Sick Of It All

Sick Of It All

Sick Of It All are a hardcore punk band from Queens, United States, formed in 1986. They are associated with the New York hardcore scene and work in hardcore punk and punk.

Formation and early line-up

The band forms around brothers Lou Koller and Pete Koller, who meet at Francis Lewis High School in Queens. The original line-up also includes drummer David Lamb and bassist Mark McNeely. Before settling on their name, they consider General Chaos, then choose Sick Of It All after finding that the abbreviation S.O.A. is already in use by another band. Their first concert takes place on 17 May 1986 at the Right Track Inn on Long Island.

After early line-up changes, Sick Of It All records the Sick of It All demo in 1987, begins playing regularly at CBGB, and releases the self-titled EP through Revelation Records. Although Revelation shows interest in releasing a debut album, the band signs with Relativity Records in 1988.

Albums, labels and touring

The debut album Blood, Sweat and No Tears appears in 1989 and sells more than 100,000 copies, helping establish the band in hardcore punk. They tour extensively in the United States with Youth of Today, Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Bad Brains and D.R.I.

By 1994, the long-standing line-up consists of Lou Koller, Pete Koller, Craig Setari on bass and Armand Majidi on drums. The second studio album, Just Look Around, is released in 1992, following the return of Majidi and Rich Cipriano for the recording. In 1993 the band tours Japan, the United States and Europe and releases the live album Live in a World Full of Hate. Craig Setari replaces Rich Cipriano on bass that year.

Sick Of It All signs with EastWest Records and releases Scratch the Surface in 1994. It is their first album to chart, reaching number 67 in Germany, and includes the singles “Scratch the Surface” and “Step Down”, both played on MTV. The band supports the record with extensive touring across North America, South America, Europe, Japan and New Zealand, including the first Warped Tour in 1995.

Built to Last follows in 1997 on Elektra Records and reaches number 32 on the US Heatseekers chart. It includes “Us vs. Them”, “Busted” and “Good Lookin' Out”. After completing obligations to EastWest, the band continues international touring and Revelation reissues the debut EP for its tenth anniversary.

In 1998 the band signs with Fat Wreck Chords. Call to Arms is released in 1999 and reaches number 84 in Germany, and that year Sick Of It All tours with Slayer and Meshuggah. Yours Truly follows in 2000. In 2001 the documentary The Story So Far is released, and in 2002 the live album Live in a Dive appears. Life on the Ropes is released in 2003, followed by the compilation Outtakes for the Outcast in 2004.

The band signs with Abacus Recordings, a Century Media subsidiary, in 2005. Death to Tyrants follows in 2006. They mark their twentieth anniversary with a concert at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City and continue touring in North America and Europe. In 2007 Lou Koller suffers a back injury on tour with Dropkick Murphys, which leads to cancellations. That year the tribute album Our Impact Will Be Felt is released, featuring cover versions by numerous artists.

In 2010 Sick Of It All signs directly to Century Media Records and releases Based on a True Story, which reaches number 30 on the US Heatseekers chart and charts in several European countries. The band marks its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2011 with XXV Nonstop, a set of re-recorded songs, and a special concert at Webster Hall in New York City. Last Act of Defiance follows in 2014, and they perform full live versions of Scratch the Surface and Blood, Sweat and No Tears at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas.

To mark their thirtieth anniversary, Sick Of It All continues extensive international touring between 2015 and 2017 and releases the EP When the Smoke Clears in 2016. Their twelfth studio album, Wake the Sleeping Dragon!, is released in 2018 and reaches number 17 on the US Heatseekers chart and number 31 in Germany. Touring is suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Later years

In 2020 Lou and Pete Koller publish The Blood and Sweat: The Story of Sick of It All's Koller Brothers, an autobiography covering their personal lives and the band’s history. Touring resumes in 2022, with Craig Silverman temporarily replacing Pete Koller for part of the European run after hernia surgery. The band continues touring in 2023 and works on new material in 2025.

Lou Koller announces in 2024 that he has an oesophageal tumour, leading to the cancellation of a planned European tour. A benefit concert takes place in November 2024. He later says he is cancer-free in May 2025, then states in September 2025 that the cancer has returned. Lou Koller dies in July 2026 following a recurrence of oesophageal cancer.

Members and line-up

Members associated with Sick Of It All include Lou Koller, Pete Koller, Armand Majidi, Rich Cipriano, Max Capshaw, Craig Setari and Erik E.K Komst.

Labels

The band releases material through In-Effect, Relativity Records, EastWest Records America, Fat Wreck Chords, Abacus Recordings and Woah Dad!.