| The Generators | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Genre: | Punk rock |
| Years Active: | 1997–2024 |
| Label: | Triple X Records, DC Jam, People Like You, Concrete Jungle, Randale Records, TKO Records |
| Associated Acts: | Doug & The Slugz, Schleprock, Bedlam Knives |
| Past Members: | Doug Kane Sir Doosky Mike Snow Ted Hahn Marco Duarte Steven Reese Chris Loya Barry Monroe Teddy Shrader Lou Guzman Johnny Slash Dirty Ernie Berru Don Osterberg Bryant Ortega Brandon Lutz Armando Del Rio Manny Murders Ace Von Johnson Rich Santia Danny Damned Sean Romin Greg Millan |
| Website: | www.the-generators.com |
The Generators were an American punk rock band that emerged in 1997 in Los Angeles. Formed in response to the breakup of the 1990s punk rock group Schleprock,[1] the band featured an original lineup consisting of Doug Kane on vocals, Mike Snow and Sir Doosky on guitars, Dirty Ernie Berru on drums, and Rich "Richards" Santia on bass.
The Generators emerged onto the punk rock scene with the release of their debut album, "Welcome To The End," under the banner of Los Angeles-based Triple X Records in 1997. Garnering positive acclaim for their inaugural effort, the band swiftly followed with a seven-song EP titled "Ninety Nine" and subsequently released two additional albums by 2001, namely "Burning Ambition" on Urgent Music Ltd. and "Tyranny" on TKO Records.
Amidst the European leg of the Tyranny tour, the band encountered transitional phases as members Dirty Ernie Berru and Sir Doosky temporarily departed. During this interim period, remaining members Mike Snow and Doug Kane enlisted drummer Mike Clark and commenced work on a new EP. Notably, Doug Kane's outreach to Sir Doosky resulted in the original guitarist's return to the band just prior to the recording session for the EP, titled State of the Nation, which was released on TKO Records.
The year 2002 witnessed guitarist Mike Snow's departure from the band, an unfortunate event that coincided with Dirty Ernie's return to the drums. This period marked a pivotal juncture for The Generators as they embarked on a musical evolution, departing from their original street punk sound.
With Kane and Doosky assuming the mantle of primary songwriters, 2003 heralded the arrival of the critically acclaimed album Excess, Betrayal...And Our Dearly Departed, signaling a shift towards darker tones and emotionally charged lyrical themes. This artistic trajectory persisted with the subsequent release of The Winter Of Discontent in 2005.
Throughout these creative transitions, The Generators encountered fluctuations in their lineup, with Kane, Sir Doosky, and Dirty Ernie maintaining their roles as core members. The band welcomed bassist Teddy Hahn and guitarist Ace Von Johnson into the fold, leading to the release of "The Great Divide" in 2006, accompanied by extensive touring until 2008.
In 2009, original drummer, Dirty Ernie, and bassist, Teddy Hahn, parted ways with the band, leading Derek O’Brien of Social Distortion to step in for recording duties on the album. Brandon Lutz assumed the bass role during this transitional period. The resulting album, "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea," was recorded and released via their long-standing European record label, People Like You Records. The band embarked on a summer European tour with The Damned to support the album. Ace Von Johnson's position was ended when the band returned to the States following a disagreement with Kane during the tour.
As the band entered 2010, the departure of original guitarist and songwriter Sir Doosky for personal reasons prompted a restructuring of the lineup, as well as contributing to a change in their musical direction.
n 2011, The Generators reconvened with a refreshed lineup, which included the return of original guitarist Mike Snow, former Schleprock guitarist Sean Romin, and new drummer Lou Guzman, who previously played with Mike Snow in his former band, The Choice. The band recorded and released their eighth studio album, "Last Of The Pariahs," under the auspices of DC-Jam Records.
Subsequent years saw further lineup changes and releases, including the six-song EP "The Deconstruction of Dreams" in 2013 under Concrete Jungle Records in Europe, and the album "Life Gives-Life Takes" in 2014 under Randale Records.
During a brief hiatus in 2014, Doug Kane and Mike Snow delved into a side project dubbed the Bedlam Knives, which saw the release of a 7-inch record under Dr. Strange Records. Simultaneously, Sir Doosky, alongside Dirty Ernie and former Generators bassist Brandon Lutz, formed a short-lived endeavor known as NeuAllies, culminating in the release of an EP within the same year. However, both Bedlam Knives and NeuAllies disbanded in 2015, marking a fleeting yet creatively explorative period for the members amidst The Generators' hiatus.
The band returned in 2016 with the retrospective album "Earn Your Stripes" on Randale Records, followed by a split EP with British band Crashed Out titled "Blood, Sweat, & Glory" and extensive touring.
In 2017, The Generators released the single "Street Justice" and announced a forthcoming album, culminating in the release of "Broken Stars & Crooked Stripes" in 2018.
Following a legacy of over two decades marked by constant touring and prolific releases, The Generators entered a hiatus in 2019, with Doug Kane reuniting with his 1980s Oi! band Doug & The Slugz, continuing their musical journey during this period of dormancy for The Generators.
On September 20, 2022, the band announced via their social media platforms the reunion of the original 1997 founding member lineup. The band played a handful of shows throughout the end of 2022, celebrating and playing material off the first three releases.
After receiving positive reactions and reviews from The Generators' reunion shows, Kane, Doosky, and Snow reunited, bolstering their lineup with former Generators member Ted Hahn on bass and Marco Duarte on drums. Duarte, having previously filled in on tours, brought a wealth of experience to the ensemble. The band's resurgence was marked by a sold-out performance at the '23 Punk Rock Bowling Festival in Las Vegas, setting the stage for a successful European tour the following summer.
Doug Kane died on May 30, 2024, following a brief struggle with an aggressive form of cancer. Prior to his death, the band reached a unanimous decision that they would not proceed with The Generators in his absence.[2]