Representative Albums: "Food for Thought/Take It Back," "Thog," "Food for Thought"
Biography
Formed in the summer 1983 from the ashes of several Washington, D.C., area punk bands, Gray Matter's mix of melody and punk power helped key the 1984-1985 punk resurgence in the nation's capitol. Consisting of guitarist Mark Haggerty and drummer Dante Ferrando (both of controversial first wave Dischord band Iron Cross), guitarist and singer Jeff Turner (founder of WGNS cassette label and studio), and bassist Steve Niles, Gray Matter was inspired by British punk bands. The band rehearsed but rarely played out, and it wasn't until the summer of 1984 that they played their first important public gigs, finding alliance with bands like Rites of Spring and Beefeater. The group made their first recordings in November of 1984, going into Dischord's "house" studio, Inner Ear, with Minor Threat's Ian Mackaye assisting with production. The recordings, which revealed the influence of early-D.C. punk ("Gray Matter," "Caffeine Blues"), also warned about the dangers of punk nostalgia ("Retrospect") and featured a surprising cover of the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" was the first hint of the band's strong pop streak. The record was issued by a small local label, then reissued by Dischord in 1990. The group hit their stride on the August 1985 recordings that became the Take It Back EP. Crashing power chords mixed with pop melodies and rushing rhythms on "Chutes and Ladders" and the title cut, and the record stands as a landmark of the mid-'80s Dischord style. The record was cut during what came to be known as "Revolution Summer" in D.C., a period of punk solidarity that helped turn attentions away from personal concerns to political and social ones, paving the way for latter day heroes like Fugazi. Jon Kirschten replaced Haggerty in the fall of 1985, but the band had nearly run its' course, breaking up in the spring of the following year. Turner and Niles reunited with Haggerty in Three, which included former Minor Threat drummer (and Dischord co-founder) Jeff Nelson while Ferrando went on to play with Ignition. Turner also played with Senator Flux. The band reunited in late 1990, touring and recording Thog, a fine disc that showed the group's grasp of pop punk sensibilities but lacked their former power. They called it quits for good in 1993. ~ Patrick Foster, All Music Guide
Dante Ferrando
Mark Haggerty
John Kirchstein Steve Niles
Jeff Turner
Gray Matter was a post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C., who played in the 1980s and 90s. They disbanded in 1986, but reformed in 1990.
On September 12, 2008, the band reformed for a one off reunion show to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Black Cat, a night club in Washington DC, partially owned by bandmember Dante Ferrando. The band played the entirety of its Take It Back EP.
Gray Matter officially formed in the summer of 1983 from the ashes of several Washington, D.C., area punk bands. Geoff Turner, Mark Haggerty and Dante Ferrando had been playing in bands since their early junior high school days. In 1983, Dante and Mark were playing in Iron Cross, but when when the band's image began to reflect it's violent supporters more than the members themselves, Dante quit. Soon after Mark also left and the two reunited with Geoff and Steve Niles and started playing shows around Washington DC as Gray Matter.
The band's first album Food For Thought, was recorded in Dischord’s “house” studio, Inner Ear in November of 1984, with Minor Threat’s Ian Mackaye assisting with production. Although it was originally released on R&B Records in 1985 while the members were still in High School. In 1986, Dischord Records released the EP Take It Back. Shortly thereafter Mark left the band to go to college and the band broke up. Dante went on to play drums for Ignition and Geoff, Steve, and Mark reunited and formed the band Three, with Jeff Nelson from Minor Threat. Gray Matter reformed in the spring of 1990 and released a double seven inch in 1991 and the full-length, Thog, in 1992. They called it quits for good in 1993.
Dischord originally re-issued Food For Thought and Take It Back (DIS 49) onto one CD in 1990.[1]
On September 12, 2008, the band reunited for a one off reunion show to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Black Cat, a night club in Washington DC, partially owned by band member Dante Ferrando. The band played the entirety of its Take It Back EP.
Before Gray Matter, Haggerty and Ferrando played in the DC skinhead band Iron Cross. Niles later gained fame for writing horror comics books, in particular 30 Days of Night. Geoff Turner went on to found WGNS recording studios [2], and Dante Ferrando is the founder and owner of long running D.C. alternative and punk nightclub the Black Cat.[3]
