R.I.P. Mike Scaccia
Mike Scaccia The world of metal lost another legend yesterday prematurely. Mike Scaccia of the legendary Rigor Mortis (one of the best late-80′s thrash metal bands whose first album was a masterpiece) suffered a heart attack last night on stage with Rigor Mortis and subsequently passed away. Mike was more well-known as a guitarist [...]
Saint Vitus and Weedeater to play Bottom Lounge this Sunday
This Sunday a pair of bands is playing at the Bottom Lounge that are so good that it should be declared a metal holiday. Long-time heavy metal band, Saint Vitus are teaming up with the more modern but equally great Weedeater. Either one of these bands would be more than enough reason to venture out [...]
Shiner to play two reunion shows at Bottom Lounge 8/25 & and 8/26
In the early 1990s when I was doing a printed zine (which eventually evolved into this website), DeSoto Records sent me a CD (titled Splay) from a band called Shiner who was from Kansas City, MO. I had never heard of them before but that was the label run by Jawbox so I figured they [...]
Tutu and the Pirates/Hotlips Messiah kickstarter for a split 7″
Tutu and the Pirates Chicago’s first punk band and one of Chicago’s current best punk bands (one that is criminally underrated) have joined forces with plans to release a split 7″. The two actually fit well together as Hotlips Messiah not only are a light-hearted fun punk band like Tutu and the Pirates, but they [...]
More new arrivals in the store!
The store was updated again with a lot more rare vinyl. This round includes some colored vinyl SE/youth crew rarities as well as some old comps and Misfits records. There’s a lot of really good stuff in there that you don’t see around very often. There’s also a sale now on some Mystic Records CDs [...]
Tons of rare old punk records added to the store!
The Punk Vault Store was just updated with a ton of great early 1980s and some late 1970s rare punk records. There’s a lot of gems to be had. Look for another small batch to be added in the next few days as well. Head on over to the store and check it out!
The Cult return to Chicago this Friday
The Cult – photo by Michael Lavine The Cult has quite a lengthy history. They started in the early 1980′s after evolving from first Southern Death Cult, then Death Cult, and then they settled on a lineup and became The Cult. Their first three albums (Dreamtime, Love, and Electric) are among the all-time classics from [...]
Two punk legends to double team Reggies this Thursday!
This coming Thursday night, two members of legendary first-wave punk bands along with a member of a legendary new-wave/pop band will join forces at Reggies to play two sets of their punk hits. Glen Matlock was the original bass player for the Sex Pistols. He was the bass player that could actually play his bass [...]
Many new arrivals in the Punk Vault Store
The store was just updated with a bunch of rare old punk records, a rare Motorhead flexi, some long out of print color variations of Spontaneous Combustion Records releases (JFA/Faction, Government Issue, and The Cheifs), and some brand new t-shirts. Check it out right here and please spread the word.
New arrivals in the store
I just updated the store with a lot of older/rare punk records along with a couple of new releases. Check out out right here and pick up some vinyl for your loved ones for Xmas!
Coroner confirms Gwar guitarist Cory Smoot’s cause of death
The Smoot family and Slave Pit Inc. released a statement regarding the official cause of death of guitarist Cory Smoot. Cory had played the character of Flattus Maximus for over ten years, and was discovered dead on the band’s tour bus on November 3rd of this year. He was 34. Stated North Dakota coroner William Masselo, [...]
Dave Brockie comments on Gwar guitarist Cory Smoot’s passing
Gwar singer/leader Oderus Urungus (real name Dave Brockie) issued a statement about the tragic and sudden passing of his friend and band mate Cory Smoot. Cory was the man behind the mask of lead guitarist Flattus Maximus, a role he has played for the better part of the last decade. Sadly this story isn’t a [...]
Gwar guitarist found dead
Cory Smoot (as Flattus Maximus) In what couldn’t be any more horrible news, Gwar guitarist Flattus Maximus (real name Cory Smoot) was found dead this morning by his band mates as they were preparing to head to Canada on their current tour. Dave Brockie, singer of Gwar whose stage name is Oderus Urungus, issued the [...]
New (old) Posh Boy digital releases
They may not have pressed an actual record since the 1990s but that doesn’t mean Posh Boy Records has vanished. The label is still alive and kicking and still has a nice back catalog of classic punk releases that have only been available on CDs for the most part in recent times. The label has [...]
Swans return to Chicago this Thursday!
If you are a music fan with any good taste and like independent music you must have at least heard of the Swans. This legendary and influential band has been around for three decades now and thankfully shows no signs of quitting. Not only are they still at it but they are still totally relevant [...]
Skinny Puppy to release new album in October
My favorite band in the entire world, Skinny Puppy, announced that their long-awaited new album will be released in October on SPV/Synthetic Symphony Records in North America. The album is titled hanDover and it is the band’s 14th studio album. The band is one of those rare acts that not only has never put out [...]
New Mastodon track available for free download via Adult Swim
Adult Swim this week offer an unreleased Mastodon track for free download via their Single of the Week program. This is exciting news for Mastodon fans considering aside from a ZZ Top cover, there has been no recorded output by the band since 2009′s amazing Crack the Skye. Check out “Deathbound” right here: Mastodon plans [...]
Riot Fest announce 2011 lineup!
The fall punk festival created to celebrate my birthday (OK well it wasn’t really created for that, it’s just a happy coincidence that it happens before my birthday every year) is gearing up for another huge string of shows here in our fine city. This year’s fest was already worth attending for the fact that [...]
Amebix release new song and video
UK punk/metal legends Amebix have just released a video for a new song from their forthcoming album. Having seen the band play a couple of years ago and seeing just how great they still are, needless to say this is very exciting news. If this new song is an indication of what the album as [...]
Voivod to release live album
Canadian metal pioneers, Voivod, are planning to release a live album this summer. The album, titled Warriors of Ice, will be released June 21 on Sonic Union Metal. The album was recorded in Montreal in 2009 and features all three surviving original members as well as new guitarist Dan “Chewy” Mongrain who has so far done [...]
Weedeater cancels remaining tour dates due to injury
In what should come as a surprise to no one, a member of Weedeater sustained an injury severe enough to force them to cancel the remaining dates of their US tour. This is disappointing news as the band is an amazing act to see live and now the people in the remaining cities on their [...]
Ben Weasel punches girls at SXSW, maintains asshole reputation
For those of you who weren’t all over twitter or facebook this weekend, Ben Weasel made headlines this weekend by punching two girls at a show his band Screeching Weasel was playing. Ben apparently riled up the crowd a variety of different ways including him ripping on the very fest he chose to come and [...]
Casey Royer of D.I. overdoses, gets arrested
Found on TMZ.com of all places. According to them, Casey Royer of D.I. overdosed on Heroin right in front of his son, who then ran next door to the neighbors for help. Casey survived and was subsequently arrested. Check out the details right here. It’s always disturbing to hear of any band members who fall [...]
Wax Trax Retrospectacle
There was a time throughout most of the 1980s and partially into the 1990s that Wax Trax Records in Chicago was arguably the greatest record store on Earth if you were into punk rock, industrial, new wave or any sort of alternative music. I used to save up money for weeks to spend at the [...]
