Negative FX

Negative FX was a hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, active in the early 1980s. Formed in 1981, the band quickly gained notoriety in the local punk scene for their intense live shows, aggressive sound, and confrontational lyrics. The lineup consisted of vocalist Jack Kelly, guitarist Choke (John Connelly), bassist Rich Collins, and drummer Dave Wild.

Negative FX released their self-titled debut album in 1982 on Taang! Records, a seminal release in the Boston hardcore punk scene. Clocking in at just over ten minutes, the album is a blistering onslaught of fast-paced, high-energy punk rock. Songs like "Feel Like a Man" and "I Know Better" exemplify the band's raw, uncompromising approach to hardcore music, with confrontational lyrics addressing issues such as societal alienation and personal disillusionment.

Despite their relatively short existence, Negative FX left a lasting impact on the hardcore punk genre, influencing countless bands with their aggressive sound and DIY ethos. Their music, characterized by its fast tempos, shouted vocals, and raw production, helped define the sound of East Coast hardcore in the early 1980s and remains influential to this day.

Negative FX disbanded in 1984, with members going on to pursue other musical projects. Choke would go on to form the highly influential punk band Slapshot, while Jack Kelly would join the hardcore band Last Rights. Despite their short-lived tenure, Negative FX's music continues to be celebrated by fans of hardcore punk for its unrelenting energy and uncompromising attitude.

Negative FX's legacy lives on through their recordings, which have been reissued numerous times over the years and remain popular among fans of hardcore punk. Their self-titled album, in particular, is regarded as a classic of the genre and a must-have for collectors of early American hardcore. Negative FX's contribution to the Boston punk scene and the hardcore genre as a whole continues to be celebrated, cementing their status as pioneers of aggressive, no-nonsense punk rock.