Gorilla Biscuits

by Bradley TorreanoHardcore icons Gorilla Biscuits came together in the late 80s to add their two cents to the straight-edge scene in New York City. Ironically enough though, their name came from the street term for Quaaludes. The group went through various members in their time together, but the bands definitive lineup was the team of vocalist Anthony Civocelli, bassist Arthur Smilios, drummer Luke Abbey, and guitarists Walter Schreifels and (eventually) Alex Brown; John Porcell Porcelly (guitar) and Sammy Siegler (drums) also served in the Biscuits ranks. No last names were used on any of their recordings; in fact, Civocelli went by the name Civ at the time. They were very reactionary, trying to move the movement away from the militant rules that many hardcore straight-edge fans had created around their favorite bands. The main goal was to try and include anyone who wanted to take on their political views without worrying about the aesthetics, something that made them unpopular with many in the movement. They managed to tour the U.S. once and Europe twice, and release two albums on Revelation Records (a 1988 self-titled 7 and 1989s highly influential Start Today) before Schreifels left the group to form the melodic hardcore/metal band Quicksand in 1990. Gorilla Biscuits were officially broken up, playing a final gig together in 1992, but in reality the remaining members turned around and formed CIV, a pop-punk combo that scored a minor hit with Cant Wait One Minute More when they reappeared on a major label in 1994. Gorilla Biscuits reunited in 2005 during the Save CBGBs campaign (when the famed venue was on the brink of closure), which ultimately led to the band embarking on a subsequent nationwide tour.