Bruisers
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The Bruisers were influential pioneers of the street punk/Oi! movement, formed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1988. Continually dogged by line-up changes and bad luck, they continued to make excellent records right up to their demise. The original lineup included: Al Barr (vocals, now the lead singer of the celtic punk band the Dropkick Murphys), Scotty Davies (bass), Jeff Morris (guitar) and Dan Connors (drums). The band were originally comprised of the four men who lived under the Skinhead culture (Not Neo-Nazi Skins). After a few short years and lineup changes, the band and their style changed slightly. As the years progressed to their 1998 demise, the style slightly comprimised its Oi! roots in favor of a more streetpunk sound. Along the road the band covered songs of inspirational bands. "Work Together" by The Oppressed, "SPG" by The Exploited, "Ollie Vee" by Buddy Holly of all people, "Nation On Fire" by Blitz, "Police Oppression" by Angelic Upstarts, "Live For Now' by Iron Cross and "Ode To Johnny" by Johnny Thunder. Ironically The Bruisers did a 7" split with the Dropkick Murphys in 1997 (while Mike McColgan was still with the Boston band). One of their finest works (though they weren't able to fulfill their potential really with constant lineup changes) was their 1998 EP Molotov it featured a 5 track streetpunk Oi! assault. By mid 1998 Al Barr was the only remaining original member of the band, and having reached his own personal milestone as the only member to see the 10 year mark he decided to disband the Bruisers and pursue his new role as singer for Boston's Dropkick Murphys.