Originally called Crippled Youth, the band was formed in Katonah, New York by Matt Warnke, Tim Brooks and Drew Thomas. After a couple of shows with Matt singing and playing guitar, they recruited John 'Zulu' Zuluaga on guitar, and Matt switched to just singing. They released a 7" EP entitled 'Join The Fight' on the California label New Beginning in 1986 before switching to the name Bold. It was under this name that they recorded the 11-song LP Speak Out. The record was supposed to be released on California's WishingWell Records, but was eventually released in 1988 on Revelation Records. The band later recruited Tom Capone on second guitar, and recorded a self-titled 5-song 7" in 1989, also on Revelation Records. The 7" is considered by many their best material, adding more melody to their straightforward hardcore sound. The 7" EP was re-issued on a 12" entitled 'Looking Back' in 1993, with 2 bonus tracks.
1996: Faux reunion
In 1996, Warnke formed a post-hardcore band with bassist Eddie McNamara, drummer Mark Shutdown and guitarist Chris Daley inspired by the Clash and Fugazi. Despite the band members believing it to be an entirely separate group from Bold, their debut headline show saw them billed as Bold and cover multiple Bold songs. According to McNamara in an article for NoEcho, this led to significant confusion and the members of the band clarifying during their performance they were not, in fact, Bold.
2005–present: Reunion
Bold re-united in 2005 with Warnke on vocals, Capone on guitar, Brooks on bass and Vinny Panza on drums. John Porcelly, who periodically played with the band in the 1980s, later joined on second guitar. To coincide with the re-union, Revelation released the retrospective CD , which contains the band's entire recorded output. Warnke and Porcelly left in 2006, effectively breaking up the band. The bands' recordings from the period after they got back together, although allegedly completed, have yet to surface. A European tour with replacement members was planned for Summer 2007, but did not happen. In June 2012, Bold played the EPIC Revelation Records 25 Year Anniversary shows at The Glasshouse in Pomona, CA. Also on the bill were Youth Of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick Of It All, Shai Hulud, No For An Answer, Statue and Underdog. During October of that same year, Bold took part in Revelation's 25th AnniversaryEast Coast shows at Irving Plaza This Is Hardcore Fest 2014 was Bold's most recent performance, but they have a small California tour planned for 2015.
Band-member notes
Matt Warnke sang for a band called One-Sided War with Patrick from Citizens Arrest in the late 90s before forming Running Like Thieves with John Biviano and Andy Guida of Supertouch, which put out two EPs on New Jersey's . Tim Brooks and Rhys Williams performed on the "Same Time Next Year" release. Matt has since quit the band and is currently fronting the re-united Bold.
Drew Thomas formed Into Another with ex-Underdog singer Richie Birkenhead in 1990. They put out several records throughout the 90s, but have now broken up. Thomas also played drums for The New Rising Sons. They released two EPs on the Grape OS label before signing to Virgin Records, but broke up before an album could be completed.
Tom Capone played in several bands throughout the 1990s, such as Quicksand, Handsome and Instruction. He is currently playing with a reunited Quicksand.
John "Zulu" Zuluaga is currently playing for The Hoof .
Tim Brooks played with Youth of Today during their 1999 reunion, Running Like Thieves, a.r.e. weapons, and Shelter in 2011
