The Freeze Explained

The Freeze
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States
Genre:Hardcore punk, punk rock
Years Active:1978 - present
Label:Modern Method, Taang! Records, Lost And Found, Dr Strange Records, Schizophrenic, Gummopunx Records
Current Members:Clif "Hanger" Croce
Bill Close
Dave “DB” Barbee
Tom Reardon
Aaron Hjalmarson
Brandon Meunier
Past Members:Numerous (see 'Former members' section below)

The Freeze is an American punk rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States, formed by a group of teenagers in 1978.[1] [2] They released the first single, "I Hate Tourists" in 1980 and contributed eight songs, including the title track to the 1982 hardcore punk compilation This Is Boston, Not L.A.

The band is known for their dark lyrics, original punk rock melodies, and their longevity. A lot of their early lyrics deal with alienation, drug-use/abuse and paranoia (especially of the church, government and those exercising authority over others in general). A constant theme or thread regarding apathetic observers or people willing to give up their freedoms for fear of losing their "security" is also apparent in their work.

History

Influenced by The Ramones, The Clash and other early punk bands, Clif "Hanger" Croce put together The Freeze in 1978. A friend scraped up enough cash the next year to make 2,000 copies of the band's debut single, "I Hate Tourists". According to a band history, “A Christian group tried to ban it. The Boston Phoenix voted it one of the top 10 local singles of the year. It was fun." "I Hate Tourists" was released in 1980. The Freeze's music was picked by Newbury Comics' in-house label, Modern Method Records, which released several of the Freeze's songs on the Boston hardcore compilation albums Unsafe at Any Speed and This Is Boston, Not L.A. in 1982.[3] The Freeze's title track for that album was used in a television commercial for Newbury Comics on local UHF music video station V66, with the song's penultimate word bleeped out. The band also re-recorded "No One's Ever Coming Home" for Flipside Vinyl Fanzine, Vol. 1, released by Gasatanka Records in 1984.[4]

The 1983 album Land of the Lost and 1985's Rabid Reaction followed before Modern Method folded. The group was picked up by Taang! Records for their 1991 album, Misery Loves Company. The cover of their 1999 album, One False Move, featured fellow Cape Cod artist and author Edward Gorey.[5]

Crawling Blind, an album released in 1994, told tales about people who were slaves to addiction. In 1996, Freak Show, "continued a downhill lyrical theme,” stated frontman Croce. He explored mental illness on songs such as "Creeping Psychosis" and "Suspended Heaven".

They released an album, One False Move, in March 1999.

After a twenty-year gap The Freeze released another album called Calling All Creatures on Slope Records, in 2019.[6]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles and EPs

Split releases

Compilation appearances

Live recordings

Collections and reprints

Members

Band founder, songwriter, and vocalist Clif "Hanger" Croce is the only member that has been in every incarnation of the band, which has seen many line-up changes.

Current members

Former members

External links

Notes and References

  1. Hanger, Clif (2005). "I Hate Tourists, Tourists SUCK, It's only their daughters I wanna fuck" in "I Hate Tourists" [Record Liner Notes]. Hamilton: Schizophrenic Records.
  2. Book: Blush, Steven . Steven Blush . George Petros . George Petros . American Hardcore: A Tribal History . 2001 . . New York . 0-922915-71-7 . 168–169 . “The Kids Will Have Their Say” . registration .
  3. Henderson, Alex. "This Is Boston, Not L.A.: AllMusic Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  4. Web site: Various - Flipside Vinyl Fanzine Vol. 1. Discogs.com. 1984 . en. 2017-04-25.
  5. Web site: One False Move - The Freeze | Credits | AllMusic. 9 November 2020. AllMusic.
  6. Web site: Punknews.org . The Freeze - Calling All Creatures . 2023-03-17 . www.punknews.org . 12 August 2019 . en.
  7. Web site: The Freeze | Album Discography. AllMusic. 9 November 2020.

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