Toby Morse Explained

Toby Morse
Image Upright:1.2
Alias:Toby1
Birth Date:8 April 1970
Birth Place:Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation:Singer
Years Active:1994–present

Toby Morse (born April 8, 1970) is an American vocalist who is best known as the lead singer for punk rock band H2O. He is also one of the vocalists for hardcore punk group Hazen Street.

Early life

Morse was born on April 8, 1970[1] in Taunton, Massachusetts, the youngest of three siblings.[2] When he was three years old, his father died of a rare heart condition, and Morse was raised with the help of his brothers and grandparents because his mother started to work on multiple jobs. Morse and his family moved to Newport, Rhode Island, and later to St. Mary's County, Maryland. Around the age of twelve, Morse's siblings turned him on to skateboarding and punk music, taking him out to shows of bands such as Descendents and The F.U.'s.[3] They also were having parties at the house, but "seeing the way they acted when they were high or drunk really scared" him. By age thirteen he discovered the song "Straight Edge" of Minor Threat and claimed edge, having never drunk before.[4] Morse graduated from Great Mills High School in 1988.[5]

Career

In 1988, Morse relocated to New York City to be nearer to its hardcore punk scene. That year, he was living in the same house as band Gorilla Biscuits and sang backing vocals on their album Start Today.[6] In 1989, Morse started being a roadie for bands such as Gorilla Biscuits, Killing Time and finally Sick of It All, staying with them for several years. Initially during the soundchecks and then at their shows, Morse would join the group to perform the song "My Love is Real". By then, along with his friends Rusty Pistachio and Eric Rice, he formed H2O, playing their first show in December 1994.[7] They became part of the New York hardcore scene.

In 2004, Morse started collaborating with David Kennedy, best known for being in Tom Delonge's side-project Box Car Racer. Out of this came Hazen Street, which included Toby's friend Freddy Cricien, of another New York hardcore band Madball, as a co-vocalist.

In 2006, Morse started a clothing line called Straight Edge OG (stylized as SXEOG).

One Life, One Chance

In 2009, Toby Morse founded the nonprofit organization "One Life, One Chance" whose objective is "to inspire kids to make healthy life choices, maintain a PMA, be themselves, and to avoid peer pressure", mainly visiting schools to share the experiences of his early life and as a member of a world-touring band.[8] Its name comes from the song of the same name of the 1999 album F.T.T.W..

O.L.O.C. was prompted by a teacher friend of Morse who invited him to give a talk at a school in Queens, New York City, in early 2009, because her students were fans of H2O, which had a widely positive reception.[9]

Contributors to the organization include Travis Barker, CM Punk, C. J. Wilson, Moby, Hayley Williams and Ethan Suplee, among others.[10]

Personal life

Morse currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Moon and son Max.[11] In 1988, he became a vegetarian inspired by the song "Cats and Dogs" of Gorilla Biscuits and, as of 2016, he is the only vegan in H2O.[12] Morse is also the only H2O member who has remained straight edge through all their years active.[13]

He is the younger brother of Todd Morse, guitarist for H2O, The Operation M.D. and Juliette and the Licks and bassist for The Offspring.[14]

