To many in the New York hardcore scene of the early to mid nineties, Serpico was an intriguing combination of melodic Dischord-esque harmonics and Jawbreaker style start and stop dynamics. The band, started as Sleeper and eventually, changed their name after getting paid off by the English band Sleeper (who kept the name and quickly faded into obscurity). Over the years members came and went at an alarming pace as the band played successful European tours, released seemingly hundreds of singles and several records, memorably on Excursion and C.I., the last on Equal Vision.
After the departure of original lead singer John Telenko (later of Darien and Amber Jets) he band went through more personnel turmoil, with the only constant being mainstay guitarist (and later lead vocalist) John Lisa. Lisa led the band on to what was perhaps their best record, the Rumble album on Equal Vision, before the band, tormented by personnel changes, infighting, and problems with Lisa’s conflicted feelings about his own closeted homosexuality, finally broke up in 1998. For years the band resisted any impetus to reunite as Lisa’s only musical forays were as a house music DJ! Now, after a hiatus of over a decade, the band has reunited for what may be their only new show, a reunion at Martini Red on Staten Island on January 17.
Brian Cogan caught up with John Lisa to find out the scoop on the reunion, and Serpico’s place in punk history. For the tour, the band will be a mixture of different eras with, consisting of: John Telenko: Vocals (later of Darien, Amber Jets), John Lisa: Guitar, Vocals, Michael Thomas DeLorenzo: Guitar (who later played in Kill Your Idols, Death Cycle and S.S.SP), Marc Treboschi: Bass (later of in Crowd) and Chris ‘Niser’ Guardino: Drums.
Source To many in the New York hardcore scene of the early to mid nineties, Serpico was an intriguing combination of melodic Dischord-esque harmonics and Jawbreaker style start and stop dynamics. The band, started as Sleeper and eventually, changed their name after getting paid off by the English band Sleeper (who kept the name and quickly faded into obscurity). Over the years members came and went at an alarming pace as the band played successful European tours, released seemingly hundreds of singles and several records, memorably on Excursion and C.I., the last on Equal Vision.
After the departure of original lead singer John Telenko (later of Darien and Amber Jets) he band went through more personnel turmoil, with the only constant being mainstay guitarist (and later lead vocalist) John Lisa. Lisa led the band on to what was perhaps their best record, the Rumble album on Equal Vision, before the band, tormented by personnel changes, infighting, and problems with Lisa’s conflicted feelings about his own closeted homosexuality, finally broke up in 1998. For years the band resisted any impetus to reunite as Lisa’s only musical forays were as a house music DJ! Now, after a hiatus of over a decade, the band has reunited for what may be their only new show, a reunion at Martini Red on Staten Island on January 17.
Brian Cogan caught up with John Lisa to find out the scoop on the reunion, and Serpico’s place in punk history. For the tour, the band will be a mixture of different eras with, consisting of: John Telenko: Vocals (later of Darien, Amber Jets), John Lisa: Guitar, Vocals, Michael Thomas DeLorenzo: Guitar (who later played in Kill Your Idols, Death Cycle and S.S.SP), Marc Treboschi: Bass (later of in Crowd) and Chris ‘Niser’ Guardino: Drums.
Source