The Freeze

The Freeze are a punk rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts formed by a group of teenagers in 1978.[1][2] They released the first single, "I Hate Tourists" in 1980 and contributed 8 songs, including the title track to the 1982 hardcore punk compilation This Is Boston, Not L.A.

This article is about the American band. For the Scottish band, see The Freeze (Scottish band). For other uses, see Freeze.
The Freeze
OriginCape Cod, Massachusetts
GenresHardcore punk, punk rock
Years active1978–present
LabelsModern Method, Taang!, Lost And Found(DE), Doctor Strange, Schizophrenic, Beer City, Gummopunx Records!,
MembersClif Hanger
Dave (D.B.) Barbee - Guitar
Zach Carmichael - Guitar
Joe Koonz - Guitar
Aaron Hjalmarson - Drums
Past membersBill Close
Ron ("HeXe") Cormier
Kevin Vicha
Rob 'Da Cradle" Rosenthal

The band is known for their dark lyrics, original punk rock melodies, and their longevity. A lot of their early lyrics deal with alienation, drug-use/abuse and paranoia (especially of the church, government and those exercising authority over others in general ). A constant theme or thread regarding apathetic observers or people willing to give up their freedoms for fear of losing their "security" is also apparent in their work.

History

The Freeze's first release was the "I Hate Tourists" / "Don't Forget Me Tommy" single, released in 1980. The Freeze's music was picked by Newbury Comics' in-house label, Modern Method Records, which released several of the Freeze's songs on the Boston hardcore compilations "Unsafe at Any Speed" and This Is Boston, Not L.A. in 1982. The Freeze's title track for that album was used in a television commercial for Newbury Comics on local UHF music video station V66 with the song's penultimate word bleeped out. The band also re-recorded "No One's Ever Coming Home" for Flipside Vinyl Fanzine, Vol. 1, released by Gasatanka Records in 1984.[3]

The 1983 album Land of the Lost and 1985's "Rabid Reaction" followed before Modern Method folded, and the group was picked up by Tanng! Records for their 1991 album, Misery Loves Company. They continued to perform and record Their 1999 album, One False Move, featured cover fellow Cape Cod artist and author Edward Gorey. The Freeze: Still Angry after all these years


Bill ONeill Lifestyle Editor Cape Cod Times Posted June 11, 1999

Clif Hanger’s punk band has pushed the edge since 1979. “I basically like to tell stories,” says Clif Hanger, lead singer of Cape Cod’s longest surviving punk band, (The Freeze). And what stories...

Influenced by The Ramones, The Clash and other early punk bands, Hanger put together The (Freeze) in 1978. A friend scraped up enough cash the next year to make 2,000 copies of a single, the now legendary “I Hate Tourists.” Featuring punk rock’s prototypical simple riffs and high-speed guitar work, the song voiced in raw fashion the emotions that many year-rounders share but feel uncomfortable stating. According to a band history, “A Christian group tried to ban it. The Boston Phoenix voted it one of the top 10 local singles of the year. It was fun.”

“Crawling Blind”, a cd released in 1994, told tales about people who were slaves to addiction. In 1996, 'Freak Show', "continued a downhill lyrical theme,” says Hanger, 38, of West Dennis. “Here the newly addicted become a bit deranged.” Hanger explored mental illness on songs like “Creeping Psychosis” and “Suspended Heaven.”

“On ‘One False Move' (released in March 1999), the deranged find their own ways out,” Hanger says. “They all die, except for one - and who knows what will happen to him in the end?

“Most of the lyrics are fact-based to a degree. I like to pick a twisted feeling and just run with it as far into the extremes as possible - as you can probably tell".

“Hopefully there are people who will read some of my lyrics and say ‘Maybe I don’t have it so bad’ when they look at some of the horrifying subject matter.

“There really have never been lyrics written about this sort of psychological suffering, regrets, suicidal ideation, shame. It's at the fringe, the survival line. If I can’t come up with more unique topics, then It's time to give up.”

Today in July 2017, after 39 years, 8 tours, 9 cd's and a couple dozen songs on compilations and assorted singles, (The Freeze) seem to have some positive momentum.. In October of this year, a highly anticipated split Lp featuring (The Freeze) together with their friends from the "This is Boston not LA" days- Gang Green will be released. Rumors of both bands playing, at least a few shows together on the West Coast before heading back to Boston together. 2017 is the 35th Anniversary of Boston not LA and there's rumor of up to 6 of the 7 original bands on it getting together for at least one show... This October (The Freeze) will have another new song on a Halloween themed compilation album, on Cleopatra records, which will also feature Iggy Pop, The Damned, TSOL, DRI etc... This twisted ride is no where near over...

