Sick of It All

Sick of It Allis an Americanhardcore punkband formed in 1986 inQueens,New York City.The band's lineup consists of brothers Lou and Pete Koller on lead vocals and guitars respectively, Armand Majidi on drums, andCraig Setarion bass. Sick of It All is considered a major part of theNew York hardcorescene,and by 2020, the band had sold at least half a million records worldwide.

Sick of It All
Sick of It All at Reload Festival 2018
Background information
Origin	New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hardcore punk tough guy hardcore
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Revelation,Relativity,East West,Elektra,Fat Wreck Chords,Abacus,Century Media,Woah Dad!
Members	Lou Koller Pete Koller Armand Majidi Craig Setari
Past members	Rich Cipriano Max Capshaw Eric Komst Eddie Coen
Website	sickofitall

Though their 1989 debut albumBlood, Sweat and No Tearswas a moderate success, Sick of It All did not achieve commercial success until later albums. After the release of their second albumJust Look Aroundin 1992,East West Recordssaw the band's potential and signed them in 1993. Sick of It All's third and major label debut album,Scratch the Surface,was released in 1994 to critical acclaim and included the singles "Scratch the Surface" and "Step Down". They released one more album on East West, 1997'sBuilt to Last,before signing withFat Wreck Chordsin 1998, which released the band's next three studio albums. They signed to Abacus Records afterwards, a subsidiary ofCentury Media.This label released their eighth studio albumDeath to Tyrantsin 2006 to positive reviews (Abacus eventually went out of business, though Sick of It All would remain on Century Media, which released the band's next three albums). Sick of It All's latest album,Wake the Sleeping Dragon!,was released in 2018.

History

Early career (1986–1992)

Formed in 1986,the members met while attendingFrancis Lewis High SchoolinQueens,New York City,the band was formed by Lou Koller on bass and vocals, Pete Koller on guitar and David Lamb on drums. The Koller brothers originally intended for their first band to be namedGeneral Chaos,however Lamb proposed calling the bandSick of All,with the intent to abbreviate it to S.O.A. Lou pointed out thatanother band existed with that nameand decided to expand the name toSick of It All.After recruiting bassist Mark McNeely, the band played their first show on Saturday May 17, 1986, just a month after they formed, at the Right Track Inn inLong Island,supportingYouth of Today,Straight AheadandCrippled Youth.After this performance, Lamb and McNeely left the band, leading to the brothers hiring Rich Cipriano as bassist and Armand Majidi as a "fill-in" drummer. This lineup also played its first show at the Right Track.The band recorded theSick of It Alldemoin 1987 and the band began to play Sunday afternoon matinees at renowned venueCBGB's,and soon after released a self-titled 7 "onRevelation Records(which was later re-issued on the tenth anniversary of its release, in 1997).

In 1988, Sick of It All signed toRelativity Recordsand recorded their first full-length,Blood, Sweat and No Tears,which was released in 1989. This was followed by the studio/live EPWe Stand Alone(1991), and their second studio albumJust Look Around(1992).

Rising popularity (1993–1997)

Sick of It All released their recordScratch the Surfaceonmajor labelEastWest Records.They also recorded a video for "Step Down" and the title track "Scratch The Surface". The record was the first recorded with long-time friend and former Straight Ahead, Rest in Pieces,Youth of TodayandAgnostic Frontbass player Craig Setari, who had replaced Rich Cipriano, in early 1993.

The fair success ofScratch the Surfaceallowed the band to tour worldwide. In 1997, they released their next record on the EastWest sister label Elektra,Built to Last.This record featured a number of live staples for the band, including "Us vs. Them", "Busted" and "Good Lookin' Out". Sick of It All toured withNapalm DeathandSepulturaduring the album cycle. The album also marked the end of Sick of It All's contractual agreement with EastWest.

The Fat Wreck Chords years (1998–2004)

In 1998, Sick of It All signed toindependent record labelFat Wreck Chords,owned and run byFat MikeofNOFX.After releasing the "Potential for a Fall" single – for which another video was filmed,Call To Armswas released in February 1999.

The 2000 follow-upYours Trulywas less critically acclaimed. Despite containing some of the band's favored live tracks, including "Blown Away", "The Bland Within", "District" and "America", some fans felt alienated by the album's progressive nature and in a recent interview, frontman Lou Koller claimed that the album's cover art probably contributed to its poor reception.

In 2001, Sick of It All released their home videoThe Story So Far,and a year later a live record was released as part ofFat Wreck Chords'Live in a Diveseries. The album showcased tracks from Sick of It All's entire career up to that point in time.

