Inspecter 7 was formed in New Brunswick, NJ in 1992, during the “Ice Age†of New Jersey Ska. Fed up with the lack of Ska bands and Ska shows in the area, a rag tag group of local Skins, Mods, and others from the underground scene decided to make their own damn Ska band...and their own damned Ska shows. Originally dubbed "Agent 86", the band had their debut performance at The Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ. For the next year or so they continued to play watering holes and basement parties in Central Jersey going through line up changes and name changes ("The CrashBars" in 1993) along the way. At the tail end of 1993, founding members Giuseppe Mancini, Erik “Lord Skoochie†Schroeder, “Lovely Miss†Stephanie, Quincy “The Ace†Bright, and “Big†John Czifra remained and inspired by an inspection tag found in a pair of Giuseppe’s Levi’s, the band was renamed Inspecter 7. In early 1994, longtime band supporter, rehearsal crasher, and drunken show-goer Travis "T. Dog" Nelson joined the band to replace co-frontman Jeff Silverman who had departed in 1993.
In 1994, I7 kicked in the door of the NYC Ska scene with their appearance at the 2 night sold-out underground music festival known as "Oi!/Skampilation", which was recorded for CD and released by NYC indie label Radical Records. From then on they formed relationships with NYC and NJ’s hard working Oi!, Punk and Ska bands playing for and with the Skinhead & Punk underground when most other Ska bands were abandoning it. They continued playing for and with the people who supported them from the start, even as Ska began to mainstream in the mid-90s.
After releasing a 7-inch on Moon Ska NYC and appearing on several compilation albums, I7 signed with Radical Records and released their first full length CD entitled "The Infamous" in 1997. By that time Tim "Predator" Boyce had become the permanent fixture on lead guitar and Jay "Boxcar" Battle was a permanent fixture on drums. I7 toured nationally numerous times in support of "The Infamous" as well as in support of their second full length CD "Banished To Bogeyland" which was released in 1999.
As the Ska flame began to flutter towards the beginning of the new millennium and the main stream crowd lost it’s interest in the underground flavor-of-the-decade, Inspecter 7 continued playing. Unfortunately after 8 years, band life began to take it’s toll. Creative preferences clashed and some members grew tired of giving so much creative, mental, and physical energy with little tangible return. Side projects were created and on January 14th 2001, Lovely Miss Stephanie played her last show with Inspecter 7 leaving the band to pursue career opportunities. A new keyboard player was never found and the creative differences combined with a lack of drive continued until September of 2001 when the band faced reality and called it quits. As a true testament to their state of disarray, I7 could not even organize a final "farewell" show, making Lovely Miss Stephanie's last appearance the Inspecter 7 farewell show.
Inspecter 7 performed a small series of "reunion" shows in June of 2003, and one so-called "Funeral" show in NYC in November of 2004 which was supposed to be their last ever but it was not meant to be. On 7-7-07 they returned to semi-active duty with the "Beer-B-Q" show in Asbury Park as well as another show in NYC in September of 2007. As of 2008, the "Beer-B-Q" has become an annual event and all mention of the word "reunion" has ceased. Inspecter 7 is no longer a full time, active band but has chosen to play the occasional show to celebrate their friendship and spend some quality time with good friends and good Beer. Keep an eye to the shows section for any upcoming events.
Though Inspecter 7's fully active days may be gone, several bands have risen from Inspecter 7's proverbial ashes. The Hub City Stompers, Steel Toe Solution, Predator Dub Assassins, Steadfast United, Silver Dollar and others carry the torch and represent the many influences that drove Inspecter 7 from day one. Check out the BLOG for more details.
-Inspecter 7 (1992 - 2001...2003 - ?)
