Armed and Hammered
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Founder | Mopa Dean, Kyle Peek |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Hardcore punk music |
Armed and Hammered is a hardcore punk ensemble originating from Toronto, Ontario, with roots tracing back to the early 1980s Bunchofuckingoofs movement.
History
The band was initiated by vocalist Mopa Dean, known for his role in Masochistic Religion, alongside drummer Kyle Peek. The original roster also featured Lamo, Philphee Saunders, and Thor Hammersen from the Bunchofuckingoofs collective.
Their first live appearance took place on June 7, 1989. By 1990, they had self-released a 17-track live album entitled Promoting Peace To Violence 89-90. The following year saw the release of their demo tape Fully Loaded, which contained eight tracks. Subsequent lineup modifications led to the departure of Lamo, Saunders, and Hammersen, who were succeeded by guitarist Hardcore Dave and bassist Kieran Plunkett.
In 1992, Hardcore Dave was replaced by guitarists Big John and Dorian Wilde. This configuration contributed to split EPs with Suckerpunch and Oppressed Logic, as well as appearing on compilations such as Raw Energy Records' Dead on the Road - Songs Without Keyboards and Ransom Note Recordings' Living in Fear.
In 1995, Armed and Hammered reported being barred from a repeat airing on Much Music following their performance at the Kumbaya Festival, an event supporting individuals affected by AIDS.
Additional personnel changes included Dorian Wilde being succeeded by Kurf in 1994. After Kieran Plunkett relocated to the United Kingdom to tour with The Varukers and establish The Restarts, he was replaced by Rick Giroux, who was later succeeded by Cindy Beattie in 1997. Their first full-length album, It's About Fucking Time (1997), recorded between 1996 and 1997 with Rick and Cindy, featured re-recorded versions of earlier tracks and achieved placement on Canadian independent charts. In 1996, the European label Subvert & Deny issued the EP More Punk Rock Than You.
Mark Dickinson took over guitar duties in 1998 after Kurf's departure. Following the release of Negative Aspects of Positive Thinking in 2000, Dickinson returned to the United States. That same year, Mopa left the band and was replaced by Doug McLarty from Jaww. The group became largely inactive thereafter, performing sporadically until their final shows in early 2003, which included the return of Kurf and Rick. Meanwhile, Mopa formed The G-Men in 2002; this band shared a stage with Armed & Hammered at Sneaky Dee's in Toronto.
Armed and Hammered reunited for the Toronto leg of English band GBH's tour in July 2010 and officially reassembled in May 2012. They remain active in both performing and recording; notably, in February 2021 they released a four-track split EP with Vulgar Deli.
Discography
- Promoting Peace Through Violence 89-90 (1990), Cassette, Independent
- Fully Loaded (1991), Cassette, Independent
- Armed & Hammered/Suckerpunch (1993), 7inch EP, Independent
- Armed & Hammered/Oppressed Logic (1995), 7inch EP, Split with Oppressed Logic, Ransom Note Recordings
- Don't Mess with Punk (1996), Cassette, Independent
- More Punk Rock Than You (1996), 7inch EP, Subvert & Deny Records
- It's About Fucking Time (1997), CD, Obese Records
- Negative Aspects of Positive Thinking (2000), CD, Independent
- Armed & Hammered/Vulgar Deli - American Democracy / Kill Johnny Stiff (2021), 7inch EP, Coke Dick Records
Various Artists Compilations
- Dead On the Road - Songs Without Keyboards (1994), CD, Compilation Inclusion, Raw Energy Records
- Living in Fear (1995), CD, Compilation Inclusion, Ransom Note Recordings
- Disease Control: Vol. 1 (1999), CD, MUCK Records
- Twentybandcomp - Various Artists Vol. (2000), CD, Raw Energy Records – Shock Records
- Ontario Punk Rock Compilation - Various Artists Vol. 4 (2020), CD, Compilation Inclusion, Lockdown Records Canada
- Punk Canada Vol. 2 (2023), LP, Compilation Inclusion, En Guard Records Canada
Band members
2012 Roster
- Kyle Peek – drums
- Mopa Dean – vocals
- Big John (John Mckee) – guitar
- Jamie "G" – guitar
- Preston "Wounded Paw" Sims
Past Members
- Thor (BFG) Hammersen – bass; previously part of Bunchofuckingoofs, Perdition, Ride at Dawn, Blast Furnace
- Steve "Lamo" – guitar
- Phil "Philphee" Saunders – bass
- Kieran Plunkett – bass; associated with The Varukers, The Restarts
- Kurf – guitar; formerly with PolitiKILL inCOREct, Yeti
- Doug McLarty – vocals; ex-member of Jaww
- Rick Giroux – bass; part of The G-Men and Son of Bronto; previously with Sinking Ships
- Cindy Beattie – bass; formerly in Suckerpunch, The Heatseekers, Sharkskin
- Dorian Wilde – guitar; ex-member of Suckerpunch
- Mark Dickinson – guitar; affiliated with Others, Bloodsucking Freaks; previously with Abalienation
- Hardcore Dave (David Mcleod) – guitar; formerly played in Bunchofuckingoofs, Nunoyerfuckinbizznizz, No ID, Landfill
- Allyson Baker – guitar; member of Dirty Ghosts; previously part of Teen Crud Combo, Shuttlecocks
- John Grove – bass; associated with Bunchofuckingoofs