NA's brand of hardcore was savage and nihilistic, exuding frustration, alienation and rage. This was personified in the band's vocalist John Brannon, an intimidating and intense young man with a shaved head, piercing stare and belligerent attitude. His vocal style and stage presence set the standard for those that followed. NA's musical style was based on Detroit proto-punk icons The Stooges, British punk rock (especially Discharge) and Oi! music (Blitz, 4-Skins, et al.), although from the start their sound and demeanor were considerably more aggressive and brutal than that of their influences.
Negative Approach was formed in August 1981 by John Brannon and Pete Zelewski, supposedly after seeing a Black Flag/Necros show. The first NA lineup consisted of Brannon on vocals, Rob McCullough on guitar, Pete Zelewski on bass and Zuheir on drums. Not long after, Zelewski left the band to form The Allied and was replaced by Rob McCullough's brother Graham. Zuheir was later replaced by Chris "O.P." Moore. The lineup of Brannon/McCullough/McCullough/Moore would remain unchanged until NA disbanded.
NA's first gig was in the basement of Necros drummer Todd Swalla's mother's home. Soon after, they recorded a demo, and followed that up with an appearance on the Process of Elimination compilation 7” EP, released on Meatmen frontman Tesco Vee's fledgling Touch & Go label, named after his fanzine of the same name. The comp also featured the Necros and The Meatmen, among others. NA, the Necros and the Meatmen then embarked on the Process of Elimination tour. Though this “tour” consisted of a mere three shows (Boston, New York City and Washington, DC), it is cited as being a key event in the early spread of hardcore.
The first proper Negative Approach studio release came in 1982 with their self-titled 7” EP, also on Touch & Go. It contained now-legendary songs such as “Can't Tell No One,” “Ready To Fight” and “Nothing,” which is considered by many to be the quintessential NA song. The sound quality of the recording is average, but the performances themselves are powerful, and the record is now held in nearly universal high regard by hardcore fans.
The following year saw the release of the Tied Down LP, also venerated as a hardcore classic. While it mostly contains more of the same ultra-fast, angry music as the 7”, the band also branched out somewhat and included a plodding dirge (“Evacuate”) and a (relatively) mid-tempo rocker (“Dead Stop”) on the album.
The classic line-up fell apart in 1983 during their tour in support of Tied Down, playing their last show in Memphis.
Afterwards, Brannon assembled a new line-up with members Kelly Dermody (guitar), Dave (bass) and Mike (drums). This version of Negative Approach played a series of live shows throughout 1984 which featured some new songs, such as "Obsession," "Tunnel Vision," "Kiss Me Kill Me" and a cover of "I Got A Right" by the Stooges. This line-up can be heard on the Live at the Newtown Theater bootleg 7" and some live tracks recorded at Boston's Paradise club that appear on the Total Recall discography CD.
It was announced in May 2006 that Brannon and Moore would play a Negative Approach reunion show, of sorts, for Touch & Go's 25th Anniversary show on September 9, 2006, as well as two later shows in the UK - London on December 7 and at All Tomorrow's Parties on December 10. Despite repeated efforts by Rob and Graham McCulloch to be a part of the reunion and have the classic NA lineup play, John refused; it was instead announced that Harold Richardson (of Brannon's current band Easy Action) and Ron Sakowski (formerly of Easy Action, Laughing Hyenas, and Necros) would complete the lineup. Rob and Graham maintain that the appearance shouldn't be labeled as Negative Approach without the classic NA lineup. The whole affair has generated controversy, and there is little agreement as to who is in the right and for what reasons.
Negative Approach closed out the No Fun Fest in Brooklyn, NY on May 20, 2007.
Friend or Foe
Negative Approach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With everything I say
Seemingly honest
You're never in the way
How could I have thought
When I'm not around
The shit you say about me
Stories well thought out
It's when I turn my back
You're ready to attack
A verbal abuse
Is what you choose to use
You must hold a grudge
Against the things I do
Why don't you admit it
Stand up and face the truth
The lyrics of "Friend or Foe" by Negative Approach reflect the ubiquitous nature of disloyalty and betrayal in friendships. The song pertains to the fear of not knowing whether a person is really a friend or if they are posing as one purely for their own vested interests. The verses of the song describe how the singer believes a person is honest and agreeable, but the moment they turn their back, they become verbally abusive and spread rumors about the singer. This could be interpreted as a paranoid response to the potential threat of disloyalty. The lyrics convey a sense of disappointment and anger that arise from the feeling of betrayal and dishonesty.
The chorus sets an ultimatum for those testing the singer’s loyalty, as they ask the so-called “friends” to admit they hold a grudge against him and a willingness to be honest about the relationship- that they either intend to be true friends or should back off. Hence, the song presents a sense of caution and highlights some of the issues faced when navigating meaningful relationships, where hidden agendas may exist.
Line by Line Meaning
One moment you agree
At times you appear to be in agreement with me
With everything I say
All of the opinions and beliefs that I voice
Seemingly honest
Displaying signs of being truthful
You're never in the way
Not impeding or obstructing me in any way
How could I have thought
What caused me to believe previously
When I'm not around
In my absence
The shit you say about me
The derogatory language used to describe me
Stories well thought out
Pre-planned tales meant to spread negative rumors about me
It's when I turn my back
At the point in time when I'm not watching or present
You're ready to attack
You are poised to insult and degrade me at that moment
A verbal abuse
Use of harsh and hurtful language
Is what you choose to use
Your preferred method of attack
You must hold a grudge
You seem to have a long-standing resentment towards me
Against the things I do
Disapproval of my actions and decisions
Why don't you admit it
Why not be honest about your feelings towards me
Stand up and face the truth
Confront the reality of our relationship and express yourself in a direct and truthful way
Contributed by Callie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.