Electric Frankenstein

Electric Frankenstein is an American band from Whippany, Clifton, and other areas of New Jersey, founded by Sal Canzonieri. Their music is generally considered punk rock, but includes elements of hard rock and heavy metal as well. Because of this, they have sometimes been referred to as AC/DC meets The Dead Boys - high energy punk rock and roll that combines the raw and energetic sounds of Punk Rock and Garage Punk (Dead Boys, Ramones, Damned, Misfits, Sabbath etc.) with elements of hard rock played by bands like MC5, Stooges, AC/DC, Kiss, Mott the Hoople, Alice Cooper, and so on.

Electric Frankenstein
OriginNew Jersey, U.S.
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, garage rock, punk rock
Years active1991–present
LabelsTKO Records, No Balls Records, Zodiac Killer Records
Associated actsThe Hellacopters
When I Was Dead
Kung Fu Killers
Maggott SS
Websitehttp://www.electricfrankenstein.com
MembersSteve Miller (vocals/guitar)
Sal Canzonieri (guitar)
Dan Canzonieri (aka Danny Frankenstein (bass)
Mike Lincoln (drums)
Past membersMike Mindless
Paul Perez
Rob Sefcik
Drew Banfante
Frankie Orlandoni
Jim Foster
John Caton
Joe Martin
John Steele
Bill Gill
Joel Gausten
Rene Valentine

Releasing over 100 records all over the world since 1992, Electric Frankenstein's vinyl singles and albums, CDs, and posters proved to be highly influential, helping to spark a rock revival among the youth of the time throughout the world from the US to Europe to Scandinavia to Japan, known as the New Rock Revolution. Many new bands soon played the Punk Rock & Roll style that began with Electric Frankenstein's combining of Punk Rock, Hard Rock, and Heavy Metal, greatly influencing such bands as The Hellacopters, Gluecifer, Turbonegro, and many more.[1]

History

The band was first formed in 1989 out of the ashes of famed NYC space punk band The Thing, and continued to develop their sounds between 1990 and 1991, by brothers Sal and Dan Canzonieri (a.k.a., Danny Frankenstein). With Sal on guitar and Dan on bass, their first line-up was with Frankie Orlandoni on vocals, Jim Foster on lead guitar and John Caton on drums. Within one year, Steve Miller took over as singer/vocalist and eventually also played lead guitar. Miller took time off while recording a side project, and Scott Wilkins of Verbal Abuse & Condemned to Death took over vocals for two years, after which Steve Miller returned on vocals and lead guitar. John Steele and Rob Sefcik took over alternately playing drums during the last 15 years. They developed a strong following in New York City and by 1995, they toured nationally and internationally. After releasing singles on a handful of independent labels, they released their first vinyl EP, The Time Is Now, in 1995 that was released on CD with tracks from 7" singles as their first full-length album. Since then, they have released over 10 albums with almost every album being released on a different label.[2]

Electric Frankenstein was one of the first musical groups to advertise on the internet, establishing a basic webpage in 1991. Canzonieri later created the critically acclaimed series of compilations called "A Fistful of Rock & Roll", which collected and highlighted all of the best of the new rock bands, collectively known as the New Rock Revolution. There have been 13 volumes of the series so far, published on various record labels (Tee Pee Records, Victory Records, and Steel Cage Records). A second series is forthcoming, known as "A Fistful More of Rock & Roll".

Electric Frankenstein released an art book containing their record covers and concert posters, designed by notable underground artists such as Coop, Kozik, Johnny Ace, Art Chantry, Dirty Donny, Peter Bagge, and many more. The book was titled, Electric Frankenstein - High Energy Punk Rock & Roll Poster Art and was published by Dark Horse Comics (2004). The book chronicled every single poster and record cover of their first 10 years.[3] The book Electric Frankenstein! is featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame archives.[4] A second book documenting their second decade of artwork has been published "Son of Electric Frankenstein - More High Energy Rock Art" (published by Create Space).

