Catholic Discipline
| Company type | Punk rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 in San Francisco, California, United States |
| Founder | Claude Bessy |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Catholic Discipline was a pioneering American punk rock ensemble, aligned with the first wave of new wave music, established in 1979 in San Francisco, California. The group was founded by Slash Fanzine editor Claude Bessy. The initial roster included Bessy as the vocalist, Phranc handling guitar duties, Rick Brodey on bass, Richard Meade playing keyboards, and Craig Lee on drums.
History
Originating in San Francisco in 1979, Catholic Discipline made their live debut at the Hong Kong Café in August of that year and subsequently performed at various venues throughout Los Angeles. Following these early gigs, Richard Meade was succeeded on keyboards by Robert Lopez. The band earned wider attention through their feature in the 1980 rock documentary directed by Penelope Spheeris, The Decline of Western Civilization, sharing the screen with influential punk acts like Black Flag and X. The group dissolved in the spring of 1980. Years later, a collection of their live material titled Underground Babylon was issued in 2004 via Artifix Records.
During Catholic Discipline’s brief tenure, all members were concurrently involved in other musical endeavors. Phranc contributed keyboard work to Nervous Gender, Craig Lee played guitar for Bags, Robert Lopez had associations with The Zeros, and Rick Brodey was among the founding members of the Bpeople. Phranc characterized Catholic Discipline as "never a real 'band' situation," emphasizing that the members’ commitments to separate projects influenced the group's limited duration.
After the breakup, Bessy moved to the United Kingdom where he took on roles including press officer for Rough Trade Records, video DJ at the Haçienda, and producer of music videos. Phranc embarked on a solo career focused on folk music, while Robert Lopez continued performing under the moniker El Vez. Craig Lee contributed editorially to Flipside, served as music editor for LA Weekly, co-wrote Hardcore California: A History of Punk and New Wave, and died in 1991 due to AIDS-related illness.
Members
- Former members
- Claude Bessy – lead vocals (1979–1980)
- Phranc – guitar (1979–1980)
- Craig Lee – drums (1979–1980)
- Rick Brodey (also known as Rick Jaffe, Rick Morrison) – bass (1979–1980)
- Richard Meade – keyboards (1979–1980)
- El Vez (Robert Lopez) – keyboards (1980)
Discography
- Compilation albums
- Underground Babylon (2004)
- Film appearances
- "Barbee Doll Lust" – featured in The Decline of Western Civilization (January 19, 1980)
- "Underground Babylon" – included in The Decline of Western Civilization (January 19, 1980)
External links
- Catholic Discipline profile at Artifix Records