Stretch Arm Strong
{{Short description|American hardcore punk band}}
{{About|the hardcore punk band|the toy and other bands and musicians named after it|Stretch Armstrong (disambiguation)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=November 2016}}
{{Notability|Music|date=January 2020}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Stretch Arm Strong
| background = group_or_band
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = {{nowrap|Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.}}
| genre = Melodic hardcore{{Cite web |url=http://www.christcore.net/reviews/album-reviews/engage/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929195802/http://www.christcore.net/reviews/album-reviews/engage/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 29, 2015 |title=Engage-Stretch Arm Strong |author=Anthony Ibarra |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}
| years_active = 1992–2005, 2011, 2020–present
| label = Uprising, Solid State, We Put Out, Iodine Recordings
| associated_acts = Glasseater
| website = {{Instagram|stretcharmstrong803|Stretch Arm Strong}}
| current_members = {{Plain list|
- Chris McLane
- David Sease
- John Barry
- Scott Dempsey
- Jeremy Jeffers
}}
| past_members = {{Plain list|
- Matt McCarty
- Donnie Raines
- Shawn Williams
- Sean McGukin
- JC Lopez
- Chris Andrews
- Glen Calder
}}
}}
Stretch Arm Strong (Also known as Stretch Armstrong) is a hardcore punk band from Columbia, South Carolina, and the flagship band for We Put Out Records. They were primarily active from 1992 to 2005. They are often mistaken as a Christian band for having been on Solid State Records, but as lead singer Chris McLane has stated in interviews, “we're not a Christian band, we never were a Christian band and we never professed to be a Christian band.” {{cite web |title=Stretch Arm Strong |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/7594 |website=Punknews.org |date= |access-date=August 9, 2015}} Vocalist Chris McLane appears on Zao's The Lesser Lights of Heaven DVD. In 2020, the band was announced to perform at Furnace Fest 2020.
History
Stretch Arm Strong formed in 1992,{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/bands/details.cfm?bandid=169|title=Stretch Arm Strong|website=Metal Underground|accessdate=November 4, 2020}} formed by vocalist James Miller, bassist Matt McCarty, guitarists David Sease and Scott Dempsey, and drummer John Barry.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/stretch-armstrong-mn0001906618/biography|title=Stretch Arm Strong - Biography|website=AllMusic.com|first=Jason|last=Ankeny|accessdate=November 4, 2020}} Miller departed quickly thereafter, with McCarty taking over vocals as well as bass. The four would record some material, with Chris McLane taking over bass duties. McCarty would leave the band, with McLane taking over vocals and Donnie Raines joining the band on bass. The band would release their debut album, Compassion Fills the Void, with Shawn Williams of Prevail on bass. After their first release on Uprising Records, Compassion Fills the Void, the band would sign with Solid State Records, consisting of the lineup of McLane, Sease, Dempsey, Barry, and Jeremy Jeffers on bass.