Discography

Studio albums
  • Land of the Lost LP 1983
  • Rabid Reaction LP 1985
  • Misery Loves Company LP 1991
  • Crawling Blind LP 1994
  • Freakshow LP 1996
  • One False Move LP 1999
  • Calling All Creatures LP 2019

Singles and EPs
  • I Hate Tourist's 7" 1980
  • Guilty Face Ep 7" EP 1982
  • PTP 7" 1991
  • Bloodlights 7" 1991
  • Welcome to Planet Earth 7" 1999
  • Blood Flows Home CD-EP 2011
  • Someone's Bleeding CD-EP 2015

Split releases
  • The Freeze and the Killrays CD 1995
  • A Deadly Duo 10" (w/ the Bollweevils) 1996

Compilation appearances
  • A Wicked Good Time: Vol. 2 (compilation) 1981
  • This Is Boston, Not L.A. (compilation) 1982
  • Unsafe at Any Speed (compilation) 1983
  • Life is a Joke vol. 3 (compilation) 1987
  • Revenge of the Kamikaze Stegosaurus From Outer Space (compilation) 1988
  • Boston Wolfpack 1999

Live recordings
  • Five Way Fury LP 1992
  • The Freeze 11/2/96 7" 1996
  • Live at the Mill Hill Club in 1980 LP 2007

Collections and reprints
  • Guilty Face + 3 10" EP 1991
  • Double Dosed LP 1992
  • Token Bones LP 1997
  • Crawling Blind / Freakshow LP 2013

Members

Band founder, songwriter, and vocalist Clif "Hanger" Croce is the only member that has been in every incarnation of the band which has seen many line-up changes in its past.

Current members
  • Clif Croce Vocals
  • Bill Close-Guitar, Vocals, Bass
  • Zach Carmichael - Guitar/vocals
  • Tom Reardon - Bass/Vocals
  • Aaron Hjalmarson - Drums/vocals

Former members
  • Bill Close-Guitar, Vocals, Bass
  • Dave(DB)Barbee-Guitar, Vocals
  • Johnny Baxter – Drums
  • Rob (DeCradle) Rosenthal – Guitar
  • Pat Leonard – Bass
  • Eric Dewolf - Bass
  • Pat Brady – Drums
  • Paul Delano – Guitar
  • Scott Moulaison – Drums, Vocals
  • Steve Wood – Guitar
  • Shane Mackie - Guitar
  • Rick Andrews – Bass
  • Marc Thalasitas – Guitar, Vocals
  • Daniella Thalasitas – Bass
  • Craig Adams – Bass
  • Eric Short – Guitar
  • Joe Koonz – Guitar and Vocals
  • Ronald Cormier – Guitar
  • Kevin Vicha ("Kev") – Drums
  • Lou "Chip" Cataldo-Drums
  • Walter Gustafson-Drums
  • Chuck Stilphen – Guitar
  • Zack Carmichael – Bass
  • Mark Leonard – Bass
  • Chris Barone – Drums
  • Mikey Jak - Bass
  • Anthony Pizzo – Guitar
  • Patrick "Swedish" Souza - Drums
  • Slade Anderson – Guitar
  • John - Guitar
  • Molusk - Bass Guitar
  • Jason Stone - Drums
  • Joshy Wastrel – Guitar, Vocals
  • Gizz Lazlo - Drums, Vocals
  • David Diamond- Guitar
  • Arvin Mani - Bass
  • Frank Anderson - Drums
  • Anthony Barbaria - Drums
  • Nick Govoni - Bass

References
  1. Hanger, Clif (2005). "I Hate Tourists, Tourists SUCK, It's only their daughters I wanna fuck" in "I Hate Tourists"[Record Liner Notes]. Hamilton: Schizophrenic Records.
  2. Blush, Steven (2001). ""The Kids Will Have Their Say"". In George Petros (ed.). American Hardcore: A Tribal History. New York: Feral House. pp. 168–169. ISBN 0-922915-71-7.
  3. "Various - Flipside Vinyl Fanzine Vol. 1". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
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