The World/Inferno Friendship Society (also referred to as World Inferno, or Inferno) was an American band from

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. Its style merged

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

klezmer Klezmer ( or ) is an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The essential elements of the tradition include dance tunes, ritual melodies, and virtuosic improvisations played for listening; these wou ...

and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

, while its

collective A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest or work together to achieve a common objective. Collectives can differ from cooperatives in that they are not necessarily focused upon an e ...

membership featured

horns Horns or The Horns may refer to: * Plural of Horn (anatomy) * Plural of Horn (instrument), a group of musical instruments all with a horn-shaped bells * The Horns (Colorado), a summit on Cheyenne Mountain * Horns (novel), ''Horns'' (novel), a dar ...

, piano and guitar and had a membership of about 40 players, of whom only about seven to ten active members usually performed at a time. The group was led by singer Jack Terricloth, who was the only constant during the group's history. Terricloth was known for his pointed commentary during shows; his monologues touched on politics and his transformation from the "old school." Its lyrics often concerned historical or biographical subjects, such as Weimar-era Germany,

Peter Lorre Peter Lorre (; born László Löwenstein, ; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, active first in Europe and later in the United States. Known for his timidly devious characters, his appearance, and accented vo ...

Jeffrey Lee Pierce Jeffrey Lee Pierce (June 27, 1958 – March 31, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and author. He was one of the founding members of the band The Gun Club, and released material as a solo artist. Early life Pierce was born ...

the Gun Club The Gun Club were an American post-punk band from Los Angeles that existed from 1979 to 1996. Created and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce, they were notable as one of the first bands in the punk rock subculture to i ...

Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, actor, professional American football, football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for h ...

Leni Riefenstahl Helene Bertha Amalie "Leni" Riefenstahl (; 22 August 1902 – 8 September 2003) was a German film director, Film producer, producer, screenwriter, Film editing, editor, photographer, and actress. She is considered one of the most controversial ...

Dante Alighieri Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...

, Philip K. Dick, and

Jonathan Fire*Eater Jonathan Fire*Eater was an American indie rock band best known as a progenitor of the post-punk revival in New York City. The line-up was Stewart Lupton (vocals), Tom Frank (bass), Paul Maroon (guitar and pedal steel), Matt Barrick (drums), a ...

. Terricloth died in May 2021.

Hallowmas

The World/Inferno Friendship Society's annual

Halloween Halloween, or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve), is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christianity, Western Christian f ...

show, Hallowmas, was its most-anticipated performance of the year. The event was known for its elaborate planning and surprises. Past Hallowmases have included a burning effigy of Mr. Terricloth constructed and set alight by a large, caustic cat; an ethereal string quartet performing throughout the evening in the rear of the hall; circus performances and

fire breathing Fire breathing, fire-breathing, firebreathing, fire breather, or firebreather may refer to: * Fire-breathing monster, a mythological or fantastical monster able to breathe fire * Fire breathing (circus act) Fire breathing is the a ...

by the Odd Child Uprising troupe and a cadaverous marching band materializing on stage for the finale, "Pumpkin Time". The song (performed only at Hallowmas shows) includes street rallies, and references

The Great Pumpkin The Great Pumpkin is an unseen character in the comic strip ''Peanuts'' by Charles M. Schulz. According to Linus van Pelt, the Great Pumpkin is a legendary personality who rises from the pumpkin patch on Halloween carrying a large bag of toys ...

from the ''

Peanuts ''Peanuts'' (briefly subtitled ''featuring Good ol' Charlie Brown'') is a print syndication, syndicated daily strip, daily and Sunday strip, Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz. The strip's original run ext ...

'' comic strip.

Members

Discography

Albums

*''The True Story of the Bridgewater Astral League'' – 1997 *''Just the Best Party'' – 2002 *''Red-Eyed Soul'' – 2006 *'' Addicted to Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's Twentieth Century'' – 2007 *''

The Anarchy and the Ecstasy ''The Anarchy and the Ecstasy'' is an album released by the World/Inferno Friendship Society on March 15, 2011. It is their fifth full-length album. Three members left the group between the previous release and ''Anarchy''. Before the album's r ...