2003 saw Sick of It All release their seventh studio album:Life on the Ropes.In 2004, the band also released an album ofB-sides,covers and rare tracks entitledOuttakes for the Outcast,which contains some Sick of It All recordings.

Death to Tyrants(2005–2007)

Sick of It All on their 20th Anniversary Tour in 2006

In early 2005, Sick of It All signed toAbacus Recordingsto record the follow-up toFat Wreck Chords'Life on the Ropes.The new album, titledDeath to Tyrants,was released on April 18, 2006. The band toured withAFIand The Dear & Departed in early 2007.

A tribute to the band, titledOur Impact Will Be Felt,was released on April 24, 2007, and includes covers from artists such asBane,Bleeding Through,the Bouncing Souls,Ignite,Comeback Kid,Hatebreed,Himsa,Madball,Most Precious Blood,Napalm Death,Pennywise,Rise Against,Sepultura,Stretch Arm Strong,the Suicide Machines,Unearth,andWalls of Jericho.

Based on a True Story(2008–2013)

Following a worldwide tour in support ofDeath to Tyrants,Sick of It All began working on new material for their next album. In an August 2009 interview with singer Lou Koller, he revealed that the band would begin recording their new album in November for a 2010 release.Based on a True Story,the first Sick of It All album in four years, was released on April 20, 2010.Sick of It All also toured in Australia with Rise Against to support theirEndgametour in 2011. They also toured the UK withAFIand Dear & Departed in April 2010.

In 2011, the band released "XXV Nonstop"on Century Media to celebrate the band's 25 year career, which was a selection of re-recorded songs from the band's discography.

Last Act of DefianceandWake the Sleeping Dragon!(2014–present)

In November 2011, singer Lou Koller revealed toAbsolutePunkwriter Dre Okorley that Sick of It All had begun writing a follow-up toBased on a True Story.He stated: "Right now we're concentrating on writing our new record, inspired by the last two tours we've done with different bands. We have some really good lyrics and tons of songs done. We'll see what happens. We've just got a lotta good stuff coming up."The album, tiltedLast Act of Defiance,was released on September 30, 2014.

Sick of It All toured Great Britain and Ireland from January to February 2015.

Sick of It All spent much of 2016 celebrating their 30th anniversary with a worldwide tour.To coincide with this anniversary, the band released an EP of new material,When the Smoke Clears,on November 4, 2016.

By December 2016, Sick of It All had begun working on their twelfth studio album,Wake the Sleeping Dragon!,which was released on November 2, 2018.

In June 2024, Sick of It All cancelled an upcoming European tour set to begin in July. Following the announcement, vocalist Lou Koller revealed his diagnosis with an esophageal tumor, which would require treatment over the course of the summer.

Musical style and influences

Sick of It All are ahardcore punkband,being one of the first bands to push its sub-genreheavy hardcore.Kerrang!described them as "the standard bearers forNew York hardcore".

They have cited influences includingAgnostic Front,Reagan Youth,the Exploited,Discharge,GBHandMotörhead.Guitarist Pete Koller was influenced to play guitar in a band bythe PlasmaticsandBlack Sabbath.

Members

• Sick of It All live atFull Force2019
• 
  Lou Koller
• 
  Pete Koller
• 
  Craig Setari
• 
  Armand Majidi

Current members

• Lou Koller – lead vocals (1986–present), bass (1986)
• Pete Koller – guitars, backing vocals (1986–present)
• Armand Majidi – drums (1986–1989, 1991–present)
• Craig Setari– bass, backing vocals (1993–present)

Former members

• David Lamb – drums (1986)
• Mark McNeely – bass (1986)
• Rich Cipriano – bass (1986–1991, 1992)
• Eddie Coen - bass (1991-1992)
• Max Capshaw – drums (1989–1991)
• Eric Komst – drums (1991–1992)
• A.J. Novello - bass (1992)

Timeline

Discography

Main article:Sick of It All discography

Studio albums

• Blood, Sweat and No Tears(1989)
• Just Look Around(1992)
• Scratch the Surface(1994)
• Built to Last(1997)
• Call to Arms(1999)
• Yours Truly(2000)
• Life on the Ropes(2003)
• Death to Tyrants(2006)
• Based on a True Story(2010)
• XXV Nonstop(2011)
• The Last Act of Defiance(2014)
• Wake the Sleeping Dragon!(2018)

External links

• Official website
• Sick of It AllatAllMusic