Hell No or HellNo was founded on the ashes of the now legendary thrash/hardcore band Citizen's Arrest. Towards the end of CA's time on earth, Hell No was formed by bassist Joe Martin, guitarist Janis Cakars with the help of Vocalist John Woods and Drummer Jim Paradise. All of which were part of the early ABC No Rio scene. With a 7" release circa 1991 they played a few shows and tried to find their stride. Later recording their first LP with Wharton Tiers in 1992. At which time Ted Leo of Ted Leo fame left the band. Enter a new guitar player Aaron Kaufman for the European tour. Upon the heels of success they rode for a few short weeks and back to the US and back into obscurity.
Upon Aaron leaving they needed another Guitar Player for their US tour. Enter Rich Derespina. He worked at Reconstruction Records cooperative in NYC. He'd known them for years prior meeting Janis Cakars Circa 1986 for the first time. He was in a band back then and they knew him as a guitar player they could use to their fiendish ends. Dragging him out of the post punk, and CB's era. So he signed on for the US tour which was a great time had by all. After many "iffy" live shows and basement gigs. Hell No recorded a 7" "Superstar chop" (recorded/engineered by Steve McAlister of the legendary NYHC band Damage and various other recording/sound projects at Loho studios 1994. receiving much acclaim from music lovers and a few geers from their punk police peers. For it was at that time Hell No decided to incorporate their likes into their music and no longer play scene politics or "do it for the kids". Fuck the kids! They played for themselves and if no one came or bought any records, so be it. What came out was not only a Hardcore record but one with blues, jazz, noise, metal and soul back rhythms that only music lovers could recognize and the kids would just call "math rock". But the ball was rolling and the sound they'd always wanted was slowly oozing from them onto wax.
Next came their second LP recorded with Brian Martin at Excello studios 1995. This record "Adios Armageddon" further set the tone and though it suffered certain technical difficulties it remains today an excellent example of the sounds of the mid 1990's underground post hardcore scene. With elements of most modern musical styles and a whole lotta balls with sometimes-masterful musicianship to sometimes-marginal musicianship it is Yin and Yang embodied. As would the artwork of the famed artist and roadie Derek Stukuls indicate. Who so masterfully captured in his works what Hell No would appear to be if sound took form.
After this release and more strange live shows here. Janis Cakars took off to pursue Academia. Later to marry and move on with his life. Now a world traveler and a father soon to have another child. Enter Hobi Klapuri. A high school era best friend and guitar player extraordinaire. He re teamed with Rich Derespina to form the dynamic guitar duo they once were in high school. Whether it was Black Flag or Iron Maiden, these two could use it and make it theirs. As one critic from an international "Guitar" magazine remarked "the music is interesting and well played with hints of Frank Zappa", a comment you probably have never heard referring to a hardcore band.
After another year, Hell No was to record another 7" "Super Nasty" (recorded and engineered by Martin Bisi) which would again further push their own musical interests upon the hardcore listener. The 7" was considered one of their best. Though it met with a small amount of criticism from certain of their PC policing punk peers as it had on it's cover an image from an old movie of a young girl with skirt riding high. With complete disregard for their lame attempts at censoring something so NON SEXUAL and after a little practice, the European tour was set and so went Hell No again into the continent of music appreciation. It was a success, playing shows with such bands as Kurt (Germany, Xmist recs.) and Most Secret Method (Discord recs.). Hell No actually came out ahead financially for once.
With a butt load of songs waiting to be rehearsed and recorded eventually came our sessions with Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu) and Sean Haney at The G. 3 songs of musical terror (Weird Weirdo) all of which you can listen to here and one of which is from the Super Nasty 7”. This Hell No felt was almost perfect with exception of the very rushed studio time and limited funds. It did however come out with the most attitude and intent with which Hell No had been trying to capture on tape since the beginning. Though the rock n roll, funk, blues/jazz influences are even more prominent it remained VERY HARDCORE and yes, even metal and totally raw. Through limited resources and other circumstances the CD only release of 5 songs was not distributed much at all. The ones that were, were consumed immediately. Alas there remain many hidden copies secretly stored in an undisclosed location. At some time in the future we hope to re release them to the public for posterity sake.
However, with the opening of vocalist John and Bassist Joe's video rental empire (Reel Life) and with other similar distractions (other band projects, low moral, work, girlfriends, wives) Hell No played it's last show at the Continental in 1999. Hell No was by no means a groundbreaker. But if you were a part of the local scene in NY in the 9 year span, you had to agree that they were different than most you’d heard of in that decade. That in a DIY world of people playing the same thing over and over again they tried to hold their own without the use of phony 8 X 10 glossy promo pictures with folded arms looking "hard" in front of a brick wall with graffiti. They found no need of devices like mystical, religious, metaphysical symbols. They found no need to be the Van Gogh's of music packaging with exceptional quality “EMO” photo's mimicking Fugazi. They found no need to send out endless promo copies to AR hacks or to kiss the asses of club owners for shows. That was a fault of theirs, some might say they didn't try hard enough while others realize they just felt disdain for the regurgitating, generic automaton like behavior and abilities of the average band. But no one has EVER said they tried too hard. Some people loved them, others never heard of them and some people thought they sucked. Hell No thought you sucked.
Band members are now:
John Woods owner of Reel Life video, Reel Life South, Trading Post.
Joe Martin Owner of Reel Life video, Reel Life South, Trading Post.
Rich Derespina owner and artist Derespina Knives. Preparing solo/band project.
Hobi Klapuri High School guidance counselor. Plays with local musicians and preparing solo/band project.
Jim Paradise Graphic artist/sign maker and drummer for many local bands.
PS, keep checking the page as I will be changing songs semi regularly for your listening pleasure and some variety. As well, anyone interested in obtaining the Hell No "Super Nasty 2" 7" and the "Superstar Chop" 7" As well as the Adios Armageddon Lp you can email me here for details. Also, I will be making a complitaion of all Hell No stuff (for a nominal fee of just shipping costs and production cost for no profit whatsoever) should you be interested. All the above mentioned releases are on vinyl not cd. "Weird Weirdo will be on the complitaion but isn't available at all as of now. Thanks for looking.
