Articles of Faith was a

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

-based

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier pu ...

band originally active between 1981 and 1985. The band's later work is credited with superior songwriting and with foreshadowing the emo sound. Originally a Springsteen/ Clash cover band called Direct Drive, the group changed both its music and name after frontman Vic Bondi visited Washington, D.C. in 1981 and saw a

Bad Brains Bad Brains are an American rock band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1976. Originally a jazz fusion band under the name Mind Power, they are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this ...

show that he describes as an “epiphany.” AoF typically showed funk, reggae and jazz influences, accompanied by lyrics bemoaning the difficulty of finding freedom and fulfillment in consumer society. While the band's influence was blunted by being based in Chicago, it maintained close musical and thematic ties to the Washington DC /

Dischord Records Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in punk rock. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release ''Minor Disturbance'' by their band The Teen Idle ...

scene. Drummer Bill Richman (a.k.a. “Virus X”), a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party briefly left the band in 1984 due to the waning of the band's political emphasis; he returned later to record ''In This Life''. Bondi had already left Chicago by the time AoF disbanded in 1985; ''In This Life'' was issued two years later. The original lineup reunited for a European tour in 1991. The final show of this tour was recorded and issued as part of the ''Your Choice Live'' series. Frontman Vic Bondi was originally a protest singer with decidedly leftist views. He went on to form Alloy, and Jones Very after AoF's demise. At the time of AoF's original breakup Bondi was working as a history instructor at the

University of Massachusetts Amherst The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) is a public research university in Amherst, Massachusetts and the sole public land-grant university in Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Founded in 1863 as an agricultural college, it ...

. Bondi's subsequent day jobs included working on

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation, multinational technology company, technology corporation producing Software, computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at th ...

Encarta ''Microsoft Encarta'' is a discontinued Digital data, digital multimedia encyclopedia published by Microsoft from 1993 to 2009. Originally sold on CD-ROM or DVD, it was also available on the World Wide Web via an annual subscription, although l ...

as managing editor of the Encarta Interactive English Learning edition (Bondi's ironic take on his software career can be foun
here
. Bondi resurfaced with another politically charged band, Report Suspicious Activity in 2006, and was featured prominently in the documentaries '' American Hardcore'' and ''

You Weren't There ''You Weren't There: A History of Chicago Punk, 1977–1984'' is a 2007 documentary film about punk subculture in Chicago from 1977 through 1984. The film was written and directed by Joe Losurdo and Christina Tillman, and profiles the punk bar ...

''.

In 2010, Articles of Faith reunited for an appearance at

Riot Fest Riot Fest is an annual three-day punk rock music festival based in Chicago, Illinois, at Douglass Park. It is known for booking reunions, guest performances, and full album performances. Riot Fest remains one of the largest independently owned ...

in Chicago and recorded a new EP. Virus X-aof

Legacy

Groups who have cited Articles of Faith as a prominent influence include

NOFX NOFX () is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. Vocalist/bassist Fat Mike, guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin are original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every r ...

, Heroin and

Disfear Disfear is a Swedish crust punk band that formed in the early 1990s and recorded sporadically over the years. After releasing the albums '' Soul Scars'' in 1995 and '' Everyday Slaughter'' in 1997, the group did not release another album until 2 ...

.Brandon Stosuy, "Show No Mercy", ''Pitchforkmedia'', March 26, 2008. Access date: September 11, 2008.

Line-up

* Vic Bondi (vocals, guitar) *Dave Shield (bass guitar, vocals) *Bill Richman aka Virus X (drums) *Dorian Tajbakhsh (guitar) *Joe Scuderi (guitar)

Discography

*''What We Want Is Free'' (EP 1982) - Version Sound, re-released on the band's DIY label, Wasteland Records *''Wait'' (EP 1983) - Wasteland (3 song ep) *''Give Thanks'' (LP 1984) - Reflex Records, produced by Bob Mould *''In This Life'' (LP 1987) - Lone Wolf Records, produced by Bob Mould *''New Normal Catastrophe'' (EP 2010)

Anthologies and posthumous collections

*''Core'' (CD 1991) – Bitzcore (a collection of EPs, comp appearances, and unreleased tracks recorded from 1981 to 1983) *''Give Thanks'' (CD 1992) – Bitzcore *''Your Choice Live Series 022'' (1994) – Tobby Holzinger /

Your Choice Records Your Choice Records was a German independent record label that was founded in 1988 by producer Tobby Holzinger. The label specialized in independent punk music, including live releases of German and other international acts.http://www.de.wikipe ...

(last night of 1992 European reunion tour) *''AoF Complete Vol. 1'' and ''AoF Complete Vol. 2'' (2002) -

Alternative Tentacles Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 in San Francisco, California. It was used by Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single " California Über Alles". After realizing the potential for an independent label, t ...

, all AoF vinyl recorded 1981 - 1983 and 1983 - 1985 respectively

Compilation contributions

*"Buried Alive" and "False Security" on the ''Master Tape'' compilation LP (Affirmation Records, 1982) *"Five O'Clock" - On ''The Middle of America'' compilation LP (H.I.D. Productions, 1984) *"Up Against The Wall" on the ''P.E.A.C.E.'' compilation LP (R Radical Records, 1985) *"Buy this War" and "American Dreams" on the ''Fortunate Son'' split EP (2 old AoF songs along with a solo Vic Bondi performing one original and one cover song) (

2003) *"Bad Attitude" on the ''American Hardcore'' original documentary soundtrack (Rhino Records, 2006) *"I Got Mine" on the ''You Weren't There: A History Of Chicago Punk 1977-1984'' documentary soundtrack (Factory 25, 2009)

References

External links

Vic Bondi's website

Older Bondi homepage

AoF Photos at Chicago Punk Pix

- Articles of Faith interview from 1984 {{DEFAULTSORT:Articles Of Faith Hardcore punk groups from Illinois Musical groups from Chicago Musical groups established in 1981 Musical groups disestablished in 1985 Alternative Tentacles artists Political music groups