'' – 2011 *''This Packed Funeral'' – 2014 *''All Borders Are Porous to Cats'' – 2020

Live/compilation albums

*'' East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' (compilation) – 2000 *''Hallowmas: Live at Northsix'' – 2003 *''Valhalla, Definitely'' (compilation) – 2023

EPs

*''International Smashism!'' – 2001 *''Speak of Brave Men'' – 2004 *''Me v. Angry Mob'' – 2005 *''Vox Inferne'' – 2010 *''Maps, Saints & Just This Side of Way Too Much'' (live, 2 songs from ''The Anarchy and the Ectasy'') – 2012 *''Turnstile Comix #2'' (three-song EP released with a comic book) – 2013

Singles

*"Tattoos Fade" b/w "Nothing You Begin" (1994), Blue Ghost Records ("Tattoos Fade" was re-released on the ''East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' compilation) *"The Models and the Mannequins" b/w "Glamour Ghouls" (1996),

Gern Blandsten Records Gern Blandsten Records is an independent record label based in Paramus, New Jersey. The label's acts have included The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Canyon, Chisel, the Van Pelt, Radio 4, The Flesh, Weston, Native Nod and Rye Coalition. G ...

(both re-released on the ''East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' compilation) *"Our Candidate" b/w "All of California and Everyone Who Lives There Stinks" (1996), Gern Blandsten (both re-released on the ''East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' compilation) *"Pumpkin Time" b/w "Ich Errinere Mich an Weimar" (1999), Gern Blandsten (both re-released on the ''East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' compilation) *"I Wouldn't Want to Live in a World Without Grudges" b/w "All the World Is a Stage (Dive)" (2000), X-Mist Records (both re-recorded for ''Just the Best Party'') *"Hallowmas 2010" (2010), Chunksaah Records (7" disc distributed at Hallowmas 2010, featuring "Canonize Philip K. Dick, OK") *"This Packed Funeral" (2013) *"Freedom Is a Wilderness Made for You and Me" (2019) *"All I Can Do to Help You with Your Nightmares Is Keep You Up Late" (2019)

Unreleased demos

*''A Demonstrational Introduction to the Astral Plane'' – 1996–1997 *''Powder Waves Goodbye Sessions'' – 2000 *''A Lexicon of Friends & Enemies'' – 2004 *''The New Americana Demos'' – 2008 *''3 Ring Brain and a Circus Heart'' – 2010

Other appearances

*''CMJ New Music April 1997'' - compilation with ''

CMJ CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events, online media company and a distributor of up and coming music CDs, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music ...

'' magazine, featuring "Our Candidate" *''Achtung Autobahn'' (2000) - benefit compilation featuring "Peter Lorre" *''Against Police Injustice'' (2003) - compilation featuring "Secret Service Freedom Fighting USA" *''

Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 ''Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1'' is a Rock Against Bush compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. It contains a collection of songs, both released and unreleased, by various punk rock artists and includes a bonus DVD with poli ...

'' (2004) - compilation featuring "The Expatriate Act" *''

Fuck World Trade ''Fuck World Trade'' is the second album by American punk band Leftöver Crack, released in 2004 on the Alternative Tentacles record label, label. The album continues the band's self-defined status as anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-capitalist, ...

'' (2004) - album by

Leftöver Crack Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of Choking Victim. The band is currently signed to Tankcrimes for CD releases, and Alternative Tentacles for vinyl releases. Leftöver Crack spans several diffe ...

with "Soon We'll Be Dead" *''Go-Kart vs. The Corporate Giant 4'' (2006) - compilation featuring a live version of "Tattoos Fade" *''Hugs for Chelsea'' (2017) - compilation featuring "Freedom Is a Wilderness"

References

External links

The World/Inferno Friendship Society's myspaceReview of "Red-Eyed Soul" on PunkNews.orgInterview with World/Inferno Friendship Society on Twilight Vision TVWorld Inferno In The Studio 2009The World/Inferno Friendship Society at BandToBand.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:World Inferno Friendship Society 1996 establishments in New York City Punk rock groups from New York (state) Dark cabaret musicians Indie rock musical groups from New York (state) Musical groups from Brooklyn Musical groups established in 1996 Musical groups disestablished in 2021 Gern Blandsten Records artists Alternative Tentacles artists