Considered by some as the most handsome and slender hardcore band in Portland, Oregon during the mid-nineteen-eighties, Final Warning was known for their appreciation of English punk and metal as well as Olde English malt liquor.
The "classic" Final Warning line-up consisted of Jeff Paul, vocals; Jeff "Simon" Simoncini, guitar; Tim Paul, bass and Dan Cunneen on drums. The band originally formed in 1982 with Simoncini, Cunneen and Tim Paul (on vocals), with past and future Poison Idea alumni Glenn Estes and Charlie Nims (aka Myrtle Tickner) each doing turns on bass. In early 1983, Tim Paul switched over to bass and Jeff Paul (no relation) joined the group on vocals. This line-up would remain unchanged until Final Warning disbanded in 1986 (except for a brief period at the end of the band's career when Poison Idea drummer Steve "Thee Slayer Hippie" Hanford played several shows with F.W. on second guitar).
Final Warning was influenced by late 1970's and early 1980's U.S. West Coast hardcore (Germs, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys and Circle Jerks) and the second wave of English punk (Discharge, G.B.H., Disorder and The Exploited). What set Final Warning apart from other hardcore bands of the period was the merging of heavy metal into their sound (bands like Metallica, Motörhead, Venom and early Mötley Crüe.) Final Warning would combine these influences to become one of the early bands to break down the wall between punk and metal.
Speed was king in the 1980’s hardcore scene and Final Warning was no different than their counterparts in that respect. With blindingly fast tempos and words spat out like bullets from a machine gun, no song in their early sets was longer than a minute and a half. Later, the band would vary their tempos and develop further musically, but they never sacrificed the intensity and punk rock attitude that originally inspired them.
The most common lyrical focus of Final Warning's music was their stand against violence and war. Final Warning picked up on many of the anti-war themes that the U.K. band Discharge used and expanded them to include their own take on the conformity, complacency and militarism in the United States during the Reagan era.
Final Warning would share the bill with many legendary bands during their career. Among them: Dead Kennedys, Scream, Dr. Know, The Exploited, G.B.H., Hüsker Dü, The Minutemen, D.R.I. and Mercyful Fate, but they never played outside the Pacific Northwest.
In 1984, Fatal Erection records released the 4 song Final Warning EP and a year later the band had a track on Fatal Erection’s Drinking is Great Portland Punk compilation. Unfortunately, the ill-fated cocktail of apathy, innocence and chemicals would spell the end of Final Warning in 1986, before the band had a chance to release a full-length recording.
Members of Final Warning would go on to have marginal "success" in various other Pacific Northwest bands, including: Napalm Beach, Poison Idea, Obituaries, Big House, Gruntruck, Zipgun, Kill Sybil and the Nightcaps.
Along with their contemporaries like Poison Idea, The Accüsed, Lockjaw, E-13, the Fartz and Sado-Nation, Final Warning was a vital part of the Pacific Northwest underground music scene’s evolution from “punk” to “hardcore.”
In the first three months of production I have sold 22 Persona Series Cassettes. These albums are completely original 45 minute recordings, named after the purchaser who also retains full rights to further production of, and broadcast of the release. Each Persona Tape comes with 2 hand drawn mini posters, and a hand drawn cover. This is the most unique and exciting release you will ever own, order yours now for $10 (domestic shipping included, international shipping determined by distance) while I still feel like making them! Thanks for your time, and thanks for letting me advertise on this site :)
I am now
recording for a new set of releases called the "Persona Series". These
cassettes will be commissioned works (not by content, but by payment)
for individuals. If John Smith in London, England wants his own Zebulon
Kosted album, I will make a 45 minute album (one side of a 90 minute
tape), 2 hand drawn mini posters, I will name the album after him
(Zebulon Kosted - John Smith), and the fan will retain all rights to
the recording (for use of any future release, sampling, or broadcasting
rights). One copy of the album will remain in my personal collection,
and one will be sent to the customer, so that the only copy that will
be in circulation will be John Smiths copy! Each album is available for
the ridiculously low price of $10 (not including shipping), and will be
shipped in its completed form no later than 6 weeks from the date of
purchase!!!
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.
Read the new Interview w/ Wiley Wells from The End Records THESE ARE THEY! Also check out some of the other interviews we have posted in the blog in the last few weeks.
EXMORTUS MIKE LE GROS (Disinter, Earthen, Novembers Doom) WARPATH SHARDBORN FALL OF EMPYREAN CRUCIFIER DO TREMBLE and FALL SILENT
-Red The Blood Funnel We support the Metal Underground
Schkall för helvete från the ol Upplands-Bro hicks of Swedens original mangel boys and jävla svin och skitkrösspunk genom tiderna on fittsauce und nussiaakkas så INÅT helvete.
The
And (as absurd as it may seem) infamous comicbook superheroes by Joakim Lindengren
Online Now!
