Here's the history as best as I can remember it...
Early History...
In 1992 there was a show at Bard College in Upstate NY featuring three bands from CT (Darkest Exit, T.S.S., and Genetic Mistake) and one band from NY (Basement). As it happened, these bands had alot in common. Al from Darkest Exit had previously been in a band called P.O.E. with Rich from Basement, I was in T.S.S. and used to be in Darkest Exit (in fact, Al replaced me when I left), and Genetic Mistake was a semi-joke of a side band featuring Bill and I from T.S.S. and Jim from Darkest Exit (our "set" consisted of one original and two Discharge covers). While no one knew it at the time, this turned out to be the last show each of those bands played. When T.S.S. broke up a few weeks after this show, Bill and I decided to take the parts we had written for our side band and turn it into something more serious. We grabbed Gerry from Darkest Exit, Rich from Basement, and added Greg from P.O.E. on drums (who had moved to Seattle but was staying in CT for the summer). Rich suggested naming the band "Brutally Familiar", and everyone agreed. After two weeks of intense practicing we went into the studio on a Friday Night to record our demo and then played our first show the next day. Greg had to return to Seattle, so the time had come to find a new Drummer.
The Tom Era...
Tom (who had played guitar in P.O.E.) was brought in as the new drummer. We started playing out on a regular basis, playing a mix of metal shows and hardcore shows. We went back into the studio with Tom to record a new batch of songs that ended being the "TV Land" 7'. We also recorded three other tracks that never were released. Bill had decided to start a label, naming it Eugene Records (Eugene was the skinhead kid from "The Decline of Western Civilization"), and TV Land ended up being the first release. Soon after Bill started a new band with Al (formerely of Darkest Exit and P.O.E.) called The Pist. The two bands set out on the road in the summer of 1993. The tour went well overall, but near the end Tom announced that he did want to tour again. This led to his departure.
The Jeff Era...
Enter Jeff, a skinny guy with a very mellow disposition who could beat the hell out of drumkit. With Jeff in the fold we spent the fall of 1993 writing songs for out next record and playing as many shows as possible around CT. During this time we got the chance to play with many of our favorite bands, including SNFU, Rancid, Avail, The Queers, Into Another, and the Voodoo Glow Skulls. In early 1994 we entered the studio again and recorded about 12 or 13 songs with the intent of releasing a full-length LP. For financial resons Bill decided instead to release the "Ashamed To Be White" 7", and the other tracks from that session were not released. That summer we went on tour with The Pist again, this time playing to more people than the previous year. During this tour there were several arguments between band members, and things were tense when we returned home. We played two more shows that fall and then I decided to leave the band.
The End...
I was replaced by Brendan from Blanks 77. They played a few shows with this line-up, and released a split 7" with The Pist. Soon after that release Jeff and Gerry left the band, spelling the end of Brutally Familiar. The remaining memebrs changed the name of the band to Revolt. Revolt put out a 7" and then broke up while on tour with The Pist in the summer of 1995.
The Return...
In August of 2002 we played a one time only reunion show in Wallingford, CT. The show was a blast and we had tons of fun playing the old songs, as well as a cover of Black Flag's "Depression" which we learned the day before the show. Rich and Al put together a CD-R containg material from all three 7''s as well as alot of unreleased songs and sold them at the reunion.
Where are they now?
Bill lives in Pittsburgh. He plays guitar in Behind Enemy Lines and Caustic Christ.
Gerry lives in CT. He plays guitar in Broken and Spider & Fly.
Jeff lives in CT. He is not in a band, but is making music that is hard to listen to, with instruments that are hard to use, and circuit bent toys.
Rich lives in Brooklyn, NY. He sings and plays guitar in the Deacons.
I live in CT. I play bass in Spider & Fly and God's Left Hand
- Mike