Hardcore punk music had a slow-burning rise to the national phenomenon it would become. Along the way, many bands impacted the aggravated sonics defining the genre, but not every band gets their proper praise. For this week’s Golden Age Thursday, we highlight an essential hardcore band that, while remembered fondly, deserves more praise for their raw contributions to hardcore punk. Detroit’s Negative Approach was formed in 1981, and the core lineup only lasted until 1983. The original group included vocalist John Brannon, guitarist Rob McCulloch, bassist Graham McCulloch, and drummer Chris Moore.
In their short time together, Negative Approach recorded one studio album, 1983’s Tied Down. Their debut would double as their swan song as the band disbanded shortly after the recording of the LP. While the original four-piece never officially came back together, the Negative Approach legacy lives on through compilations and videos like the one featured on this week’s Golden Age Thursday. We have a full 1983 hometown performance from Negative Approach that showcases their relentless prowess and how they funnel it into messy yet honed punk. The audio from this performance was featured on the band’s 2005 compilation, Ready To Fight, but the visuals fully immerse the listener in the height of the band’s career. You can check out the full performance below.