Previous bands

Lead guitarist Jim Foster was an original guitarist for Adrenalin OD. Vocalist/Guitarist Steve Miller was guitarist/vocalist in the Gutter Kids and the Crash Street Kids (who were signed to Atlantic Records, but dropped before the album came out). Bassist Dan Canzonieri was in Melvis Kepper, Empire Hideous (with Mike Hideous, short time singer for The Misfits). Dan also played with The Shadow Project and Christian Death, both bands featuring original vocalist Rozz Williams.[3]

Founding member of Electric Frankenstein, Rhythm Guitarist Sal Canzonieri, was in Noise Rock/Post Punk Acid Rock band The Thing, from the mid-1980s into the early-1990s. The Thing were one of the first original founders of the early east coast stoner rock scene, along with Monster Magnet, Bench, Hed, The Blood Farmers, and others. The Thing played live shows at CBGB and the Continental with White Zombie, Angel Rot, The Blood Farmers, The Unsane, Von Lmo, Royal Trux, Honeymoon Killers, Railroad Jerk, Nice Strong Arm, Cop Shoot Cop, Core, Daisycutter, Bench, and many others. The Thing were known for the totally original sounding music and intense wild live shows in NYC and UK with strobe lights, smoke, nude vampire go-go girls, split-screen films, fireworks, buckets of pigs blood, live worms, horror film sound samples, and more. Their shows later inspired White Zombie, fellow friends, to go into this visual direction for their live shows. The band grew popular in New York City and Europe, and toured the United Kingdom in 1991, where they recorded a John Peel Session for the BBC, produced by Dale Griffin (drummer from Mott the Hoople), which was released on vinyl by Dutch East India Records - Peel Sessions series. John Peel said this was one of his favorite sessions and one of the very few that he has attended. One of only two or three bands that have had their full Peel Session played more than twice on his radio show.[5]

In other media

The band was chosen by the Frankenstein Society to represent the release of the Frankenstein stamp by the United States Postal Service.

Electric Frankenstein's song "It's All Moving Faster" was covered by Sweet on their 2012 album, New York Connection. Two different versions of their cover are featured on the 2014 reissue of New York Connection.

The band's music and/or graphic art has been featured in video games, such as Tony Hawk's Underground, TV shows such as Viva La Bam, The X-Files, Nitro Circus, Fantasy Factory, Dawson's Creek, and movies such as Signs, Jackass, and American Psycho 2, among others.

Members

Current
  • Steve Miller (vocals/lead guitar)
  • Sal Canzonieri (guitar)
  • Dan Canzonieri (bass)
  • Ruben Badillo (drums)

Former
  • Scott Wilkins (vocals) - from Verbal Abuse, Hollywood Hate
  • Rik L Rik (vocals) - from F-Word and Negative Trend
  • Frankie Orlandoni (vocals) (1st temporary singer, before Steve Miller)



  • Chris Lynn (bass) from Hudson Falcons
  • Bill Gill (bass)
  • Mike Mindless Ruggerio (bass) from The Skulls
  • Johnny Yeagher (bass) - from Zodiac Panthers, Ironhead, The Candy Snatchers, Thunderlip
  • Sean O' Brien (bass)
  • Drew Benfante (bass)
  • Paul Perez (bass) from Black Novas


  • Mike Lincoln (drums)
  • John Steele (drums)
  • Rob Sefcik (drums)
  • Joel Gausten (drums) from Pigface
  • Joey Rudacil (drums) (RIP)
  • Joe Martin (drums) from Kill Your Idols
  • Eric Arce (drums) from Murphy's Law
  • Rene Valentine (drums) - from Joey Ramone's band, The Resistance, Hari Kari, Jim Marcus of Die Warzau, Pigface
  • John Caton (drums) (1st drummer)

Discography

Albums
  • Conquers the World (1995) Get Hip Records LP / One Foot Records CD
  • Time is Now (1996)Demolition Derby Records LP / One Foot Records CD
  • Sick Songs (US) Get Hip Records LP - One Foot Records CD / Action High (UK) One Louder Records (1997), featuring Scott Wilkins of Verbal Abuse on vocals
  • Spare Parts (1998) Get Hip Records, featuring Scott Wilkins of Verbal Abuse on vocals
  • Rock 'n' Roll Monster (1999) Au Go Go Records, featuring Rik L Rik of F-Word on vocals
  • How to Make a Monster (1999) Victory Records
  • Annie's Grave (US) Victory Records / Don't Touch Me, I'm Electric (UK) Twenty Stone Blatt Records (2000)
  • The Buzz of 1000 Volts! (2001) Victory Records
  • Burn Bright, Burn Fast! (2005) TKO Records (1st printing) / Little T&A Records (2nd printing) / Zodiac Killer Records (3rd printing)

