Despite it’s
close proximity to NYC, Long Island, NY was
not a hotbed of hardcore in the early to mid
1980’s. THE NIHISLISTICS were Long Island’s
best-known hardcore band, and probably the only
LI HC band that was known outside of the NYC
area. There were a few other hardcore bands
from LI at that time however. INSANITY DEFENSE
and
SATAN’S CHEERLEADERS (who shared members)
were from LI, as were KRIEG KOPF, who were highly
regarded in the NY scene in the mid 80’s.
KRAKDOWN was perhaps LI’s best hardcore
band and featured vocalist Chris Notaro, as
well as bassist Bob (later of THE PSYCHOS and
several other NYHC bands). But it was the CRUMBSUCKERS
that put LI hardcore on the map on an international
scale.
Formed around
1982 in Baldwin, NY, the CRUMBSUCKERS were led
by
bassist Gary Meskil. The band also included
guitarist Frank and drummer Kevin Caroll. The
band had several vocalists before finding Dave
Brady. Shortly afterwards, Dave’s friend
Dave Wynn replaced Frank as guitarist. This
lineup recorded the first CRUMBSUCKERS demo.
Although they generally gave off a very ”serious”
vibe, the CRUMBSUCKERS had a sense of humor,
including a hardcore cover of Chubby Checkers’s
“The Twist “ on their demo. Several
years later, they showed they could be even
more silly, performing the “Inspector
Gadget” theme to end their sets.
About
a year later, they added a second guitarist,
Chuck Lenihan and replaced Kevin with new drummer,
Dan Richardson. The new lineup was different,
more metallic, combining hardcore aggression
with metal crunch. This sound was the new wave
in hardcore at the time, known as crossover.
The CRUMBSUCKERS began writing new songs, with
Wynn and Meskil writing most of the music and
Brady and Meskil writing the lyrics.
In 1984, the
band recorded a demo at CBGB’s. Brady’s
personal problems hastened his departure form
the band in 1985. He was replaced by KRAKDOWN
vocalist, Chris Notaro. Notaro’s harsh
vocals changed the band‘s sound somewhat
and gave them added appeal to thrash metal fans
who enjoyed the harsh vocals of bands like 
KREATOR.
The band also had acquired the managerial services
of Connie Barrett, who also managed AGNOSTIC
FRONT and CARNIVORE. With Barrett’s help,
the band signed a recording contract with Combat
Records.
Their debut
album “Life of Dreams” was released
in 1986 and featured artwork by Sean Taggart,
well known in the hardcore scene at the time
for his flier and album cover art for AGNOSTIC
FRONT and others. The album was produced by
Norman Dunn and engineered by Mike Marciano,
who had both worked with AGNOSTIC FRONT on their
more crossover-oriented records.
One of those
rare albums that is consistently powerful from
start to finish, “Life of Dreams”
may be the greatest crossover record ever. One
of the ultimate examples of hardcore intensity
meeting metallic crunch, the record is a near
perfect combination of fast thrash, heavy breakdowns,
and very harsh vocals. Combined with a slight
“rock” sensibility, the songs are
memorable, filled with powerful, non-generic
riffs.
Lyrically, most
songs fit the music’s angry mood, attacking
apathy (“Just Sit There”), politics
(“Super Tuesday”), and everyday
frustrations (“Live to Work”). Some
other songs were far less serious, such as “Hubrun,”
which was about buying marijuana that turns
out to be dusted. 
“Life
of Dreams” was too intense to be a commercial
success, but sold relatively well and quickly
made the CRUMBSUCKERS one of the most respected
bands in the hardcore/crossover scene. In the
right place at the right time, “Life of
Dreams” was released amid a flurry of
powerful hardcore and crossover records from
NY. AGNOSTIC FRONT, CRO-MAGS, CARNIVORE, BAD
BRAINS, MURPHY’S LAW, PRONG, and STORMTROOPERS
OF DEATH all released albums around the same
time “Life of Dreams” was released.
The CRUMBSUCKERS could have easily been lost
among the many classic records of that time
period, but weren’t, and came to be regarded
as contemporaries of those classic bands.
What set the
CRUMBSUCKERS apart from the other NY bands was
their suburban upbringing. While most of the
other bands were from the Lower East Side, or
Queens, or Brooklyn, the CRUMBSUCKERS were the
first Long Island hardcore band to become internationally
known, inspiring the many Long Island hardcore
bands that formed throughout the late 1980’s
and into the 1990’s. The CRUMBSUCKERS
proved that a band didn’t need to have
grown up on the streets of NYC and didn’t
need to have lived crime and drug filled lives
to create powerful and intense New York hardcore.
In early 1987,
Wynn left the band and was replaced by Matt
Cardin. Cardin left a few months later and was
replaced by Robert Koebler. In 1988, the CRUMBSUCKERS
released their second d album "Beast On
My Back," produced by influential metal
producer Randy Burns, whose presence foreshadowed
a change to a more metal sound. After the release
of “Beast on My Back,” Koebler left
and was replaced by ex-CARNIVORE guitarist Marc
Piovanetti.
The
CRUMBSUCKERS left a brief but important legacy
behind. They recorded some classic music and
inspired many other bands that formed in the
following years, as well as bringing lots of
attention to the Long Island scene which helped
it continue to grow long after the CRUMSBUCKERS
were gone.
Most members
of the CRUMBSUCKERS formed a new band called
HEAVY RAIN. Far different than the CRUMBSUCKERS,
HEAVY RAIN was a more commercial metal band.
This experiment/attempted sellout (depending
upon how cynical one is) didn’t last long.
Piovanetti and
Lenihan then teamed up with Parris “Kevin”
Mayhew of the CRO-MAGS to form another metal
band, PSYCHIC ORGY. After PSYCHIC ORGY’s
demise, Lenihan relocated to Florida and became
guitarist for S&M metallers, the GENITORTURERS.
Meskil and Richardson
formed the short-lived RAWHEAD with controversial
S.O.D./M.O.D. shouter Billy Milano before forming
metalcore band PRO-PAIN, with Meskil taking
over vocals as well as bass. After several releases,
Richardson left to join LIFE OF AGONY. After
LIFE OF AGONY’s breakup, Richardson and
guitarist Joey Z formed STEREOMUD. Meskil continues
to lead PRO-PAIN, who have released numerous
albums.
-Courtesy
of Brian from Bystander Fanzine
