Saturday, November 20, 2010

Breakdown - 1987-1997



Massive hardcore from Yonkers, NY.

If you're even slightly into NYHC then you already have most of this stuff. I try and avoid posting stuff that's still available, but i've seen the '87 demo and Blacklisted ep on at least a dozen blogs, so i don't think including it here will make a difference. In a perfect world, if any of this stuff is still in print and you don't have it, you should buy it and this collection should only act as a convenient companion piece, not as a final product. If there's a problem just let me know and i'll revise the collection.

This is a collection of Breakdown material spanning ten years. Every track like a brick to the head. Enjoy.

Breakdown: 1987-1997

1987 lineup:
vocals - Jeff Perlin
guitar - Don Angelilli
guitar - Carl Porcaro
bass - Rich McLoughlin
drums - Anthony Drago

The
'87 demo was recorded at The Loft on May 26, 1987. Six tracks from the '87 demo were released as a 7" in 1990 on Blackout! as a combined effort with Noiseville Records. I remember seeing a double 7" of the entire demo back in the '90s as well. I'm not sure if that was a bootleg or not. In 2002 Blackout! released all 9 tracks on CD. There was also an unofficial CD release put out by Lost and Found in 1995 titled Dissed and Dismissed which included the demo along with 2 extra tracks, all remastered with new cover art. I'm pretty sure the last re-issue of the demo was the 7" put out by Dead Serious Records in 2005.

Shortly after the '87 demo was recorded, Carl, Rich and Anthony left the band due to personal differences and formed Raw Deal with Anthony Comunale (formerly of Token Entry) and Mike Sentkiewitz (formerly of Sick Of It All). Raw Deal were good, but in my opinion they never recorded anything even close to the intensity and heaviness of the Breakdown demo. One of my favorite NYHC demos ever. Total caveman shit.

1988 lineup:
vocals - Jeff Perlin
guitar - Rob DeFrosia
guitar - Richie Kennon
bass - Mark Sisto
drums - Larry Kaplan

I'm pretty sure somewhere between the '87 lineup and '88 lineup there was someone named Pete who played drums for a short time with the band. I'm also pretty sure he's credited as playing drums on the version of Sick People from the New York Hardcore: The Way It Is comp LP.

The
NYHC: Where The Wild Things Are comp LP was recorded in 1988 and released on Blackout! / Noiseville in 1989. Mastered at The Loft. Incredible comp with my personal favorite Breakdown recordings. Dissed And Dismissed in particular is a monster. The stellar lineup was Outburst, Killing Time, Life's Blood, Breakdown, Sheer Terror, Maximum Penalty, Uppercut, Norman Bates And The Showerheads and Gorilla Biscuits.New York Hardcore: The Way It Is was released by Revelation Records on LP in 1988 and on CD in 1993. Liner notes by Ray Cappo. Photography by B.J. Papas, Beth Lahickey andRichard Unhock. The bands: Bold, Nausea, Warzone, Gorilla Biscuits, Trip 6, Breakdown, Youth Of Today, Sick Of It All, Krakdown, Side By Side, YDL and Supertouch. Like many people, this comp was my exposure to Breakdown and lots of other great bands. I think Sick People floored everyone back in '88.

The
Runnin' Scared demo was recorded sometime in 1988. I have absolutely no info on this demo, and i've never owned or even seen an actual copy. I only included (and revised) the 2 tracks on the demo that were exclusive to it at that time. I had a shitty rip of the other 2 tracks to work with (All I Ask and Dissed and Dismissed), plus the comp versions are infinitely superior. I put a lot of work into these 3 tracks and i think they sound great. The song What It Is from this demo later appeared on the New Breed tape, and 2 of the tracks were re-recorded nearly 10 years later for the Blacklisted ep.

The Song Don't Give Up was taken from the
New Breed cassette. A great exclusive (at the time) track to that tape. Cleaned up nice.

1997 lineup:
vocals - Jeff Perlin
guitar - Mike Dijan
bass - Larry Susi
drums - Lou Medina

Completely different lineup again, with Jeff being the only remaining original member. With this lineup the band released the Blacklisted ep on Eyeball Records in 1997. Recorded at Mother West NYC. Mastered West West Side Music. The vinyl release contained 5 live tracks (all '87 demo songs). Great ep.

The
live tracks were recorded in 1987. I'm not sure of the date or venue, or even city for that matter. It was listed as live in CT, but i get the feeling it was a NYC gig. Great, yet pretty sloppy set. They do an instrumental version of Telltale, originally written to be a Breakdown song, but later recorded (with lyrics) by Raw Deal on their first demo.

The song We'll Be Back was taken from the live
WNYU set from 1988. This song was unreleased, although according to an online article by Christ Minicucci, Breakdown recorded this track, along with an alternate version of All I Ask, at Gian Studios on March 25, 1988. I'd love to hear those tracks! You can read that article here.

Lions and Cheetahs!