Live albums
  • I Was a Teenage Shutdown (1998) Estrus Records LP (regular vinyl and picture disc versions)
  • How I Rose from the Dead (1998) One Foot Records LP
  • It's Moving, It's Alive! (1995) Igor (Get Hip) Records LP
  • Me No Like You - Live Euclid Tavern, OH - Sonic Swirl Records CD (USA) / "Live Loud & Angry" CD - Twenty Stone Blatt Records (UK) (1999)
  • Electric Frankenstein / The Grinners - Live in France (2000) Speed Records LP

Compilations
  • Dawn of Electric Frankenstein - Triple X Records split album with Crash Street Kids, The Thing and Kathedral) (2000)
  • Dead & Back (2004) - singles and non-lp tracks. Tornado Ride Records LP & CD
  • We Will Bury You! (2004) - TKO Records, all covers songs recorded by Electric Frankenstein double LP and CD.
  • High Voltage Rock & Roll - The Best of Electric Frankenstein! (2011) - Zodiac Killer Records (US) CD / No Balls Records (Germany) LP
  • We Will Bury You Again! (2019) - Ghost Highway Records CD, all covers songs recorded by Electric Frankenstein

EPs
  • The Time Is Now (1995) 10" EP version - Demolition Derby Records
  • Fractured (1997) 10" EP & CD - Get Hip Records, Scott Wilkins of Verbal Abuse on vocals.
  • Monster (1998) 10" EP - Au Go Go Records, Rik L Rik of F-Word on vocals.
  • Listen Up, Baby! 6 song 10" EP (1998) - Man's Ruin Records
  • Sod the Odds! 10" EP (2000) - Twenty Stone Blatt Records
  • Super Kool CD EP (2004) - VMS/Morpheus Records
  • The Birth of EF! (2009) CD - Pre-EF demos with Frank Orlandoni on vocals.

Singles
  • "EF Theme" 7" (1994) - Mint Tone Records
  • "A Sweet Sickness" 7" EP (1994) - Demolition Derby Records
  • "It's All Moving Faster" 7" (1995) - Puncrock Records
  • "New Rage" 7" (1995) - Exit Records
  • "Electrify Me!" 7" (1995) - Junk Records
  • "Get Off My Back!" 7" (1995) - Junk Records
  • "Action High" 7" (1996) - Intensive Scare Records
  • "Not Wit' You" 7" (1996) - Get Hip Records
  • "Clockwise" 7" (1997) - Junk Records
  • "Black Out" 7" (1997) - Victory Records
  • "Teenage Shutdown" 7" Live (1995) - Reptilian Records
  • "Devil Dust" 7" (1997) - One Foot Records
  • "Deal with It" 7" (1997) - Sonic Swirl Records
  • "Queen Wasp" 7" (1997) - Demolition Derby Records
  • "Up from the Streets" 7" (1998) - Coldfront Records
  • "Used to Know" 7" (1998) - Victory Records
  • "Live with Rik L Rik" 7" (1998) - Munster Records
  • "You're So Fake" 7" (1998) - Estrus Records
  • "I'm Not Your Nothing" 7" (1999) - Victory Records
  • "Taking You Down" 7" (1999) - TKO Records
  • "Tattoo Vampire" 7" (2000) - Safety Pin Records
  • "An Evening with Electric Frankenstein" Live 7" (2000) - FEAG Records
  • "Perfect Crime" 7" (2000) - Sub Pop Records
  • "Get Off" 7" (2000) - Scooch Pooch Records
  • "New York Knights" 7" (2001) - TKO Records
  • "Sick as a Dog" 7" (2001) - Telegraph Records
  • "Tribute to the Ramones & Dead Boys" 7" EP (2014) - Ghost Highway Records
  • "Under My Wheels" 7" EP (2019) - Ghost Highway Records

Split albums
  • Listen Up, Baby vinyl LP (1998, split with The Hookers) - Man's Ruin Records
  • Splitsville 1 (2002, split LP with the Supersuckers) - Cargo Records
  • Electric Frankenstein Meets El Nada (2003, split with El Nada) - Finger Records
  • Split LP and CD with The Hip Priests (2010) CD & LP - No Balls Records
  • Split LP with The Cheats (2014) LP - Screaming Crow Records.

