de compra por correo.
Para pedidos por correo recomendamos el ingreso bancario (por rapidez y seguridad) en La Caixa N º de Cuenta 2100-2172-35- 0100456036 a nombre de Isabel, una vez realizado el ingreso, nos mandas un mail a lanarizroja@yahoo.es con tu dirección y nombre, comprobamos el ingreso y te enviamos el zine.