Biography

Summer holidays, back in 1981, Baldwin, Long Island a small hamlet in Nassau County located in the township of Hempstead: Some friends formed crossover-punk-thrash metal band: The Crumbsuckers. They are a party band and play covers from bands such as Minor Threat, Bad Brains or Kraut. They also had several different vocalists who took turns singing when it came to shows. The band have no intention of beconming a big rock band, they just play for fun. The name of Crumbsuckers is kind on humourous name. It comes when Gary Meskil is still in High School. He's in the lunchroom one day and he and his friends are watching this guy suck all the food off his plate. Gary said: "Hey, look at the crumbsuckers!". Gary called a guitar player classmate named Frank (Frank O) Cupelli and asked him if he was interested in starting a band. The next recruit into the band was 12 year old drummer Jason Bolognini, followed by another classmate Chris “Hendo” Anderson. The rehearsal room was called Crumbsucker Cave (located in Baldwin NY), and the early set list consisted of cover songs from bands like UK Subs, Misfits, The Clash, Stray Cats, and others from that era. Some other friends joined the band temporarily as Dan Vitale, Craig Smith both on vocals. The band finally found a new singer: David Brady. He becomes quickly the lead vocalist, and the other guys are there for support. In the early weeks of year 1983, Dave Wynn, (David Brady’s friend & classmate), replace Frank O as the new guitarist. With this line-up, the band also starts to write original songs at their rehearsal room called “The Crumbsuckers cave”. The songs are written at Meskil & Wynn house, not at Crumbsuckers Cave from David Brady's words!

Gary's bass Aria Pro II SB 700 (1981)

In June 1983, Crumbsuckers records their first demo at Nino Studios in Baldwin. The demo include a cover of Chubby Checker's "The Twist" and original songs: "AOK", "Emil Mauer", "Kids in My School" and "Don't like It". This was possible with Dave Brady's brother, he kicked some moeny for the recording, and The song "The Twist" was his request. AOK was written before Brady & Wynn's addition to the band. All those songs are unpublished on any Crumbsuckers album. During the early sessions, the band play a Black Sabbath’s cover song Sweat Leaf, and Inspector Gadget theme and something like 15 songs in total. They aren’t chosen by the band for the first album Life of dreams. The songs are written by Gary Meskil and Dave Wynn. The lyrics are written by David Brady and Gary Meskil. This demo was recorded to have the opportunity playing at CBGB... The band is soon an integral part of New York's Lower East Side-based hardcore scene, cutting their teeth at the legendary dive A7 before moving on to CBGB's famed Sunday matinees. Crumbsuckers play for the first time at CBGB on Sunday August 14 1983 during the Sunday audition Night.

End of 1984, the band wants to add a heavy metal edge to their music, so a second guitarist is recruited with Chuck Lenihan. Dan Richardson is the new drummer.

In 1985 they records a second demo live at CBGB with the help of Steve MC Callister. The songs are: "Just Sit There", "Charge", "Shit's Creek", " Shot Down", "Interlude", "Trapped", "Brainwashed", "Live To Work" and "Prelude". The actual line-up is: David Brady (vocals), Dave Wynn (guitar), Chuck Lenihan (guitar), Gary Meskil (bass guitar), and Dan Richardson (aka Mr. Slate) (drums). The band is looking for a record deal.

Some weeks later, David Brady is gone, the new vocalist is Chris Notaro from Long Island band Krakdown. For the first Chris show, at CBGB on December 8th 1985, they will play with Kirk Hammet of Metallica the song Hubrun. In the audience, there is Scott Ian, Billy Milano and Johnny Zazula who asked to sign the band after this show. Crumbsuckers was the support band for Nuclear Assault. Crumbsuckers's sound was noticed and admired by fellow musicians such as Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Phil Anselmo and Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, as well as Biohazard, Joe Satriani, and Metallica.

It is not long before several record companies offered to sign the band after witnessing their explosive live performances throughout the New York Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut). Very soon they got a record deal with Combat Records with the help of Connie Barrett, who is Agnostic Front & Carnivore’s manager. The band is in studio to record the first album called "Life of Dreams" produced by Normann Dunn, engineered by Mark Macciano. The artwork is from Sean Taggart known for is work with Agnostic Front. Life of Dreams", is today considered a "classic" by fans. Their sound is riddled with powerful hardcore vocals, blazing soulful technical guitar riffs, all backed-up by the solid bass lines of Gary Meskil and furious drumming by Dan Richardson. He’s only 16years old when Life of dreams is recorded. The "Crumbs" sound is unique. On "Life of Dreams" they did the impossible as they seemed to be able to take the best part of thrash metal and mix it with the best part of hardcore punk and leave all of the excess garbage out.

"Life of Dreams" is one of the few records that are adored by everyone including Metalheads, Thrashers, Skaters, Punks, Skins, as well as Hardcore kids.

1987, the guitarist Dave Wynn leave the band and Matt Cardin replace him. Matt stays only in the band a short while. He contributes to the band however writing 2 songs, "Rejuvinate" and "Jimmy's Dream". The actual line-up is: Chris Notaro (vocals), Matt Cardin (guitar), Chuck Lenihan (guitar), Gary Meskil (bass guitar), and Dan Richardson (aka Mr. Slate) (drums). Unfortunately, Matt doesn’t stay with the band for very long and is ultimately replaced with Robert Koebler. The band is nominated by New York Music Awards Inc in the category: “Best hardcore band”.

In 1988, the Crumbsuckers release their second album "Beast on My Back", which is produced by Randy Burns, engineered by Casey McMackin and mixed by Genya Raven in Bearsville. Shortly after the release of the album, former Carnivore guitarist Marc Piovanetti replaces Robbert Koebler because he’s not interested in touring with the band).

Chris Notaro leave the band too and is replaced Joe Haggerty (Zero Hour) for the European tour. They do a successfull tour in europe and in UK supporting thrash metal band Onslaught for seven gigs.

1989 the band finally stops shortly after consecutive successful tours of the United States and Europe in support of B.O.M.B. In the end, even more than their hit-and-miss albums, the Crumbsuckers lasting legacy may well have been the numerous bands which later sprung up from their ruin.

After the broke-up, in the early weeks of 1990, Gary Meskil, Marc Piovanetti, Chuck Lenihan, and Dan Richardson teamed up with vocalist Craig Allen to form a band called Heavy Rain. But without success...

Chuck Lenihan joins Genitorturers, Haggerty joins Knucklehead. Meskil et Richardson forms Pro-Pain.

2003, Gary Meskil records a Crumbsuckers cover song’s on Pro-Pain's album Run for Cover. He choosed "Just Sit There" from Life of Dreams.

August 3rd 2006, Crumbsuckers are back to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Life of dreams. They play a unique show at BB KING's club in New York with line-up as follow: Chris Notaro, Tom Klimchuck (from Pro-Pain), Chuck Lenihan, Gary Meskil, and Dan Richardson. Dave Wynn & David Brady were here too for some songs.

Original Biography from Combat records