Brand New Unit

Brand New Unit, commonly known as BNU, was a Canadian Hardcore punk band from suburban Vancouver, British Columbia. Its members were Gary Lavallee (vocals), Jinx Stringer (guitar), Ben Hughes (bass), and Garnet Kulhavy (drums). Kulhavy would later be replaced by Gob drummer Gabe Mantle.

Brand New Unit
OriginSurrey, British Columbia, Canada
GenresHardcore punk
Melodic Hardcore
Years active1991-2000
Labels3 Minute Mile Records, Excursion Records, Creative Man Disc, BYO Records, HeartFirst Records, Burning Heart Records, Modern Radio Record Label
MembersGary Lavallee†
Jinx Stringer
Ben Hughes
Garnet Kulhavy†
Gabe Mantle

History

The band formed in 1991 in Surrey, B.C.[1] and started out playing locally and in Vancouver.[2]

In 1992 they were winners of CITR-FM's 1982 SHiNDiG live performance contest, which awarded them some studio time.[3][4] They used it to record their first EP, Summertime.[5] Influences of 7 Seconds and Dag Nasty can be heard on Summertime with Kulhavy, while later recordings feature a more post-hardcore feel with hard-hitting live elements.

In 1993, they were included on Crank It Up - Volume 11, part of Thrasher Magazine's Skate Rock series.[6] In 1994, they released their first album, Under The Big Top.[7]

Brand New Unit toured constantly and expanded their following into the US market.[8] In 1995, they released three EPs[9] and, by 1997, had enough material to release a compilation album, Looking Back Again.[10][11]

In 1998 the band released the album Diddly Squat through the Creative Man label.[12][13] In 1999, they released a split EP with Kill Sadie, and were included in a VML Records compilation album with The Pist, Supernova and The Gain.[14] They released one more EP in 1999[15] and broke up in 2000.

In February, 2010, Brand New Unit played a reunion show in Vancouver.[16] They continued to play occasionally, last appearing in Victoria in 2018.[17]

In October 2021, Gary Lavallee passed away; his cause of death was not released. In November 2021, Garnet Kulhavy died of COVID-19.[18]

Discography

Albums

  • Under The Big Top (1994), Excursion Records
  • Looking Back Again (1997), BYO Records
  • Diddley Squat (1998), Creative Man Disc

EPs

  • Summertime 7" (1992), 3 Minute Mile Records
  • All For Nothing 7" (1995), HeartFirst Records
  • Quickdraw Richy Rich (1995), HeartFirst Records
  • No Heroes (1995), HeartFirst Records
  • Kill Sadie + Brand New Unit Split 7" (1999), Modern Radio Record Label
  • Empty Useless Air (1999), Burning Heart Records

References
  1. "Brand New Unit is "Totally into it"" by Matthew Gourlie, The Carillon, January 29, 1998. University of Regina (Archived at the Wayback Machine)
  2. "Brand New Unit". AllMusic Biography by Linda Seida
  3. SHiNDiG Past results - 1992 (Archived at the Wayback Machine)
  4. Chris Walter (1 March 2015). Under the Kilt: the Real McKenzies Exposed. BookBaby. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-927053-22-5.
  5. "Brand New Unit - Summertime". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. "Various – Crank It Up - Volume Eleven". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  7. "Brand New Unit – Under The Big Top". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  8. Iwasaki, Scott (12 June 1998). "Tour helps Brand New Unit get noticed, June 1998". deseret.com. Deseret News. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  9. "Brand New Unit". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  10. "Brand New Unit - Looking Back Again". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  11. "Brand New Unit Diddley Squat Creative Man Looking Back Again BYO". Ink19, February 9, 1998. Ryan Eckhart
  12. "Brand New Unit – Diddley Squat". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  13. "New Releases : Dishwalla's followup album rates A-, offering songs that get lots of airplay". Los Angeles Times, July 30, 1998|Bill Locey Archived October 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  14. "The Pist / Supernova / The Gain / Brand New Unit". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  15. "Brand New Unit – Empty Useless Air". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  16. Mark PaulHus."Brand New Unit", Discorder Magazine, May 2012, review of Feb 19 show in Vancouver]
  17. "They're Ba-ack B.N.U....June 2018". livevictoria.com. Live Victoria. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  18. "Brand New Unit". facebook.com. Facebook. Retrieved 26 April 2022.


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