Hardcore was born out of New York City in the early seventies and remains the true remaining worldwide underground music upon which each and every fan can depend. From Finland to Japan, to Argentina to the UK, hardcore fans have remained under the commercial radar for two decades strong. Whether deliberately shunned or accidentally overlooked by the mainstream, these hundreds of thousands of kids live for something that cannot be fabricated, lyrics that capture their alienation, music that channels their rage and the emotional release provided only by the most energetic and communal of live shows. The pioneers of this movement are the legendary Sick Of It All, who have been at the forefront for decades inspiring and influencing the best in the world of hardcore and punk.
H20 - "Hardcore is not about what you eat, drink, or wear. It is a way of life, the music and the message."
How the heck did the music change and develop so much over the years?
After the inital ska craze in Jamaica in the 60's, many Jamaicans moved to England, which was taking in foreigners for cheap labor. They brought with them their music, which was revived there by "2Tone" bands such as the Specials, the Selecter, Bad Manners and Madness, who mixed it with modern rock. When these bands toured America in the early 80's, it helped inspire the creation of the earliest and longest-running American ska bands -- Bim Skala Bim, Fishbone, and The Toasters. After many years of trudging along, more ska bands began to develop here in the States, gaining tremendous momentum in the late 80's/early 90's, and eventually leading to a huge explosion in the popularity of ska through 1996 to 1998. While ska has lost its trendiness in the last year, the scene is still alive and well, and many of the bands that got into ska just to try and make a quick buck have fallen off the face of the planet, leaving a small but strong subculture that is once again begining to thrive.