Youth of today

Youth of Today was founded in 1985 in Dunbury , Connecticut , by two members of the hardcore punk band Violent Children: vocalist Ray Cappo and guitarist John Porselli . They wanted to create a straight edge ensemble during the period in which most straight edge old school groups ceased to exist. Unable to find a bass player and drummer, Ray and Porselli accepted two of their high school friends, Graham Phillips and Darren Peski, who had previously played with Porselli on the band The Young Republicans.

Can't Close My Eyes

In 1985, the band recorded their debut mini-album Can't Close My Eyes , which was released on Positive Force Records , a label owned by Kevin Seconds, leader of the popular hardcore punk band 7 Seconds . Soon, Graham and Darren left the group and in their place came the musicians of the New York band Straight Ahead: Craig Setari (bass) and Tommy Carroll (drums). During the second Youth of Today tour, Tommy left the group and Drew Thomas from Crippled Youth (who later changed his name to Bold ) came in his place.

Break Down The Walls

After a short time, Underdog vocalist Richie Birkenhead joined the group as a second guitar. The first Youth of Today album, called Break Down the Walls and released by Wishingwell Records, was recorded on this lineup. After the recording of the album, Drew in the ensemble was replaced by Mike "George", who later became the vocalist of the band Judge . Craig also left the band and recreated the Straight Ahead (he later played with Agnostic Front and Sick of It All ). His place in the group was taken by Walter Schreifels of Gorilla Biscuits .

After the end of the concert tour following the release of the Break Down The Walls album, the second guitarist Richie left the band. In this lineup, Youth of Today appeared with two songs in the sampler of the label Revelation Records New York Hardcore - The Way It Is , which also featured New York bands such as Bold , Gorilla Biscuits, Side By Side and Sick of it All .

We're Not In This Alone

At the end of 1987, the group left Mike. In his place came the new drummer Sammy Sigler from Side by Side . In 1988, Youth of Today recorded their classic second album, We're Not in This Alone , published in America by Caroline Records and in Europe by Funhouse Records.

In early 1989, Youth of Today made a concert tour of Europe, performing in: Sweden , Norway , Denmark , Germany , Switzerland , Austria , Yugoslavia , Italy , France , Belgium , the Netherlands and England .

In 1990, the band split up, recording four songs for a farewell mini-album released by Revelation Records . Three of them were released on the single "Disengage".

After the breakup of the group

In 1991, Ray Kappo founded the Hare Krishna group Shelter , which Porselli then joined. Walter has been a guitarist at Gorilla Biscuits from 1986 until the band disintegrated. During the band's European concert tour in 1990, Porselli and Sammy joined. After the breakup of Gorilla Biscuits, Walter founded Quicksand , followed by Rival Schools and Walking Concert . Sammy was later a drummer at CIV and other ensembles, including Limp Bizkit . In 2004, Youth of Today members came together and conducted a European tour in their original composition: Ray Cappo , Porselli and Sammy. During the 2011 European tour, Youth of Today first visited Russia.

• Ray Cappo - vocals (1985-1990, 2004)
• John Porselli - The Guitar (1985-1990, 2004)
• Richie Birkenhead - Guitar (1986-1987)
• Graham Phillips - bass (1985-1986)
• Craig Setari - bass (1986-1987)
• Walter Schreifels - bass (1987-1990)
• Ken Alden - bass (2004)
• Darren Peske - Percussion (1985-1986)
• Tommy Carroll - Percussion (1986)
• Drew Thomas - drums (1986-1987)
• May "Dodge" - drums (1987)
• Sammy Sigler - drums (1987-1990, 2004)

Albums

• Can't Close My Eyes (1985)
• Break Down The Walls (1987)
• We're Not In This Alone (1988)
• Youth of Today (1990)

Singles

• “Can't Close My Eyes” (1985, Positive Force Records, then reissued on Schism Records, Caroline Records, We Bite Records and Revelation Records )
• Disengage (1990, Revelation Records )

Live Albums

• Yesterday (1991) (unofficial release)
• Take A Stand (1992, Lost And Found Records)
• Anarchy In Vienna (1989) (unofficial release)
• Live At Van Hall 1989, Amsterdam (1989, Commitment Records)
• Live At CBGB’s (1998, Reality Records) ^[3]

Collections

• Make it work
• Connecticut Fun (1985)
• New York City Hardcore: Together (1987, Revelation Records )
• New York City Hardcore - The Way It Is (1988, Revelation Records)
• Hold your ground
• Sunday matinee
• In-flight program
• Voice of the voiceless
• Another Shot For Bracken
• A time we'll remember
• We bit
• We bit
• The sound of the streets
• Revelation 100 (Revelation Records)

• Straight edge
• Youth crew

• Youth of Today on the Allmusic website
• Youth of Today official Facebook page