Filth

ByLets Go Punk
Filth emerged from the East Bay crust scene with raw

Filth was an East Bay hardcore punk band formed in 1989, known for helping define the later wave of East Bay crustcore. Their music mixed fast, abrasive energy with harsh screamed vocals and unexpectedly catchy guitar work.

How The Band Got Started

Filth formed in the late 1980s in California’s East Bay punk scene. The band’s original lineup featured Jake Sayles on vocals, Len Rokk and Jim Gray on guitars, Mike-O the Psycho on bass, and Dave E.C. Henwood on drums. They quickly became a fixture at 924 Gilman Street, playing alongside bands like Blatz and Neurosis, and embodying the raw, self-destructive attitude that defined the local scene.

The Shit Split and Early Recordings

Filth’s first recordings appeared in 1990, including the Live the Chaos 7-inch on Lookout! Records and a track for the If You Can See Through It… It Ain’t Coffee compilation on Very Small Records. Their defining release came in 1991 with The Shit Split, a chaotic and confrontational split LP with Blatz, originally issued on Lookout! Records. The album became a cult classic, representing the clash of Blatz’s playful anarchy and Filth’s dark, nihilistic aggression. The record’s raw production and feral energy made it a staple of East Bay punk history.

Lineup Changes and Breakup

After recording The Shit Split, drummer Dave Henwood left the band and was replaced by Toby. Filth continued to play throughout 1991 but began to fracture under internal strain. Toby departed that same year, and Joey from Blatz filled in for the group’s final shows before they split in 1992. Their last recordings included the This Is Why We Are the Drunks split 7-inch with Submachine, released on Rust Records in 1992.

Later Projects

After Filth dissolved, members spread into several notable East Bay and Canadian punk projects. Len Rokk and Mike-O co-founded Strychnine in 1995, releasing Dead Rats and Oakland Dogs. Mike and Jake later formed Fields of Shit, releasing one EP before breaking up. Jim Gray moved back to Canada and started the band Tension, while other members went on to play in groups such as Abandon, the Wynona Riders, and the Vagrants.

Reunion Shows

In 2010, Filth reunited for a short run of shows that included two nights at 924 Gilman Street, The Hazmat in Oakland, Thee Parkside in San Francisco, and The Uptown in Oakland. Their return was met with enthusiasm from long-time fans who had kept the band’s legacy alive through bootlegs and compilation appearances.

Members

  • Jake Sayles – vocals
  • Len Rokk – guitar
  • Jim Gray – guitar
  • Mike-O the Psycho – bass
  • Dave E.C. Henwood – drums
  • Toby – drums
  • Jon Summerall – bass
  • Joey Perales – drums
  • Derek Dykeman – drums (Dec 1990 – Feb 1991)

Discography

  • Live the Chaos 7-inch (1990, Lookout! Records)
  • If You Can See Through It… It Ain’t Coffee compilation (1990, Very Small Records)
  • The Shit Split (split with Blatz) (1991, Lookout! Records)
  • This Is Why We Are the Drunks (split with Submachine) (1992, Rust Records)
  • Later That Same Year… compilation (1999, S.P.A.M. Records)
  • The Shit Split reissues (2000, Life Is Abuse; 2008, Alternative Tentacles)
  • Live the Chaos reissues (2000, Life Is Abuse; 2008, Silver Sprocket)
  • Live at Gilman Feb 28 1992 (2017, no label)

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