Discography

H2O

Hazen Street

Guest appearances

YearSongArtistAlbumSource
1989VariousGorilla BiscuitsStart Today
2003"Falling Down"Story of the Year featuring Ray Cappo and John FeldmannPage Avenue[15]
2009"2 Hip"Danny DiabloInternational Hardcore Superstar[16]
2009"Goodbye Farewell"Danny Diablofeaturing Natasha NicholsonInternational Hardcore Superstar
2014"My Armor"Madball featuring Chad Gilbert and CM PunkHardcore Lives[17]
2015"RMA (Revolutionary Mental Attitude)"Stick to Your GunsDisobedient[18]
2015"Never Walk Alone"Agnostic Front featuring Freddy Cricien and Lou KollerThe American Dream Died[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. VegNews. Liz . Miller. 63. September–October 2010. Morse's Code. September 6, 2017.
  2. Web site: September 6, 2017. Toby Morse (H2O) in anti-drug PSA. Punknews.org. video. Katy . Hardy. December 11, 2011.
  3. Web site: September 8, 2017. Toby Morse – H2O, Hazen St, SEOG, NYHC, Youth Crew ... . howsyouredge.com. February 2, 2007. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20071025033404/http://www.howsyouredge.com/interviews/2007/02/toby-morse-h2o-hazen-st-seog-nyhc-youth.php. October 25, 2007.
  4. H2O The Weight Of The Water. de. August–September 2010. 91. Ox-Fanzine. Andreas . Zengler. September 6, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130328150214/http://www.ox-fanzine.de/web/itv/3797/interviews.212.html. March 28, 2013.
  5. Web site: Great Mills High School. December 2, 2010. December 22, 2010. Great Mills, Maryland. onelifeonechance.com. video. September 11, 2017.
  6. Web site: September 5, 2017. H2O Recording 'Don't Forget Your Roots' Covers Album. Amy . Sciarretto. May 30, 2011 . Noisecreep. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140216172103/http://noisecreep.com/h2o-recording-dont-forget-your-roots-covers-album/. February 16, 2014.
  7. Web site: September 6, 2017. H2O Bio. epitaph.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150330004759/http://epitaph.com/artists/h2o/bio. March 30, 2015.
  8. Web site: September 5, 2017. An interview with Toby Morse from H2O and OneLifeOneChance.com . May 24, 2011. pmakid.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20111017231613/http://www.pmakid.com/2011/05/interview-with-toby-morse-from-h2o-and.html. October 17, 2011.
  9. Web site: Interview: Toby Morse (H2O). September 2, 2011 . Steven . Matview. Punk in Vegas. September 2, 2011. September 6, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085419/http://www.punksinvegas.com/interview-toby-morse-h2o/. March 4, 2016.
  10. Web site: September 6, 2017. Testimonials. onelifeonechance.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150206050456/http://www.onelifeonechance.com/category/testimonials/. February 6, 2015.
  11. Web site: September 6, 2017. 'Life in 1 Day': Watch H2O's Toby Morse Give Us a Personal Tour of L.A.. August 5, 2015. video. Fuse. Carlos . Ramirez. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150807032611/http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2015/07/life-in-1-day-toby-morse-h2o. August 7, 2015.
  12. Web site: September 5, 2017. fr. H2O en interview: East Side Burgers, Vegan et New York Hardcore. January 8, 2016. musique.jeuxactu.com. JeuxActu. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160114094429/http://musique.jeuxactu.com/interview-h20-en-interview-east-side-burgers-vegan-et-new-york-hardcore-19571.htm. January 14, 2016.
  13. Web site: September 6, 2017. H2O's Adam Blake on Promoting a Positive Lifestyle, Post-9/11 New York City, and Appropriate Times to Hardcore Dance. Phoenix New Times. Melissa. Fossum. September 21, 2011. live. https://archive.today/20170803215952/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/h2os-adam-blake-on-promoting-a-positive-lifestyle-post-9-11-new-york-city-and-appropriate-times-to-hardcore-dance-6604459. August 3, 2017.
  14. News: Audio: Offspring Bassist Todd Morse Helps Howard Bare His Soul in 'Suit of Armor'. The Howard Stern Production Company. April 5, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  15. Web site: Story of the Year Page Avenue . AllMusic. Stephen . Cramer. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130301051011/https://www.allmusic.com/album/page-avenue-mw0000317346. March 1, 2013. October 6, 2017.
  16. Web site: Danny Diablo International Hardcore Superstar . AllMusic. October 6, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202195312/https://www.allmusic.com/album/international-hardcore-superstar-mw0000824175. February 2, 2017.
  17. Web site: October 6, 2017. Interview: Madball – Hardcore Lives Forever, Of Course . Morgan Ywain Evans . July 2, 2014. metalriot.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140707034601/http://metalriot.com/news/interview-madball-hardcore-lives-forever-of-course/. July 7, 2014.
  18. Web site: October 6, 2017. Stick To Your Guns premiere new song, "RMA (Revolutionary Mental Attitude)" feat. H2O vocalist. January 21, 2015. Tyler . Sharp. Alternative Press. January 21, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150124020817/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/stick_to_your_guns_premiere_new_song_rma_revolutionary_mental_attitude_feat. January 24, 2015.
  19. Web site: March 25, 2015 . October 6, 2017. All About the Rock. Agnostic Front – The American Dream Died. Mark . Booth. March 25, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150523195620/http://allabouttherock.co.uk/agnostic-front-the-american-dream-died/. May 23, 2015.

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