Representative Albums: "Set It Off," "Look My Way," "Hold It Down"
Biography
Part of the New York hardcore scene, Madball originated back in 1989, as a side project of the legendary outfit Agnostic Front (Madball vocalist Freddy Cricien's older brother is none other than AF's Roger Miret). After releasing the "Ball of Destruction" single in the same year, an early version of the band began playing live. It wasn't until 1991 when Madball truly hit their stride, when the lineup of Freddy Cricien on vocals, guitarists Matt Henderson and Vinnie Stigma, drummer Will Shepler, and bassist Hoya joined forces. The new version of the band quickly recorded and released an EP called Droppin' Many Suckas, which eventually led to the band signing with Roadrunner in 1994. By releasing a pair of straight-ahead hardcore full-lengths (1994's Set It Off and 1996's Demonstrating My Style) and touring steadily, the band built a sizeable fan base outside their hometown. Now a quartet consisting of Cricien, Henderson, Hoya, and new drummer John Lafatta, the band recorded what many consider their finest album yet, Look My Way, which was released in the spring of 1998. Hold It Down followed two years later. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
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Vinnie Stigma
Rob Rosario
Will Shepler
John Lafata
Darren Morgenthaler
Rigg Ross
Roger Miret
Matt Henderson
Mackie Jayson
Madball is a New York-based band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front (where Agnostic Front's front man Roger Miret would let his younger brother, Freddy "Madball" Cricien take the microphone on lead vocals during Agnostic Front shows).
Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members. Madball consisted of Agnostic Front's vocalist Roger Miret on bass, Vinnie Stigma on guitar, Will Shepler on drums, and vocalist Freddy Cricien, Roger Miret's younger brother. Madball's first few gigs consisted of un-used Agnostic Front songs. Madball's first release was the Ball of Destruction EP in 1989. After years of playing regional shows in and around the New York area, a second guitarist, Matt Henderson, would join the band. By then, they recorded and released the EP Droppin' Many Suckers for Wreckage Records. One year later Roger Miret left the band, and was replaced by bassist Hoya Roc — a good friend of Freddy Cricien — who was looking for a new band as his band, Dmize, was breaking up. The new incarnation of the band was signed by Roadrunner Records in 1994 and released a pair of full-lengths; Set It Off in 1994 and Demonstrating My Style in 1996. Touring steadily, the band built a sizeable fan base outside their hometown.[4]
1995 saw the band participating in the N.Y.H.C. Documentary. Extensive interviews were conducted with Freddy as well as a performance on July 29, 1995 at the now defunct "Coney Island High". Freddy's brother, Roger, broke several vertebrae in his back at that show, requiring him to be in traction for the better part of a year.
Consisting of Cricien, Henderson, Hoya, and new drummer John Lafatta, the band recorded Look My Way, which was released in early 1998. Hold It Down followed two years later. The band briefly broke up from early 2001 until late 2002. The current lineup of Freddy Cricien, Hoya Roc, Mitts (ex-Skarhead), and Rigg Ross (ex-Hatebreed) began touring and recording at the end of 2002. Since then, Madball has come out with: Best of Madball in 2003, N.Y.H.C. (EP) in 2004, Legacy in 2005, and Infiltrate The System in 2007.
Along with bands such as Agnostic Front, Vietnom, Bulldoze, Resistance and H2O, they comprise a part of New York's DMS Crew. Vocalist Cricien and bass player Hoya are also in the band Hazen Street, along with members of H2O, Cro-Mags
