Cringer

Cringer was an American punk rock band that originated in the neighborhood of Manoa, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and became active in 1985. Formed by guitarist Lance Hahn and bassist Gardner Maxam while they were teenagers, Cringer began as a passionate attempt to bring the energy of punk to a community that had few outlets for it. Hahn and Maxam named the band after the timid cat who transforms into Battle Cat in the animated show “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” a nod to their own transformation from shy high schoolers into bold musicians. Early line-ups included guitarist Ed Tarantino and drummer David Carr, and the quartet rehearsed wherever they could, sometimes in friends’ garages, drawing on influences ranging from the Buzzcocks to the Ramones.

In their early Hawaiian period Cringer recorded a handful of demo tapes and in 1986 released the 7-inch single Perversion Is Their Destiny, a rough-edged collection of songs that captured the urgency of their live shows. As the local punk community grew, they played at community centres and clubs around Honolulu, sharing bills with other emerging bands. The line-up shifted when Maxam switched to vocals and Hahn briefly moved to drums, bringing in bassist Francis Sippin and guitarist Simon Barry; this configuration recorded the quirky Zen Flesh, Zen Bones 7-inch. Cringer’s do-it-yourself ethic and bright melodic sensibilities won them attention beyond Hawaii’s shores.

Seeking a larger audience and more opportunities to record, Cringer relocated first to Los Angeles in the late 1980s. In California they played all-ages venues and underground clubs, supporting larger touring acts and honing their songwriting. During this period they recorded the tongue-in-cheekly titled full-length album Tikki Tikki Tembo No Sa Rembo Chari Bari Ruchi Pip Peri Pembo, an eclectic set that fused jangly guitar leads with straightforward punk rhythms. The move to the mainland also exposed the band to a wider network of musicians, and membership continued to evolve; guitarist Nigel Wong and drummer Dave Gomez joined for a time, and the band began to tour along the West Coast.

By 1989 Cringer had moved north to San Francisco, joining the Bay Area’s fertile punk and alternative community. The city’s do-it-yourself venues and supportive environment allowed them to experiment further; they recorded the single “Karin,” produced by Kevin Army, and later released the EP Time for a Little Something… as well as the single “Rain.” The group toured extensively in the United States and Europe, sharing stages with bands such as Citizen Fish, Neurosis and Spitboy, and playing squats and youth centres that reflected their political ideals. Although they remained an underground act, Cringer’s melodic approach and personal lyrics resonated with audiences who were drawn to their sincerity and independence.

Continual line-up changes and the pressures of touring took their toll, and by 1991 Cringer decided to call it quits. Following the break-up, Lance Hahn and Gardner Maxam relocated again and formed the band J Church, which went on to release a prolific catalogue throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Other former members joined projects such as Pinhead Gunpowder and Tilt. Interest in Cringer did not disappear, however; unreleased recordings and compilations surfaced, including Greatest Hits Vol. 1, Duct Tape Soup and The Sound of a New World Being Born, preserving their legacy. In 2018 a tribute band called Cringeworthy performed a set of Cringer songs at the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, California, reflecting the enduring affection held by fans.

Members

• Lance Hahn – vocals, guitar (1985-1991)
• Gardner Maxam – bass, vocals (1985-1991)
• Ed Tarantino – guitar (1985-1987)
• David Carr – drums (1985-1986)
• Francis Sippin – bass (1986-1987)
• Simon Barry – guitar (1986-1987)
• Derek Imose – drums (1986-1987)
• Nigel Wong – guitar (1987-1988)
• Dave Gomez – drums (1987-1988)
• Harry Sherrill – guitar (1989-1991)
• Kamala Parks – drums (1989-1991)

Selected Discography

• Perversion Is Their Destiny (1986) – 7-inch single released in Hawaii
• Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (1987) – EP capturing the band’s early experimentation
• Tikki Tikki Tembo No Sa Rembo Chari Bari Ruchi Pip Peri Pembo (1989) – full-length album recorded in Los Angeles
• Karin (1989) – single released after relocating to San Francisco
• Time for a Little Something… (1990) – EP showcasing matured songwriting
• Rain (1991) – final single before the band’s dissolution
• Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (1991) – posthumous compilation