Vatican Commandos

{{Short description|American hardcore punk band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Vatican Commandos

| image =

| caption =

| alias =

| origin = Darien, Connecticut

| genre = Hardcore punk

| occupation =

| years_active = 1982–1985, 2010–2011

| label =

| associated_acts =

| website =

| current_members = James Spadaccini
John Farnsworth
Lindsey Anderson
Chip Moody
Richard "Moby" Hall
Chuck Weaver
Dave Hower
Mike Pollock

| past_members =

}}

Vatican Commandos were an American hardcore punk band formed in Darien, Connecticut.{{cite news |url= http://www.brooklynvegan.com/moby-reuniting/ |title=Moby reuniting w/ Vatican Commandos for a CT NYC hardcore show + D.I. dates, boat shows, 45 Grave, Jello & more |work=Brooklyn Vegan |date=May 12, 2010 |access-date=July 7, 2018}}

The band features members James Spadaccini, John Farnsworth, Lindsey Anderson, Chip Moody, Chuck "Wheat" Weaver, and Richard Hall (who went on to success under the name Moby after the VC disbanded).{{Cite web|last=Moby|date=May 29, 2003|title=Journal / The Vatican Commandos|url=https://moby.com/journal/the-vatican-commandos/|access-date=January 23, 2022|website=Moby}} The band was formed in 1982 and released its first 7-inch EP entitled Hit Squad for God in 1983.{{cite book |last=Blush |first=Steven; Petros, George |title=American Hardcore (Second Edition): A Tribal History p. 50 |publisher=Feral House |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-932595-98-7}} Richard Hall (Moby) is credited as "M.H." on the back cover of the release. Later members included Dave Hower, Mike Pollock, and Matt Craig.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} The band went on to release the Just a Frisbee 7-inch EP later in 1983 and Point Me to the End 12-inch EP in 1984. The lineup for Just a Frisbee,{{Cite web |date=2023-01-10 |title=Vatican Commandos - Just a Frisbee |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1204051-Vatican-Commandos-Just-A-Frisbee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505052146/https://www.discogs.com/master/1204051-Vatican-Commandos-Just-A-Frisbee |archive-date=2022-05-05 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Discogs}} "Point me to the End,"{{Cite web |title=Vatican Commandos - Point Me To the End |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2687055-Vatican-Commandos-Point-Me-To-The-End |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Discogs}} and the tour in between those two EPs{{Cite journal |date=1984 |title=Entrevista Vatican Commandos |url=https://archive.org/details/DESORDENSOCIALNumber1TijuanaMexico/page/n22/mode/1up |journal=Desorden Social |issue=1 |via=Internet Archive}} was Chuck Wheat (vocals), Dave Hower (drums), Jim Spadaccini (bass), and Mike Pollock, who replaced M.H. as guitarist. The Just a Frisbee 7-inch cover artwork was drawn by Rob Zombie, founder and lead singer of White Zombie.{{cite news |url= http://www.restassuredzine.com/news/4808-vatican-commandos-moby-release-three-new-songs |title=VATICAN COMMANDOS (MOBY) Release Three New Songs |work=Rest Assured |date=July 27, 2016 |access-date=July 7, 2018}} The Vatican Commandos disbanded in 1985.

After 25 years, the band has reformed and played a reunion show July 17, 2010, at the Mercury Lounge in New York City with Up Front, Our Gang, Ed Gein's Car, and Loud Youth. The VCs played a West Coast reunion show on February 5, 2011, at The Dragonfly in Hollywood, California, with D.I.