29 comments:

  1. The 87 Breakdown demo is awesome. I waited a whole summer (of 88) for some record store clerk to give me a copy. he got fired and I thought all was lost until the Record Store owner found the tape he had made for me.

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    Replies
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      Delete
  2. I'm going to see them at the Sheer Terror show on Sunday - can't wait!

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  3. Gold job ... though I strongly disagree about the Raw Deal part. To me, they are at least equal in Power And Rawness to the Breakdown demo, and ever more Killing Time's "brightside" is one undeniable classic record in every single bit,that I do miss in Breakdown beyond demo and WNYU-set...they are more of a cult,whereas Raw Deal where at least capable of having a one time shot on MustHave-album

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  4. From Wikipedia,

    "Jeff Perlin was named 'Hottest Man in Hardcore Punk' by 'Hottest Man in Hardcore Punk Magazine' in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008 & most notably 2009. He is 43 years old."

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  5. Horizons, to each his own. I know many people who think the Raw Deal demo is the best demo to come out of NYC. To me it's a bit generic compared to what was going on at the time. I'd place the demos by Altercation, Absolution, Our Gang, Trip 6 and many more above the Raw Deal demo. And i'm not a fan of Brightside at all. Just me though.

    If Breakdown had recorded a full length album with either the '87 or '88 lineup it would have been a classic.

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  6. The live stuff allegedly from CT may or may not be, I haven't played it yet - But I can confirm, having seen them a minimum of 3 times (I think it was a few more than that) at the Anthrax in Norwalk, that they certainly played there a bunch, and some of those shows were far beyond maximum capacity. Hated selling my 88 shirt, but I still have a handful of setlists somewhere...

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  7. I like breakdown but I'd still have to take raw deal/killing time over breakdown any day. Of course, brightside was one of the first nyhc records I heard, after aoq and back with a bong.


    Either way, sick collection.

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  8. Hello, long time listener, first time commenter. Thanks for this killer Breakdown collection (along with all the amazing stuff you've previously compiled, fixed-up and posted). I have the demo but no tape deck so this is especially appreciated. I agree with you, Breakdown over Raw Deal, they were more unique and more visceral, not that this is some kind of poll or popularity contest.

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  9. Better than a thousand words:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVUnGNeA-yA

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  10. Crazy to think how musically important the first demo is to New York Hardcore and the dudes were all 17 and 18 year olds. Surprised you didn't include the full NYU live sets from '87 and '89. The '87 set was sloppy but also great and raw. I also remember some other songs from the 2nd demo not included here including a really cool doomy instrumental. Anyhow, thanks for posting this.

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  11. I was going to suggest that you post some Breakdown, so I'm pleased to have this collection! The 1987 demo is one of my favorite NYHC recordings. When I first got the Lost & Found bootleg, I dubbed it onto a tape with Victim in Pain and Age of Quarrel. The Evil Eye has a post about Breakdown with some memories about that very tape and what a great soundtrack it provided during my early twenties.

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  12. Thanks for this! I'm pretty certain I have a '95 cassette demo with "Squeegee Man" on it. I gotta do some heavy rummaging at mom's house, If i find it, I will keep you posted. Thanks again.

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    Replies
    1. would kill to hear 'squegee man'

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  13. Thank you very much!

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  14. Just saw Breakdown last weekend in Philly.
    They put on a great show.

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  15. What's the deal with this collection? I go to download it, it finishes in two seconds, then I get a message saying it can't be unzipped. When I open the file there's only one MP3 which wont play. What's going on here?

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  16. I just downloaded it and it worked fine.

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  17. Anyone know where I can find the Bustin' Out 1987 demo?

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  18. for the record 88 line up guitarist rob defrosa was the orginal guitarist from NJ croosover/thrash legends lethal aggresion!!!

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  19. I think i have that Bustin' Out demo, i'll see if i can dig it out.

    demo tapes, thanks for the info.

    Vin

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  20. Breakdown started it all....I remember seeing them at the Pyramid Club(87')......Insane!!!! Jeff was/is a f'ing monster!!!

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  21. I have a Breakdown demo that is not included in this collection. Its from 93. Tracks are: Vengence, Squeegee Man, Jail Of Depression, Streetfight, What It Is, Breakdown and Don't Give Up. I transfered it from cassette to mp3s. Quality is decent, but perhaps you can clean it up and add it to this collection

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  22. Af, I would love to get that demo from you.

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  23. Full set at Tompkins Square in 1988 :

    https://vimeo.com/56800835

    Classic material.

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  24. The NY Hardcore scene in the 80's fucking ruled! Bands like Breakdown & many others played an important role in many lives. The track "Vengence" would be played on the way to kick asses for fucking up. I'm glad I got to live my rebellious years through that era. HCNY
    Sick Stan from Orange County!!!!!!!!!

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  25. Everthing is deleted.

    Can you refresh this link again please?

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  26. anyone still go these breakdown discography thanks

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