In 1999, the band recorded their sophomore album, Rituals of Life, which saw their debut on Solid State Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Stretch-Arm-Strong-Rituals-Of-Life/release/14586786|title=Stretch Arm Strong - Rituals of Life|website=Discogs|accessdate=November 4, 2020}} With the album out, the band released a music video for their song "Second Chances". In 2001, the band began writing and recording their third album,{{cite web|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/448/Stretch-Arm-Strongs-new-album|title=Stretch Arm Strong's new album|website=Lambgoat|date=January 8, 2001|accessdate=November 4, 2020}} which would be titled A Revolution Transmission.{{cite web|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/602/Stretch-Armstrong-finish-recording|title=Stretch Arm Strong finish recording|website=Lambgoat|date=March 10, 2001|accessdate=November 4, 2020}} In 2003, the band released Engage, which would be their third and final album with Solid State and their fourth studio album, which was well received.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/review/2280/stretch-arm-strong-engage|title=Stretch Arm Strong - Engage|website=Punknews.org|author=TheProblemWithFire|accessdate=November 5, 2020}} Stretch Arm Strong signed to We Put Out Records, a label on East West (an imprint of the Warner Music Group), having fulfilled their deal with Solid State. Their most recent album, Free at Last, was recorded in April and May 2005 with James Paul Wisner and released late that same year. A video for the song "The Sound of Names Dropping" was released that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=15683|title=Watch Stretch Arm Strong's New Video Online|website=Metal Underground|date=September 21, 2005|accessdate=November 4, 2020}} In 2005, the band shared the stage with the famed funk musician George Clinton.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=15595|title=Stretch Arm Strong perform with George Clinton|website=Metal Underground|date=September 17, 2005|accessdate=November 4, 2020}}
They have mostly been inactive since 2005, reuniting in 2009 for a few benefit shows with Evergreen Terrace and Bane{{cite web|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/13545/Stretch-Arm-Strong-announces-two-shows|title=Stretch Arm Strong announces two shows|website=Lambgoat|date=November 4, 2009|accessdate=November 4, 2020}} and for a one-off show at Within These Walls in 2011. The band is set to reunite for Furnace Fest in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2020/02/05/news/counterparts-stretch-arm-strong-defeater-etc-set-for-2020-furnace-fest/|title=Counterparts, Stretch Arm Strong, Defeater, Etc. Set For 2020 'Furnace Fest'|website=Theprp|author=wookubus|date=February 5, 2020|accessdate=October 4, 2020}}
In early 2022, Stretch Arm Strong announced that they had partnered with Iodine Recordings to re-issue "Rituals of Life" and other titles from their catalog. The band also alluded to writing new music.{{Cite web|url= https://www.noecho.net/features/stretch-arm-strong-rituals-of-life-reissue|title= The Story of Stretch Arm Strong's Rituals of Life Album|website=www.noecho.net|date=29 August 2022|language=en-US|access-date=2022-09-04}}
Members
Current members
- Chris McLane – vocals (1995–2011, 2020–present), bass (1994–1995)
- David Sease – guitar (1992–2011, 2020–present)
- John Barry – drums (1992–2011, 2020–present)
- Scott Dempsey – guitar (1992–2004, 2011, 2020–present)
- Jeremy Jeffers – bass (1997–2006, 2011, 2020–present), guitar (2004–2006)
Former members
- Matt McCarty – bass (1992–1994), vocals (1992–1995)
- James Miller – vocals (1992)
- Donnie Raines – bass (1995–1996)
- Shawn Williams – bass (1996–1997)
- Juan Carlos "JC" Lopez – guitar (2004–2006)
- Glen Calder – guitar (2006–2010)
- Chris Andrews – bass (2006–2010)
Touring members
- Jonathan Rej – bass (2000)
- Sean McGuckin – bass (2006)
Timeline
{{#tag:timeline|
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bar:Chris text:"Chris McLane"
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bar:Shawn text:"Shawn Williams"
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bar:Jeremy from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2006 color:bass
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bar:John from:start till:09/24/2011 color:drums
bar:John from:02/04/2020 till:end color:drums
}}
Discography
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Studio albums
- Compassion Fills the Void (1998, Uprising Records)
- Rituals of Life (1999, Solid State Records)
- A Revolution Transmission (2001, Solid State Records)
- Engage (2003, Solid State Records)
- Free at Last (2005, We Put Out Records)
{{col-2}}
Studio EPs
- Not Without Resistance (1995, Insurgent Sounds Records)
- It Burns Clean EP (2000, Reflections Records)
- The Revealing (2024, Iodine Recordings)
Splits
- Bedlam Hour / Stretch Arm Strong Split (1993, Insurgent Sounds Records/Koogle Records)
- Forget the Differences (1996, Insurgent Sounds Records)
- I Stand Alone (2000, I Stand Alone Records; split with xDISCIPLEx A.D.)
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.myspace.com/stretcharmstrong Official myspace]
- [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p370907|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Christian rock groups from South Carolina
Category:American melodic hardcore musical groups
Category:Hardcore punk groups from South Carolina
Category:Christian hardcore musical groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1992
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2020
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2011