Propagandhi

Propagandhi
Propagandhi (from left to right: David "The Beaver" Guillas, Jord Samolesky, Todd Kowalski) performing at Galpón Víctor Jara in Santiago, Chile, 2007
Background information
Origin	Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada
Genres	Punk rock, heavy metal
Years active	1986 (1986)–present
Labels	G7 Welcoming Committee, Fat Wreck Chords, Smallman, Grand Hotel van Cleef, Epitaph
Website	propagandhi.com
Members	Jord Samolesky Chris Hannah Todd Kowalski David Guillas Sulynn Hago (touring)
Past members	Scott Hopper Mike Braumeister John K. Samson

Propagandhi is a Canadian punk rock band formed in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba in 1986 by guitarist Chris Hannah and drummer Jord Samolesky. The band is currently located in Winnipeg, Manitoba and completed by bassist Todd Kowalski and guitarist Sulynn Hago.

While their earlier work was aligned with the punk rock and skate punk tradition, in later years Propagandhi records have moved towards a heavier and more technical heavy metal-influenced sound. Both in their lyrics and hands-on activism, the band's members champion various radical left wing and anarchist causes and veganism, and have taken a vocal stance against human rights violations, sexism, racism, nationalism, homophobia, imperialism, capitalism and organized religion.

In 1986, Samolesky and Hannah recruited original bassist Scott Hopper via a "progressive thrash band looking for bass player" flyer posted in a local record shop. Hopper was replaced three years later by Mike Braumeister, which completed the first lineup to perform live. After the band established itself through several demos and larger shows, including one with Fugazi, Braumeister moved to Vancouver, and John K. Samson became the band's third bassist.

In 1992, Propagandhi played a show with California punk rock band NOFX and included in their set a cover version of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me". Impressed by their performance, NOFX front man Fat Mike signed them to his independent record label Fat Wreck Chords. The band later accompanied him to Los Angeles, where they recorded their debut album, How to Clean Everything, released in 1993. The band spent the next three years touring and issuing several smaller releases, including the How to Clean a Couple o' Things single on Fat Wreck Chords, a split 10" record with I Spy, a split 7" with F.Y.P, and the double 7" Where Quality is Job No. 1, the latter three on Recess Records.