Fang Official

Fang is an influential American hardcore punk band from the early East Bay punk rock scene, established in Berkeley, California, in 1980.

Fang's first record under the name 'Fang' was actually more of an experimental record, according to the band; the "Yukon Fang" single. Fang guitarist Tom Flynn and bass player Brian Beattie, his former bandmate from the bands "Tapeworm" and "Safety Patrol", put out "Yukon Fang" as a duo and thus Fang was born. The original version of Fang toured the country once, only to break up shortly thereafter with Beattie moving on to Texas where he later formed the band Glass Eye. In the early fall of 1981 Flynn began playing with drummer Chris Ritter. They soon added bass player Chris Wilson and began playing shows in the SF Bay area as a three piece, with Flynn on vocals.While this was happening, Sam McBride, the band's soon-to-be vocalist, was singing with future Fang drummer Greg Langston in the band "Shut up". In early 1982 Ritter was replaced with drummer Joel Fox, and at Fox's audition he brought along his friend McBride, who volunteered to be the band's singer. The lineup thus solidified as McBride (vocals), Chris Wilson (bass), Tom Flynn (guitar), and Joel Fox (drums). Together they contributed the song "Fun with Acid" on the Not so Quiet on the Western Front compilation LP. Shortly thereafter, guitarist Tom Flynn created "Boner Records" and released their debut LP and EP Landshark and Where the Wild Things Are. Tim Stiletto drummed on the latter. These two releases are now considered classic East Bay punk.

In January 1986, the "Spun Helga" LP was recorded in West Germany with McBride singing vocals, and two Germans named Joe (Guitar) and Ollie (Drums) playing instruments. We Bite Records in Germany released the LP, but in the U.S. it was handled by National Trust Records. Fang next released was 1987's "A Mi Ga Sfafas?" (The title literally means "Give Me Head?"). The lineup during this era was McBride, Bill Collins (guitar), Joe Miller (bass), and Steve Chinn (drums). Drummer Mike Branum replaced Chinn and Fang recorded the album "Pissed-Off Buddah", which remained unreleased until 2008, when it was released with Fang's other albums "Spun Helga" and "A Mi Ga Sfafas?"

After a long break, Fang regrouped in 1996 and put out the "Electric Chair" single on Man's Ruin Records. The lineup at this time included Sam McBride (vocals), Greg Langston (Drums), Bill Burnett (Guitar) and Josh Levine (Bass). This incarnation of the Band recorded the "American Nightmare" LP on Wingnut Records.

In 1989, Boner Records released Fang's first compilation album, Landshark/Where the Wild Thing Are. The album included Fang's debut album and debut EP.

In 1999, Jim Martin (from Faith No More) joined on guitar, and recorded four songs for the Hello Records CD Fish and Vegetables, which was released as a split LP by fellow punk rock groups Dr. Know, and Hellions In May 2000, Sammytown and Jim Martin, along with Casey Orr (Gwar, Rigor Mortis) on bass, and Dallas drummer Clint Phillips did two shows in Texas. One at Trees in Dallas, and a sold out show at Emo's in Austin.

By 2001, the band was composed of Sammytown, Brian Schopflin (bass), Jonny Manak (guitar), Alby Wasted (guitar),and Ike Eichensehr (drums). Sammytown, Brian, Jonny, Alby and Ike also started The Resistoleros, a Oakland-based rock 'n' roll band. Steel Cage Records released the Resistoleros CD Rock 'N Roll Napalm in 2003.

In 2004, the Live Cheap" CD' came out on Malt Soda Recordings featuring Sammytown (vocals), Brian Schopflin (bass), Ike Eichensehr (drums), Alby Wasted (guitar) and Jimmy Crucifix (guitarist for 1980s hardcore band Crucifix and hard rock band Proudflesh) also on guitar. This is the only Fang recording with two guitarists.

In 2004, the band toured the United States. Sammytown, Jimmy Crucifix (guitar), Brian Schopflin (bass)/Bubba Dennis (bass) and Ike Eichensehr (drums) toured as Fang in the Spring of 2004 and as the Resistoleros and Fang in November 2004 with Sam, Jimmy, Brian, Ike and Greg Elliott (rhythm guitar).

In January 2005, Sammy, Jimmy, Brian and Ike recorded a cover of Agression's (1980s hardcore–Narcore band) song "Salty Leather" for a tribute to Agression members Mark Hickey and Henry Knowles, who had died. Dave Haro and JellyRoll came up with the idea for the tribute. The CD, Taking Out A Little Agression, was released on Dr. Strange Records in 2007 and featured bands including JFA, McRad, DI, Ill Repute, Dr. Know, Verbal Abuse, MDC, Oppressed Logic, Shattered Faith and Dave Haro–JellyRoll's band KatKiller.

From 2005–2008, Fang performed with the steady line-up of Sammytown, Jimmy Crucifix, Brian Schopflin, and Greg Langsten (returning to the drums). As of writing (July, 2012) the line-up consists of Sammytown (Vocals), Jamey Dangerous (Drums), Brian Schopflin (Bass), J-Stain Werthless (Lead Guitar), Mat ('The Kid') McCoy (Guitar). Original member Tom Flynn has re-emerged and played live with the band on at least one occasion in 2012. He also contributed to the latest Fang album, 'Here Come the Cops".

In 2011, Malt Soda released the CD "Pissed Off Buddha", comprising three Fang albums - "Spun Helga", "A Mi Ga Sfafas?", and "Pissed Off Buddha" - the latter being a previously unreleased album recorded in 1988, in a double disc package that included a live DVD of the band.