Proletariat, The
The Murder Of Alton Sterling
Today, they are considered one of the most influential punk bands of their era. In the Fall of 2016, after a 33-year hiatus, THE PROLETARIAT decided to reunite to celebrate the re-release of their groundbreaking record Soma Holiday. Original members Richard Brown, Peter Bevilacqua and Tom McKnight and guitarist Don Sanders (from the Providence band IDLE RICH) reunited for a series of shows in the Fall of 2016 and Spring 2017. The band played to full houses and got rave reviews for their incendiary live show. Given todays political climate, the bands message and sound are as relevant and vital today as they ever were. The shows went so well that the band decided to play more shows and write new music. The band reunited with legendary producer Lou Giordano (JERRYS KIDS, DYS, SIEGE) to record new music. They recorded two songs for an EP entitled The Murder Of Alton Sterling. Giordanos production captures the fury and power of their live performance and intensity. Inspired by THE BUZZCOCKS, THE JAM, PiL, AND WIRE, THE PROLETARIAT was to tap into the high energy hardcore punk swirling around them and infuse it with artpunk excitement. By the time that their classic debut, Soma Holiday, hit, THE PROLETARIAT were being referred to as Americas GANG OF FOUR and a more supercharged POP GROUP. And they were that but more. The intelligent anger of the band was a lifeline to many suburban American rejects, young people who knew that life under Reagan wasnt right. Fast forward 33 years, the band once again gives a voice to those in need.