The Suicide Machines

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Biography

The Suicide Machines are an United States|American punk rock band formed in March 1991 in Detroit, Michigan and disbanded in May 2006. Since 2009, the band has occasionally played reunion shows. During the course of their career the band released six full-length albums on the labels Hollywood Records and Side One Dummy Records . Though they experienced several lineup changes over the years, founding members Jason Navarro and Dan Lukacinsky remained regular fixtures. The band's musical style initially blended elements of punk rock , ska , and hardcore punk|hardcore into a genre popularly known as ska punk or "ska-core," which characterized their first two albums. During the middle of their career they shifted gears, moving away from this sound and producing two albums with a heavy pop rock influence. Their final two albums moved back towards their mid-1990s style, bringing back heavy ska punk and hardcore elements.

Despite being signed to a major record label for their first four albums, The Suicide Machines did not experience significant mainstream success. However, they did achieve a relatively high level of underground recognition through relentless touring, including multiple performances on the Warped Tour . This trend continued when the band moved to an independent label for their last four years, before their breakup brought an abrupt end to the band's career.

Band history

1991-1995: Jack Kevorkian and the Suicide Machines

The Suicide Machines formed in 1991 in Detroit, Michigan under the original name Jack Kevorkian and the Suicide Machines . The band's original lineup consisted of Jason Navarro on Singing|vocals , Dan Lukacinsky on guitar , Jason Brake on bass guitar|bass , and Stefan Rairigh on Drum kit|drums . This lineup lasted a year until Bill Jennings replaced Rairigh, but he was himself soon replaced by Derek Grant (drummer)|Derek Grant . They recorded the band's first demos The Essential Kevorkian and Green World (album)|Green World in 1993 and 1994, both released through their own label Sluggo's Old Skool Records. They also released the "Vans Song" 7" single on Youth Rendition Records . Brake left the group in 1994 and was briefly replaced by Dave Smith until Royce Nunley joined as the new permanent bass player. The lineup of Navarro, Lukacinsky, Nunley, and Grant would last for the next four years. This lineup reduced the band's name to The Suicide Machines and recorded the Skank for Brains split album with The Rudiments .

1996-2001: Hollywood Records years

In 1995 the band signed to Hollywood Records , a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company . 1996 saw the release of their first album, Destruction by Definition . Its blend of punk rock and ska brought them national attention in the midst of the mid-1990s punk rock mainstream revival. The single "No Face" became a minor hit on modern rock radio stations and the album was supported through extensive touring across the United States of America|United States . They released a follow-up in 1998 entitled Battle Hymns (Suicide Machines album)|Battle Hymns , which continued their ska punk style while incorporating more aggressive elements of hardcore punk and sociopolitical lyrics, with nearly all of its songs lasting under two minutes in length.

Following the release of Battle Hymns Grant left the band. He went on to play with numerous groups including Thoughts of Ionesco , The Vandals , Face to Face (punk band)|Face to Face , and Telegraph (band)|Telegraph before finding a permanent position in the Alkaline Trio . He was replaced by Erin Pitman for some touring before new permanent drummer Ryan Vandeberghe joined. In 2000 this lineup released The Suicide Machines (album)|The Suicide Machines , a more pop rock oriented effort that moved away from the ska influences of their earlier releases. They received some radio and video play for the single "Sometimes I Don't Mind" and performed on the Warped Tour that Summer. In 2001 they released Steal This Record , which continued their exploration of pop punk style while mixing in elements of their earlier ska punk and hardcore albums.

2002-2005: Side One Dummy Records years

Following touring in support of Steal This Record bassist Nunley left The Suicide Machines to start his own band, Blueprint 76 , and was replaced by Rich Tschirhart. The band also ended their contract with Hollywood Records, fulfilling their contractual obligations by releasing the compilation album The Least Worst of the Suicide Machines . They then moved to the independent label Side One Dummy Records . Their next album A Match and Some Gasoline , released in 2003, found the band abandoning the pop experimentations of their previous two albums and returning more to the ska punk and hardcore styles of their earlier years. They also continued exploring sociopolitical themes in songs such as "Did You Ever Get a Feeling of Dread? " and "Your Silence," which were critical of President George W. Bush 's administration, its response to the September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks , and the wars in War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan and Iraq War|Iraq . They toured internationally in support of the album and again performed on the Warped Tour.

In 2005 the band released the album War Profiteering is Killing Us All , which continued their political themes by openly attacking the Bush White House, the continuation of the Iraq War, and conservative Republicanism. Navarro also launched his own record label, Noise Riot Records , and released On the Eve of Destruction: 1991-1995 , a compilation of the band's early EPs, singles, and demos.

2006-2008: Breakup and post-Suicide Machines activity

In 2006, while touring in support of War Profiteering is Killing Us All , the band abruptly broke up. Explanations given by the band members for this included Vandeberghe's desire to take a break from touring, which he did while friend Steve McCrumb filled for a performance at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles on May 11. A tour of Mexico had been planned to follow this, and Navarro had suggested that the band perform its final shows that Christmas . However, interpersonal tensions came to a head after the Troubadour show when Lukacinsky refused to finish the tour. Lukacinsky himself further elaborated that the band had been planning to break up for some time.

Following the band's breakup Navarro and Vandeberghe continued working with Left in Ruin , a band they had started as a Suicide Machines side project and had worked on and off with for almost 6 years. Vandeberghe also joined the new band Hifi Handgrenades , and Tschirhart joined the band soon after. Later, Tschirhart formed another band called The A-Gang with former Mest drummer Nick Gigler . Lukacinsky, meanwhile, started his own band Bayonetting the Wounded , who broke up after a few demo recordings. He then moved to Japan and formed The One Thought Moment. Early 2008, Navarro formed another Detroit band, Hellmouth (band)|Hellmouth , in which he is back on lead vocals. In 2011, Navarro formed a new band called Break Anchor.

