Avengers (band)

The Avengers are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in San Francisco, California, United States. The band recorded an EP, We Are the One (1977), and after opening for the Sex Pistols worked with Steve Jones, but had not released an album before breaking up in 1979.[1] After the breakup an EP with the Steve Jones-produced songs was released (The Avengers),[2] and later an album, Avengers, in 1983. Their lead singer, Penelope Houston, is also a folk singer who has a solo career. Since 1999 a number of other albums were released with studio and live tracks, and the band has come together for various occasions.[3]

For another band, see The Avengers (New Zealand band). For other uses, see Avenger (disambiguation) § Music.

Avengers
Avengers in 2012
Avengers in 2012
Background information
Also known asscAvengers
OriginSan Francisco, California, United States
GenresPunk rock, hardcore punk
Years active1977–1979, 1999, 2004–present
LabelsDangerhouse, White Noise, CD Presents, Lookout! Records
MembersPenelope Houston
Greg Ingraham
Joel Reader
Luis Illades
Past membersDanny Furious (Danny O'Brien)
Jonathan Postal
James Wilsey (deceased)
Brad Kent (deceased)
Danny Panic

History

Early history

Drummer Danny Furious (Danny O'Brien) and guitarist Greg Ingraham decided to start a band, and Furious approached Penelope Houston to be their singer, who agreed.[1] They finished their lineup with Jonathon Postal on bass, although he was replaced shortly after by Jimmy Wilsey.[4] Their first release (and only release while the band was originally together) was We Are the One, a three-song EP which was released on Dangerhouse Records in 1977.[5]

The Avengers opened for the Sex Pistols in San Francisco at their final show at Winterland,[6] which led to Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones producing a recording session for the band.[5] In January 1979, Ingraham left the band and was replaced by Brad Kent, although the band only lasted a few more months until June 1979.[4] An EP, titled Avengers, was released on White Noise Records a few months after the band broke up, which included songs from the Steve Jones produced session. Houston went on to record as a solo artist.[5]

An album called Avengers (sometimes referred to as the Pink Album, including by Houston herself)[7] was released in 1983. It featured tracks recorded through the band's whole time together, and was compiled by drummer Danny Furious.[4] The album was out-of-print for a long time due to being in "legal limbo", during which time Houston sold the album in CD-R format directly through her website. The album was re-released in 2010.

New releases and re-formation

In 1999, a compilation album called Died for Your Sins was issued by Lookout! Records. In addition to original unreleased studio recordings and live tracks, three tracks were newly recorded in 1999 by the scAvengers, featuring original members Houston and Ingraham with new members bassist Joel Reader (The Mr. T Experience, The Plus Ones) and drummer Danny Panic (Screeching Weasel). To support the album, the scAvengers did a few shows.[8] In 2003, a live album titled Zero Hour was released in Italy. The next year, The American in Me was released, featuring all of the tracks from Zero Hour plus four other unreleased studio recordings. Houston and Ingraham again joined with Reader and new drummer Luis Illades to perform some record release shows, and this lineup has performed sporadic live shows since.[8]

On July 16, 2006, Houston and Ingraham joined Pearl Jam to perform "American in Me" at the Bill Graham Civic Center. By January 2017, they were recording in Berkeley with Robert Shimp.

Reception
  • " The Avengers were one of the best punk bands. I’m proud that they’re from the Bay Area" (Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day)[2]
  • "The Avengers, featuring singer Penelope Houston, helped lay the groundwork for political punk while giving the nascent musical form one of its first dynamic frontwomen. (San Antonio Current)"[9]

Members

Current

Previous
  • Danny Furious (Daniel O'Brien) – drums (1977–79)
  • Jonathan Postal – bass (1977)
  • Jimmy Wilsey – bass (1977–79) (died December 24, 2018)[10]
  • Brad Kent – guitar (1979) (died February 3, 2016)[11]
  • Danny Panic – drums (1999)

Discography

Compilation albums

Live albums

EPs

Singles
  • "Paint it Black" b/w "Thin White Line" (1983, CD Presents)
  • "Teenage Rebel" b/w "Friends" (1995, Really Fast Records)

References
  1. Callwood, Brett (February 19, 2020). "Avengers Assembled". SF Weekly. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  2. Merlis, Bob Merlis (January 6, 2021). "The Tracks of My Years". Spin. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  3. Margasak, Peter (October 26, 2012). "Sunday: Marco Cappelli's Italian Surf Academy and the Avengers". The Chicago Reader. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  4. Backman, Karl (December 1, 2004). "Danny Furious of the Avengers interviewed". Summer of Hate. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  5. Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography. Canongate Books. p. 9. ISBN 1-84195-335-0. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  6. Vaziri, Aidin (May 17, 2019). "Penelope Houston reflects on life as a San Francisco punk icon". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  7. Houston, Penelope. "Glad I'm a Girl store". Penelope Houston. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  8. Encoule, Jean (January 1, 2005). "The Avengers – Payback". Trakmarx. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  9. Nowlin, Sanford (November 6, 2019). "Penelope Houston of the Avengers on the Band's San Antonio Gig and Preserving Punk History". San Antonio Current. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  10. Goldberg, Michael (January 28, 2019). "The 'King of Slow': Remembering Guitarist James Calvin Wilsey". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  11. Adams, Gregory (4 February 2016). "R.I.P. Former D.O.A. Member Brad Kent". Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
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