Fang (band)

Fang
Fang performing in 1983. Left to right: Tim Stiletto and Tom Flynn. Vocalist Sam McBride and bassist Chris Wilson are not visible.
Background information
Origin	Berkeley, California, USA
Genres	Hardcore punk, punk rock
Years active	1980-1989, 1997-present
Labels	Boner, National Trust, Wingnut, Malt Soda
Website	Fang's official MySpace page
Members	Sam 'Sammytown' McBride Tom Flynn Jamey Howell Brandon Brown Tomi Knox
Past members	Bill Collins Joe Miller Tim Stiletto Chris Wilson Brian Beattie Mike Branum Josh Levine Chris Ritter Jimmy Crucifix Brian Schopflin Mat McCoy Justin Werth Larry Tamez Turner Babcock

Fang is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Berkeley, California in 1980. The group was originally part of the punk rock scene in Berkeley, California in the 1980s. Fang initially broke up in 1989 when vocalist Sam McBride was sent to prison for killing his girlfriend, Dixie Lee Carney. Upon his release, in 1995, McBride changed his name to Sammytown and reformed Fang.

The band's first record under the name Fang was an "experimental record", according to the band; this was the "Yukon Fang" single. Fang guitarist Tom Flynn and bass player Brian Beattie, his former bandmate from the bands Tapeworm and Safety Patrol, put out "Yukon Fang" as a duo, and Fang was formed.

The original incarnation of Fang toured the country once, only to break up shortly thereafter with Beattie moving on to Texas where he later formed the band Glass Eye. In the early fall of 1981, Flynn began playing with drummer Chris Ritter. They soon added bass player Chris Wilson and began playing shows in the Bay Area as a three piece, with Flynn on vocals. While this was happening, Sam McBride, the band's soon-to-be vocalist, was singing with future Fang drummer Greg Langston in the band Shut Up. In early 1982, Ritter was replaced with drummer Joel Fox, and at Fox's audition he brought along his friend McBride, who volunteered to be the band's singer. The line-up solidified as McBride (vocals), Chris Wilson (bass), Tom Flynn (guitar), and Joel Fox (drums). Together they contributed the song "Fun with Acid" to the Not So Quiet on the Western Front compilation album.

Shortly thereafter, guitarist Tom Flynn founded the label Boner Records and released Fang's debut album Landshark and their EP Where the Wild Things Are. Tim Stiletto drummed on the latter. These two releases are now considered classic East Bay punk.

The original line-up of Fang dissolved in 1985 after the departure of founder Tom Flynn. Sammytown carried on the band, recruiting a new line-up of Bill Collins (guitar), Joe Miller (bass), and Steve Chinn (drums). Flynn and Boner Records remained affiliated with the band, putting out the first tracks by the new line-up on a Boner Records compilation, Then Boners Be Poppin' in 1985. In January 1986, the "Spun Helga" LP was recorded in West Germany with McBride singing vocals, and two Germans named Joe (guitar) and Ollie (drums) playing instruments. We Bite Records released the LP in Germany, and in the US it was handled by National Trust Records. Fang next release was 1987's A Mi Ga Sfafas? (literally, "Give Me Head?").