The Cynics

{{Short description|American garage rock band}}

{{About|the rock band|the ancient Greek school of philosophy|Cynic (disambiguation){{!}}Cynic}}

{{More citations needed|date=August 2014}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = The Cynics

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = group_or_band

| alias =

| origin = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| genre = Garage rock

| years_active = 1983–1994; 2002–present

| label = Get Hip Records

| associated_acts =

| website =

| current_members = Gregg Kostelich
Michael Kastelic

| past_members = Becky Smith
Bill von Hagen
Amy Mathesius
Max Terasauro
Pam Reyner
Steve Magee
Kris Kasperowski
Mike Kolesar
Mike Quinlan
Mark Keresmann
Mike Michalski
Dave Vucenich
Richard Schnapp
Smith Hutchings
Thomas Hohn

}}

The Cynics are an American garage rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band, at the time consisting of guitarist Gregg Kostelich, drummer Bill Von Hagen, vocalist Michael Kastelic who joined in 1985,{{Cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/artists/thecynics|title=The Cynics: Pittsburgh's garage kings {{!}} Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|website=www.post-gazette.com|access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=2017-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111094939/http://www.post-gazette.com/artists/thecynics|url-status=dead}} bass player Steve Magee, and keyboardist Becky Smith (later founder of New York City's Bellwether gallery), debuted with their first album, Blue Train Station in 1986.{{Cite news|url=http://blurtonline.com/feature/the-story-behind-the-album-rocknroll-by-the-cynics/|title=THE STORY BEHIND THE ALBUM: Rock'N'Roll by The Cynics - Blurt Magazine|last=Levitt|first=Jonathan|work=Blurt Magazine|access-date=2017-11-10|language=en-US}} Many of their songs "carry the torch" for other favorite bands as cover songs or tributes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/artists/thecynics|title=The Cynics: Pittsburgh's garage kings {{!}} Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|website=www.post-gazette.com|access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=2017-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111094939/http://www.post-gazette.com/artists/thecynics|url-status=dead}} They underwent a number of lineup changes culminating in 1989's Rock and Roll album. They formed their own independent record label called Get Hip Records in 1986.{{Cite news|url=https://thealmanac.net/life-culture/get-hip-at-mt-lebanon-residents-new-north-side-store/article_129df718-c497-11e7-b32c-1b499cdfd2df.html|title=Get Hip at Mt. Lebanon residents' new North Side store|last=Funk|first=Harry|work=The Almanac|access-date=2017-11-10|language=en}}

They suffered an eight-year break up after the release of Get Our Way but returned in 2002 with the release of Living Is the Best Revenge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=cynics|title=TrouserPress.com :: Cynics|website=www.trouserpress.com|access-date=2017-11-10}} The release of their 2007 album Here We Are was accompanied with a European tour.{{Cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/2007/12/20/The-year-in-local-rock-Cynics-waited-till-their-40s-to-release-best-yet/stories/200712200492|title=The year in local rock: Cynics waited till their 40s to release best yet|last=Mervis|first=Scott|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=2017-11-10|language=en}}

The band's sound is influenced by 1960s garage rock.