D Generation

While groups such as <a href="spotify:artist:0epOFNiUfyON9EYx7Tpr6V">the Strokes</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4F84IBURUo98rz4r61KF70">the White Stripes</a> get most of the credit for spearheading the garage rock revival movement of the early 21st century, there were several similarly styled bands of the mid- to late '90s that preceded the aforementioned acts (with far less commercial success and press), such as D Generation. Formed in 1991 in New York City, the band automatically turned a blind eye toward the burgeoning Seattle movement, as their look and sound was straight out of N.Y.C. circa the early '70s, when trashy glam bands like <a href="spotify:artist:0WhGV9lzljq2QKJ8ipw6jx">the New York Dolls</a> ruled the scene, and such punk bands as <a href="spotify:artist:1co4F2pPNH8JjTutZkmgSm">the Ramones</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4RjtLUZNqLtMpRKIOaVokc">the Dead Boys</a> were about to crash the party. Originally comprised of <a href="spotify:artist:6zKkaqMGGmaKLUSLTcsrls">Jesse Malin</a> (vocals), Richard "The Atomic Elf" Bacchus (guitar), Georgie Seville (guitar), Howie Pyro (bass), and Belvy K (drums), both Seville and K would exit soon after -- replaced by Danny Sage and Michael Wildwood, respectively. It was this lineup that would go on to be considered D Generation's "classic" one, and they issued a pair of indie singles, "No Way Out" b/w "Guitar Mafia," and "Wasted Years" b/w "Waiting for the Next Big Parade" (produced by N.Y.C. punk vets Daniel Rey and <a href="spotify:artist:2fbuT4BgZX9pp1rQC955nK">Andy Shernoff</a>), as they built a strong local following with their live shows.

As a result, major labels took an interest in the band, resulting in their signing with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Chrysalis%22">Chrysalis</a>. Their debut, D Generation, followed in 1994, and while it received favorable reviews (some critics even assumed D Generation would inherit the alt rock throne vacated by <a href="spotify:artist:6olE6TJLqED3rqDCT0FyPh">Nirvana</a>), it failed to translate into big sales. Feeling that <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Chrysalis%22">Chrysalis</a> wasn't supporting them properly, the quintet was able to skip out on their contract, and set up shop at Sony. Things appeared to be looking up for the band -- with former <a href="spotify:artist:6DCIj8jNaNpBz8e5oKFPtp">Cars</a> leader <a href="spotify:artist:1iTrwmoisuv7HbdY5tTVUt">Ric Ocasek</a> serving as producer, D Generation got to work on their sophomore effort, No Lunch, issued in 1996. Snagging opening tour slots with a few of their punk and glam influences (<a href="spotify:artist:16nn7kCHPWIB6uK09GQCNI">Social Distortion</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1co4F2pPNH8JjTutZkmgSm">the Ramones</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:07XSN3sPlIlB2L2XNcTwJw">Kiss</a>, the latter of which were in the midst of their sold-out reunion tour), D Generation toured for the better part of the next year before experiencing their first lineup hiccup in several years, when Bacchus left the band and was replaced with ex-<a href="spotify:artist:3EVzblmlRt3zPoB982Gr0G">Murphy's Law</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3zDvanHxaETiHltPkKKYhT">Agnostic Front</a> member Todd Youth.

After wrapping up a month's worth of European dates opening for <a href="spotify:artist:7oPftvlwr6VrsViSDV7fJY">Green Day</a> in early 1998, D Generation returned to the studio for an album that many felt would either make or break the band. Teamed with renowned <a href="spotify:artist:0oSGxfWSnnOXhD2fKuz2Gy">David Bowie</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3dBVyJ7JuOMt4GE9607Qin">T. Rex</a> producer <a href="spotify:artist:46ISQ20xfCvHum4YeV08XF">Tony Visconti</a>, the resulting album, Through the Darkness, appeared later the same year, and once more, was ignored by the record-buying public. As a result, the group quietly disbanded in April of 1999 after a gig in their hometown. After their split, D Generation's former members remained busy with other projects, as <a href="spotify:artist:6zKkaqMGGmaKLUSLTcsrls">Malin</a> eventually launched his own solo career, issuing the <a href="spotify:artist:2qc41rNTtdLK0tV3mJn2Pm">Ryan Adams</a>-produced The Fine Art of Self Destruction in early 2003. In 2008, D Generation reunited for a one-off, three-song set as part of a VH1 Save the Music benefit, and in 2011, the band began playing some major dates, including Chicago's Riot Fest and opening for <a href="spotify:artist:3qm84nBOXUEQ2vnTfUTTFC">Guns N' Roses</a>. In 2015, the group issued a new 10" single, "Queens of A" and "Piece of the Action," for Record Store Day, and just one year later, they released their long-awaited fourth studio album, the Danny Sage-produced Nothing Is Anywhere. Bassist Howie Pyro died in Los Angeles, California due to compilcations of the COVID-19 virus while he was in treatment for liver disease; he was 61 years old. ~ Greg Prato