Bane

Bane, a hardcore punk band, began as a side project between Aaron Dalbec (then of Converge) and Damon Bellardo. Aaron approached Matt Firestone to sing and they played under the moniker of Gateway for a few shows, before Firestone departed ways to focus on other projects. Dalbec then approached Aaron Bedard (who had previously sang for the Worcester, Massachusetts hardcore band Backbone) about singing for Bane. They went into the studio in December 1995 with a few friends and released a 5 song demo. The next year saw the release of their first EP, and many shows throughout central Massachusetts. The home crowd reactions at local venues The Space, The Espresso Bar and The Palladium were positive. Spring of 1997 saw the release of the Free To Think, Free To Be EP, where 1998 saw the release of the Holding This Moment 7" and CD collection, plus their first US Tour. Bane can be classified as a hardcore punk band from the Worcester area that is known for its energy, anthems, honesty and promotion of tolerance and unity within the hardcore scene.

Straight edge

In earlier albums Bane claimed straight edge, however it was never their main lyrical focus. All members are currently drug free, minus the current drummer, Bob Mahoney. They still perform early songs with straight edge references, such as "Count Me Out" which includes the lyric "Just like this X on the back of my hand, I'm not going nowhere". However the lyrics to the song "Wasted On The Young", on Bane's latest album The Note can be interpreted as criticism of people who ignorantly claim straight edge too early in their life.

Trivia

• A portion of lyrics to 'Bang The Drum Slowly' from the album Give Blood are printed under the sole of Macbeth Footwear's Elliot shoes.
• Zach Jordan and Pete Chilton also play in Silent Drive who are currently signed to Equal Vision.
• Drummer Bob Mahoney played in the Boston hardcore band Reach the Sky.
• The following lines quoted in the song 'Snakes Among Us' from the album Give Blood are from Nick Drake's song 'Road':

"You can take a road that takes you to the stars,

I can take a road that will see me through"

Also in the same song is the following line quoted from the American Nightmare song 'There's A Black Hole in the Shadow of the Pru':

"I fall asleep with pen in hand there's something

you should know"

• The song "Fuck What You Heard" begins with a sound clip from Apocalypse Now

• The song "What Makes Us Strong" begins with a clip from the movie Aliens

Current members

• Aaron Bedard - Vocals
• Aaron Dalbec - Guitar
• Zach Jordan - Guitar
• Brendan "Stu" Maguire - Bass
• Bob Mahoney - Drums

Former Members

• Pete Chilton - Bass (First EP to The Note)
• Nick Branigan - Drums (It All Comes Down To This LP, Bane/Adamantium Split 7", Give Blood LP)
• Ben Chused - Drums (Holding This Moment 7")
• Damon Bellardo - Drums (Demo, XXX 7", Free To Think 7")
• Kurt Ballou - Guitar (first few shows)
• Matthew Firestone - Vocals (Gateway)
• Christopher Cardone - Bass (Gateway)
• Joe "Lumpy" Lawrence -Vocals (Gateway)

Discography

• Holding This Moment (1998) - Equal Vision Records
• It All Comes Down to This (1999) - Equal Vision Records
• All systems go! (2000) - Underestimated Records
• Bane/Adamantium Split 7" (2001) - Indecision Records
• Give Blood (2001) - Equal Vision Records
• The Note (2005) - Equal Vision Records
• Ten Years Plus E.P. (2006) - Equal Vision Records
• Dublin 11:58pm 7" (2009) - Hurry Up! Records
• Boston 6:58pm 7" (2009) - Triple-B Records
• Rome 12:58am 7" (2009) - Hurry Up! Records
• Los Angeles 3:58pm 7" (2009) - 6131 Records
• Perth 7:58am CD/EP (2009) - Resist Records
• "Tokyo 7:58am CD/EP" (2009) - Alliance Trax
• "Curitiba 7:58pm CD/EP" (2009) - Hurry Up! Records
• At Both Ends Final Issue 7" Comp (TBR November 2009)^[1]

Covers

Bane has covered the following songs for various compilations

• "Just How Much?" - Chain of Strength on All Systems Go! cover comp. LP (Underestimated 2000)
• "The Truth About Lars" - Lifetime
• "Eye for an Eye" - Eye for an Eye on Indecision Records Split Series
• "We Stand Alone" - Sick Of It All on Our Impact Will Be Felt
• "Enjoy" - Björk on Ten Years Plus E.P.

External links

• Bane's official webpage
• Equal Vision Records
• Official Bane Myspace
• Interview with Aaron Bedard
• Another interview with Aaron Bedard
• Interview with Aaron about growing old in hardcore
• Interview with Aaron about their 2009 Europe Tour

References and footnotes