Avengers (band): Difference between revisions

The '''Avengers''' is an American [[List of musicians in the first wave of punk music|punk rock]] band formed in 1977 in [[San Francisco, California]]. Their lead singer, [[Penelope Houston]], is also a [[folk music|folk]] [[singer]]. Their song "The American in Me," was described by Peter Margasak, in an article for [[The Chicago Reader]], as "one of the best-ever indictments of blind patriotism (and one that only grows more potent as the years pass)".<ref>{{cite newsname=reader/>

Drummer Danny Furious (Danny O'Brien) and guitarist Greg Ingraham decided to start a band, and Furious approached [[Penelope Houston]] to be their singer, who agreed. They finished their lineup with Jonathon Postal on bass, although he was replaced shortly after by [[James Wilsey|Jimmy Wilsey]].<ref>http: name="furious_interview"//www.acc.umu.se/~samhain/summerofhate/avengersinterview.html</ref> Their first release (and only release while the band was originally together) was ''[[We Are the One]]'', a three-song EP which was released on [[Dangerhouse Records]] in 1977.<ref name="Strong">Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 9</ref>

The Avengers opened for the [[Sex Pistols]] in San Francisco at their final show at [[Winterland]], which led to Sex Pistols guitarist [[Steve Jones (musician)|Steve Jones]] producing a recording session for the band.<ref name="Strong" /> In January 1979, Ingraham left the band and was replaced by [[Brad Kent]], although the band only lasted a few more months until June 1979.<ref name="furious_interview2furious_interview">http://www.acc.umu.se/~samhain/summerofhate/avengersinterview2.html</ref> An EP, titled ''[[Avengers (EP)|Avengers]]'', was released on [[White Noise Records]] a few months after the band broke up, which included songs from the Steve Jones produced session. Houston went on to record as a solo artist.<ref name="Strong" />

An album called ''[[Avengers (album)|Avengers]]'' (sometimes referred to as the ''Pink Album'', including by Houston herself<ref>http: name=pen//www.penelope.net/avitems.html#Anchor-49575</ref>) was released in 1983. It featured tracks recorded through the band's whole time together, and was compiled by drummer Danny Furious.<ref name="furious_interview2furious_interview" /> The album was out-of-print for a long time due to being in "legal limbo", during which time Houston would sell the album in [[CD-R]] format directly through her website. The album was re-released in 2010.

In 1999, a [[compilation album]] called ''[[Died for Your Sins]]'' was issued by [[Lookout! Records]]. In addition to original unreleased studio recordings and live tracks, three tracks were newly recorded in 1999 by the scAvengers, featuring original members Houston and Ingraham with new members bassist Joel Reader ([[The Mr. T Experience]], The Plus Ones) and drummer [[Danny Panic]] ([[Screeching Weasel]]). To support the album, the scAvengers did a few shows.<ref name="trakmarx">Encoule, Jean (2005) "[http://www.trakmarx.com/2005_01/07_avengers_f.htm The Avengers&nbsp;– Payback]", ''Trakmarx'', Issue 18, January 2005, retrieved 2010-10-23</ref> In 2003, a live album titled ''[[Zero Hour (Avengers album)|Zero Hour]]'' was released in Italy. The next year, ''[[The American in Me]]'' was released, featuring all of the tracks from ''Zero Hour'' plus four other unreleased studio recordings. Houston and Ingraham again joined with Reader and new drummer Luis Illades to perform some record release shows, and this lineup has performed sporadic live shows since.<ref name="trakmarx" />

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