Rocket from the Crypt

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punk, punk rock, rock, indie rock, indie… see all

Pledging to never play a venue with a stage, singer/guitarist John Reis formed San Diego’s Rocket from the Crypt in the summer of 1990 after becoming disillusioned with the hardcore punk band he was in called Pitchfork. Joining with then-current Rocketeers bassist Petey X and guitarist N.D., in addition to departed drummer Sean and backing vocalist Elaina, Reis and company released Paint As A Fragrance in 1991.

Though the album caused a lot of people to take notice, a lineup change ensued; Atom Willard became the drummer, and Apollo 9, a Reis drinking buddy who played sax in high school, joined as saxophonist. After the successful independent Circa: Now! was released on Cargo Records in 1992, a major-label bidding war resulted in Rocket from the Crypt signing with Interscope Records (in addition to Reis’ other band, Drive Like Jehu, which features another former Pitchfork member, Rick Froberg). Interscope then re-released Circa: Now! in 1993, and the single “

Ditch Digger” spent some time in MTV’s Buzz Bin. Eventually, a sixth member — JC 2000 on trumpet — was added in 1994, which preceded the release of a new 10” record, The State Of Art Is On Fire, in 1995.

By the end of the year, the group released its most acclaimed album to date, Scream, Dracula, Scream. RFTC followed in 1998, and Group Sounds was issued on Vagrant in early 2001.

Scream, Dracula, Scream!
Rocket from the Crypt
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Group Sounds
Rocket from the Crypt
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RFTC
Rocket from the Crypt
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Circa: Now!
Rocket from the Crypt
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Top Tracks

1	On a Rope	250
2	Middle	121
3	Born in '69	119
4	Drop Out	101
5	Used	88
6	I'm Not Invisible	87
7	Ball Lightning	86
8	Bring Us Bullets	81
9	Fat Lip full track	79
10	Young Livers	75
11	Straight American Slave	72
12	Misbeaten	66
13	Suit City	63
14	Come See, Come Saw	62
15	Savoir Faire	61

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james_cfc wrote:
3 hours ago

Fuckin awesome... I'd say they're more 'rock' than 'punk' though.

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AcousticLmo wrote:
yesterday evening

A---Fuckin---Mazing!!!!

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psycaffeine wrote:
Monday morning

the best punk/soul/rock band ever

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Riff55 wrote:
last week

ASG4 needs to happen soon. There's still a ton of uncollected b-sides, demos and misc tracks out there.

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Captain_M0rgan wrote:
last week

ASG3 is like getting a new album from them and it rules! they're at legendary status.

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joewalshproject wrote:
last month

San Diego represent!

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Jwinter25 wrote:
last month

RFTC is an amazing band and are even better live...it is incredible! So bummed they split. The entire RFTC album is epic!

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Mythtall wrote:
last month

I only have there final gig album right now

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mietpistole wrote:
last month

"Pledging to never play a venue with a stage, " thats so goddamn CUTE

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natalie0790 wrote:
last month

These guys were on a music channel, cant remember which now, the other day, as Jimmy Eat Worlds Festival Acts. I dont know why but it didnt click straight away who it was, but bloody immense these are :D

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James_Murton wrote:
last month

ASG3 kicks all manner of ass. I expected no less.

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shucks_shucks wrote:
August 2008

Actual best band ever - can't wait to get my hands on a copy of All Systems Go 3. Too many balls gonna kill us all.

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MikeNH16 wrote:
August 2008

new compilation out yesterday

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Hellvis_69 wrote:
August 2008

Rockabilly? Ska Punk? WTF!?!?!

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ihateRBF wrote:
August 2008

ASG3 is happening?>! yessssssssssssss

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Subculturalgrrl wrote:
August 2008

stupid tags! if this is indie i'm virgin mary!

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James_Murton wrote:
August 2008

Oh, and also, to dchoward1977: All Systems Go 3 is coming out on August 26th, I hear. In other words: FUCK YES.

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James_Murton wrote:
August 2008

I saw 'em on British TV playing On A Rope back in '96, when I was 7. Turned me onto rock, it did, I swear. Sadly, I never actually got to buying any of their albums until 2005 after they'd split. This is called 'being a fucking idiot'.

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jimmy-jimmy wrote:
August 2008

I wrote an article about them on this website: robotcake.blogspot.com. Please read it an leave comments about how great I am.

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trueblue128 wrote:
July 2008

Soooo good. Really underrated as well. Not many people understand the awesomeness that IS RFTC

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