Split singles and EPs
  • Split 7" with Hellacopters (EUR: Frank Records, 1997, Frank 004)
  • Split 7" with L.E.S. Stitches (USA: Devil Doll Records, 1998) Steve on vocals.
  • Split 7" with Crispy Nuts (female Japanese Ramones band) (ITALY: Kill Yourself/Rockin Bones Records, 1998) Rik L Rik on Vocals.
  • Split 7" with Gluecifer (EUR: Frank Records 1998, Frank 008)
  • Split 7" with Le Shok (2000) Know Records
  • Split 7" EP - Happy Fuckin Halloween double split 7" with Candysnatchers, B-Movie Rats, Street Walkin Cheetahs (USA: Reptilian Records 2000)
  • Split 7" with Pushrods (Wood Productions Finland: 2000)
  • Split 7" with ADZ (Killer Release Records Germany 2000)
  • Split 7" with Thee STP (Italy: Hangover Records 2000)
  • Split CD EP - Electric Frankenstein Meets Muddy Frankenstein (2000, split with Muddy Frankenstein) - Myrmecoleo Records, Japan
  • Split 10" EP - Ace's High (2001), split with Briegel - Killer Release Records (Germany)
  • Split 7" with The Strap-Ons, The Fux, and Moral Minority (USA: Valient Records 2002)
  • Split 7" with The Speedfreaks (USA: Zorch Records 2002)
  • Split 7" with The Ghoulies (Sweden: Big Bongo Records 2003)
  • Split CD EP - Stripped Down, Fueled Up! (2003, split with Jed Whitey, Iron Boss and The Puppies) Australia
  • Split 7" with IronBoss (Sweden: Bootleg Booze Records 2004)
  • Split 7" with Dollhouse (2004) France: 442eme RUE Records
  • Split 7" with Electric Frankenstein / The Strap-Ons / The Fux / Moral Minority (2004) USA: Valient Records
  • Split 7" with Dog's Bollocks (Germany: No Balls Records 2004)
  • Split 7" with ANTISEEN (USA: TKO Records 2005)
  • Split 7" Fuck You Up and Get Live with Streetwalkin Cheetahs, Bulemics, Hellside Stranglers, Spitfires, and Candysnatchers (USA: National Dust Records 2005)
  • Split 7" EF and Friends with Ironhead, Rocket City Riot, and Strap-Ons (Germany: No Ball Records 2005)
  • Split 7" with Ironhead (USA: Conformist Records 2005)
  • Split 7" with White Barons (USA: Champagne & Cocaine Records 2006)
  • Split CD EP - Doktor Frankendragster (2005, split with Bad Dog Boogie)
  • Split CD EP - 4 Those About to Rock (2007, split with The Chuck Norris Experiment, V8wankers and The Whocares) - Buzzville Records
  • Split 7" with Valdez (2007) Germany: Deadlamb Records
  • Split 7" with V8 Wankers (Germany: Stereodrive Records 2007)
  • Split 7" with Bordells (Germany: No Balls Records 2007)
  • Split 7" with Maximum R&R (Canada: Maxrr Records 2009)
  • Split 7" with Kung Fu Killers / Goy Division (Germany: No Balls Records 2010)
  • Split 7" with The Kung Fu Killers (Germany: No Balls Records 2011)
  • Split 7" with The Bonitos (USA: Little T&A Records 2013)
  • Split 7" with Chainsaw Hookers (2014). Released by Desert Highways
  • Split 7" with Thee Mighty Fevers (2015) Japan: Bees Knees Records
  • Split 7" with Klobber (Spain: Ghost Highway Records 2019)
  • Split 7" with The Hip Priests (UK: Speedo Wax Records 2019)
  • Split 7" with Scumbag Millionaire (Spain: Ghost Highway Records 2020)

DVDs
  • Live at Camden Underworld (2003)
  • Legacy of Electricity DVD - 20 Years of Interviews, TV Appearances, and Live (forthcoming)

Books
  • Electric Frankenstein: High Energy Punk Rock & Roll Poster Art Dark Horse Books (2003)
  • Electric Frankenstein Issue #1 Comic Book art by Mike Hoffman (2010)
  • Electric Frankenstein Poster Art Book (2009)
  • Electric Frankenstein 50 Best Record Covers Art Book (2009)
  • Son of Electric Frankenstein: MORE High Energy Punk Rock & Roll Poster Art Create Space Books (2014)
  • Electric Frankenstein Illustrated Lyrics Art Book (forthcoming 2021) Yoe Books

References
  1. The Encyclopedia of Hardcore & Punk ??
  2. All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul, 2002, Backbeat Books, ISBN 978-0879306533
  3. Electric Frankenstein!, Dark Horse Books, 2004, ISBN 978-1593070441
  5. "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Sessions". BBC. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
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