Spite was an American hardcore punk band formed in Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. and was a part of the Michigan hardcore scene. It was made up of members from other notable bands, who branched out to play an essential role in the musical community, both inside and outside the region. Also vocalist Scott Boman became a libertarian politician and media personality. At present, Spite’s effect on music is evident in that it continues to be imitated by artists from a variety of genres.
Band history
Spite formed in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the Fall of 1983. These original members of the midwestern hardcore scene, played with other Kalamazoo groups such as Violent Apathy and FAQ. During their brief career they performed with some national acts such as Fang and Born Without a Face. Perhaps their most notable show was with the Butthole Surfers, Naked Raygun, and Eleventh Hour at Western Michigan University on February 23, 1985. Three of Spite's members went on to perform in other groups, while another made his mark in politics. They were: Scott Boman former member of the Degenerates, Dan Humiston former member of Passive Aggression and later member Memories of Tomorrow, Greg Fox who is a former member of Passive Aggression, Bill Axe who is a former member of Passive Aggression and later member of RollingHead and Memories of Tomorrow, and Tommy Fuller who was a former member of the Touch and Go Records artist, Violent Apathy
After Spite
Tom Fuller
Guitarist, Tom "Tommy" Fuller performed with Black Spring from 1989 to 1995. Black Spring released their album Girth in 1992. In 2001 Fuller played guitar on the Aliens, Psychos & Wild Things, Vol. 2 CD, which was on the Arcania International label. In 2005, he released his solo album, Chasing an Illusion on Red Cap Records. Fuller also appears on Makin' the Point by Frankie and the Knockouts. Another 2005 appearance is with Twisted Sister on their DVD. This DVD was produced by Eagle Vision USA. Most recently, Tom Fuller has rejoined Violent Apathy on their Twenty Five Year Reunion Tour.
Greg Fox
Spite was also a springboard for the band's other guitarist, Greg Fox. Fox also played guitar on a 2004 release by The '89 Cubs called, There Are Giants in the Earth, which was recorded on the Slowdance Records label.
Scott Boman
The vocalist, Scott Boman, also wrote opinion columns in the Western Herald, was founder of Fellowship of the Purple Cube and is a perennial Michigan Libertarian Party politician. Most recently, Boman has been involved in spoken word performances. This includes performances in 2009 and 2017 when he was featured in Detroit's Annual Erotic Poetry and Music Festival. This "eclectic celebration of the erotic arts" is a charitable event for Paws with a Cause. Paws with a Cause pairs shelter dogs with disabled human companions.
Bill Axe
After Spite was dissolved, drummer Bill "Willie" Axe performed with bassist Dan Humiston in Memories of Tomorrow. Then, from 1991 to 1995, Axe played drums for Rollinghead. Rollinghead released their CD Daddyhorse in 1991 on the Piranha Alley Records label, and in 1994 they released Vol.3 Live via the Grass Records and Roundflat Records labels.
Dan Humiston
Bass player, Dan "Danno" Humiston went on to perform with the bands, Shroud of Secrecy and Memories of Tomorrow. Memories of Tomorrow performed with Soundgarden at the state theater during its Louder than Love tour. Humiston also recorded and engineered the CD, Racecar 1991 by Overman, the work was of such interest that it was later remastered as Racecar 2003.
Since the original Kalamazoo band, Spite, dissolved, several musical groups have emulated Spite's style and public persona. This even includes adoption of the original band name: These are to be regarded as tribute bands, rather than the original on reunion tours, since none of these more recent incarnations of Spite contain any of the original members.
