True Colors were a late '80s New York hardcore band with members of Our Gang and Citizen's Arrest. This is a collection of everything they recorded, minus one song. All recorded at Don Fury Studios between 1987-1989. All great stuff. Enjoy.
True Colors Collection
Daryl Kahan on True Colors (excerpt from interview - You Breed Like Rats blog):
True Colors was a band I formed after meeting several guys in a band called Our Gang. I used to hang out and rehearse at a great place on 14th street in New York City called Giant Studios. Many well-known NYHC bands used to rehearse there including Lifesblood, Sick Of It All, Side By Side, YDL, Krakdown, Breakdown, Mental Abuse, Warzone, Death Before Dishonor, NY Hoods etc. There were rooms A through Z so you could just walk in and hang out and listen to each band rehearse. Through this process I ran into a band my age called Our Gang. They had a friend named Chuck who attended these rehearsals (which were more like small shows complete with a pit and sing alongs etc..- great times!). Chuck and I became friends and decided to form our own band, True Colors. Lou Dimmick of Our Gang joined along with Pat Winter. I originally was the drummer of True Colors until our singer quit and Pat joined. We recorded two demos at Don Fury's studio and played two shows, one in Connecticut with our friends Pressure Release and another with Underdog in Albany, NY. We recorded one song called "No Way To Live" at Don Fury's which appeared on Freddy Alva's New Breed Compilation. Fred Alva later formed Wardance which later signed Citizens Arrest for our first EP and album. After a while I lost interest in True Colors and started looking for members to form a new band which became Citizens Arrest.
— Daryl Kahan
You can read the entire interview here.
Chuck Gomez - Guitar
Daryl Kahan - Vocals
Lewis Dimmick - Bass
Patrick Winter - Drums
Cool post. True Colors was loads of fun while it lasted. These "demos" we never actually released officially . We gave copies to our friends in Our Gang and All for One and a few others like Freddy Alva.. They were rehearsals recorded in several sessions at Don Fury's studio on Spring St. Don would help us set up the mics, get a basic YOT setting on the mixer and leave us to our own devices. He would say "there is the record button and there is stop.. Have fun guys! The result is what you have in this collection. There is a song missing though - the first one we ever wrote called "The Decision is Up to Me". True Lou sent me most of this stuff years ago including that song. Thanks Lou! I think I have some giant studios rehearsals on tape someplace as well. Hope you can find some nostalgia and enjoyment in listening to these tracks. If Chuck sees this get in touch!
ReplyDeleteDaryl K
Daryl, thanks for posting. I always loved the track on New Breed, and just recently was able to get these other sessions. I'm lovin' this stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get an Our Gang collection together, but so far only have a 13 song demo from 1988. If you have anything you could send, please get in touch. Cheers.
Vin
Hey Vin - I just noticed you have track 17 listed as "Pipe On" - haha we were anti-crack not pro... The song is called "Pile On". I'll ask Pat and Lou if they have anything extra. As far as I know their demos contained only a few songs each so you probably have everything. ps- I noticed there is some Belgian band who are calling themselves True Colors now. Even their artwork looks like Pats' a little bit. Those wacky Belgians. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteDaryl
It is track 18 - "Pile On" - please change it.
ReplyDeleteThanks man.
Here is the True Colors line-up: Chuck was not in Our Gang.
ReplyDeleteChuck Gomez - Guitar
Daryl Kahan - Vocals
Lewis Dimmick - Bass
Patrick Winter - Drums
Daryl, thanks for the info. I'll change that mistake tonight. That's the way i originally got it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, i was able to get all the Our Gang stuff today. I'll compile it all soon.
Vin
Both the file and the cover are now fixed.
ReplyDeleteDaryl, if you ever come across the track "The Decision is Up to Me", please send it over.
I actually though Pipe On was some kind of skateboarding reference. Ha
Vin,
ReplyDeleteI just found a demo from our post- CXA band "Colossus" which featured True Lou of True Colors on Bass, Hobi of Our Gang on guitar, Pete - Guitar (Guitarist of Black Throne -Pat's old metal band) and Pat Winter / CXA / True Colors on Drums. It sounds like slayer meets CXA with some not-so-great vocals haha .. I will rip it and send it to you when I can. Take care, Daryl
Well, technically Chuck was an honorary member of OUR GANG in the early days. He was a backup singer on tons of tracks and was as close to being a full member as one possibly could be. He also was our designated "pit starter".
ReplyDeleteDaryl, I think i have a few tracks of the Colossus demo somewhere, but i'm looking forward to hearing more.
ReplyDeletePretty sure thats BIG FUN studios not GIANT STUDIOS on the cover.
ReplyDeletePat - your right it was Big Fun. I thought it was the long room on the left side of the hall at Giant. Big fun damn... I wonder if that place is still there.
ReplyDeleteAnybody remember the name of the Irish dive bar across the street from Giant on 14th???
ReplyDeleteFinally all their demo's together on one cd!!!!!
ReplyDeletei've been waiting for this for a long time,i had one of their awesome demo's and much much later i found out about the other 2,that really made my day!!
i love this band.
thanx for this greetz from holland
Patrick
True Colors / Citizens Arrest / Our Gang had a recent rehearsal and it kicked ass!! We will continue and come away with a new ep at least!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interest!!
Fuckin' A. I can't wait for this.
ReplyDelete