2009-present: Reunion shows

In late 2009, Jason Navarro, Rich Tsirhart, and Ryan Vandeberghe reunited with Hellmouth drummer Justin Malek (on guitar)as "The Suicide Machines" for a beneficiary show in Detroit. The show was done to support a local activist, and was supported by many upcoming bands such as G-Had, The Cause, Noman and A-Gang.

On July 24, 2010, The Suicide Machines performed at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit. In October 2010 The Suicide Machines performed at The Fest 9. On October 8th, 2011 The Suicide Machines reunited to play Riot Fest 2011 in Chicago, with a handful of reunion shows preceding.

The Suicide Machines will play another reunion show in Rochester, NY on May 19, followed by a performance at Pouzza Fest 2012 the next day, which takes place May 18-20 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Band members

The Suicide Machines lineups
(only official members listed)>

(1991–1992) live shows only Jason Navarro - Singing\|vocals Dan Lukacinsky – guitar Jason Brake - bass guitar\|bass Stefan Rairigh - Drum kit\|drums
(1992) live shows only Jason Navarro - vocals Dan Lukacinsky – guitar Jason Brake - bass Bill Jennings - drums
Green World "Vans Song" 7" Jason Navarro - vocals Dan Lukacinsky – guitar Jason Brake - bass Derek Grant (drummer)\|Derek Grant - drums
(1994) live shows and demos only Jason Navarro - vocals Dan Lukacinsky – guitar Dave Smith - bass Derek Grant - drums
Live! Live! Live! Battle Hymns (Suicide Machines album) Jason Navarro - vocals Dan Lukacinsky – guitar Royce Nunley - bass Derek Grant - drums
(1998) live shows only Jason Navarro - vocals Dan Lukacinsky – guitar Royce Nunley - bass Erin Pitman - drums
The Suicide Machines Steal This Record Jason Navarro - vocals Dan Lukacinsky – guitar Royce Nunley - bass Ryan Vandeberghe – Drum kit\|drums
(2002–2006) A Match and Some Gasoline War Profiteering is Killing Us All Jason Navarro - vocals Dan Lukacinsky – guitar Rich Tschirhart - bass Ryan Vandeberghe – Drum kit\|drums
(2009-Present) reunion shows Jason Navarro - vocals Justin Malek – guitar Rich Tschirhart - bass Ryan Vandeberghe – Drum kit\|drums

Jason Navarro|Jason "Jay" Navarro – vocals (1991–2006, 2009-present)

Dan Lukacinsky – guitar , backing singing|vocals (1991–2006)

Jason "Jay" Brake - bass guitar (1991–1994)

Stefan Rairigh - drum kit|drums (1991–1992)

Bill Jennings - drums (1992)

Derek Grant (drummer)|Derek Grant - drums (1992–1998)

Dave Smith - bass (1994)

Royce Nunley - bass (1994–2002)

Erin Pitman - drums (1998)

Ryan Vandeberghe – drums (1998–2006, 2009-present)

Rich Tschirhart – bass guitar, backing vocals (2002–2006, 2009-present)

Justin Malek – guitar (2009-present)

Discography

The discography of The Suicide Machines consists of six studio album s, two compilation album s, three extended play|EP s, four single (music)|single s, two demo (music)|demo s, and six music video s.

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US
		Billboard 200>title = The Suicide Machines: Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums	Top Heatseekers>Heatseekers
1996		—	32
1998	Battle Hymns	127	3
2000	The Suicide Machines	188	11
2001		—	—
2003		—	—
2005		—	—
"& mdash;" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

Year	Album details
2002
2006

Extended plays

Year	Release details
1996
1998	Live& #33; Live& #33; Live!
2003	The Suicide Machines / Potshot Released: 1998 Label: TV-Freak Format: CD

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions	Album
		US
		Alternative Songs>url = http:/ / www.billboard.com/ search/ ? keyword=suicide+machines& x=9& y=18#/ artist/ the-suicide-machines/ chart-history/ 147695? f=377& g=Singles
1993	"Vans Song"	—	n/ a
1997	"No Face"	31	Destruction By Definition
1998	cite web>title = 'Give'	—	Battle Hymns
2000	"Sometimes I Don't Mind"	22	The Suicide Machines
"& mdash;" denotes releases that did not chart. "n/ a" denotes singles that are not from albums.

Demos

Year	Release details
1993	The Essential Kevorkian Released: 1993 Label: Sluggo's Old Skool Format:
1994	Green World Released: 1994 Label: Sluggo's Old Skool Format:

Music videos

Year	Song	Director	Album
1996	"No Face"		Destruction By Definition
1996	"S.O.S."		Destruction By Definition
1998	"Give"		Battle Hymns
2000	"Sometimes I Don't Mind"		The Suicide Machines
2003	"Keep It a Crime"		A Match and Some Gasoline
2005		Matthew Stawski	War Profiteering Is Killing Us All

Other appearances

The following songs by The Suicide Machines were released on compilation and tribute albums. This is not an exhaustive list; songs that were first released on the band's albums, EPs, and singles are not included.

Year	Release details	Track
1999		"Green World"
1999		" What I Like About You (song)\|What I Like About You " (originally performed by The Romantics )
2001		"For the Day"
2002	'The Giant Rock'n'Roll Swindle Released: October 29, 2002 Label: Fork In Hand Format: CD	"Perserverence"
2007		"Goatless" (originally performed by Sick of It All )

Copyright Citations

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The Suicide Machines Photo by: www.trexle.net


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