Bio
Iconic Punk Rock
Biography
Introduction
The Lower East Side of New York City is not what most people would call a "nice"
neighborhood.
It has a unique yet gritty vibe, and its historical turbulence has attracted and even spawned
creativity in art and music for several decades. This is reflected in the music that has been born
from that community. Spike Polite & Sewage NYC is a substantial part of that underground
legacy.
Story
Spike Polite & Sewage was born from specific musical ideas and controversial yet strong
influences, which had manifested from a period of civil unrest from a series of infamous events
at the Tompkins Square Park in the late 1900s.
After an unfortunate and forced display of civil injustice targeted at the park and its public by the
local police, some say discriminatory, street 'punks' united in a political rally within the park to
strike against unjust police brutality events at the time in their own political statement.
Neighborhood residents, music lovers, and other participants of the time wrestled their way out
of the police's hold together, attempting a side-by-side collaboration with the press to launch
tabloids of the event in refute of such injustice. They even called the local tabloid release "The
Mayday Riot of Tompkins Square Park."
Spike Polite himself can be seen proactively involved and present in the leading image for one
of these tabloid releases, regarding a three-page article covering the riot itself. Ironically, as the
story goes, Spike and the young rebels of that time, whom the officers allegedly pushed into a
police van, actually wound up getting together and forming a band called "HumYn Sewage."
HumYn Sewage
HumYn Sewage began getting gigs at punk shows.
The 'Yippies' invited Humyn Sewage to perform at the 'Pot Parade' on May Day 1992. Local
documentarian, 'Clayton Patterson,' videotaped the performance, which was then played on
public access television.
That same year, the 'Punk Rock Beer Olympics' invited HumYn Sewage to perform; this became
an annual gig for the band.
They didn't stop there.
Including the 'Beer Olympics' gig in 1992 and other 'Punk Rock' venues in 1993 …
At that time, HumYn Sewage opened as one of the bands for a concert in New York City,
specifically located at 'The Gas Station on East Second Street and Avenue B. It was for GG
Allin, a well-known punk rock musician of that time.
Director and filmmaker Todd Phillips directed the 'GG Allin’ documentary. This documentary was
called "Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies." This documentary would set the backdrop of
New York's punk scene forever. Little did anyone know that Allin would be performing his last
concert ever.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum filmed The Origins of Punk in 1995, for your reference.
They also filmed a HumYn Sewage rehearsal and interviewed Spike in front of CBGB (CBGB:
An infamous music venue in New York City).
The Beginning
After several personnel changes, 'HumYn Sewage' became 'Sewage NYC' in 1996.
Soon after, Eastwood Talent sent the band to weekly auditions for different T.V. shows, ranging
from 'Howard Stern's Radio Show' to a Wendy's commercial.
Sewage NYC recorded a techno/punk version of "Punk Religion" for 'Payday Records.'
In 1996, Sewage NYC released "Love Song" on a 7-inch split with 'Hammer Brain.'
Sewage NYC also recorded the song "Rock N Roll Revolution" for 'Spike Lee's Summer of
Sam,' Their performance was ultimately used in a television commercial. Sewage NYC also
performed at 'Coney Island High,' 'Don Hill,' 'Club Life,' and other punk clubs.
By 2010, Spike assembled another line-up, and Sewage nYc performed locally, most notably at
'Club Europa' and 'Tompkins Square Park.' The band recorded the 'Out of Hell Alive' E.P., which
included the tracks "What Happened to the Punk Rock?", "Rock & Roll Revolution," and
"Sewage Hi-Def."
In 2015, Sewage nYc signed to the 'Professional Punkers' record label from Milan, Italy.
At that time, 'The Butchers PunkRock' ft. Spike Polite (NYC) then performed on a three-week
European tour and a U.S. west coast tour.
Spike Polite & Sewage nYc Today
The political punk rock band consists of Spike on vocals and guitar, Michelle Shocked on bass
and vocals, Anthony Romano on guitar and gang vocals, and Beast on drums.
Together, on October 16, 2021, they released the Pandemonium E.P. with Rotten Bastard
Records. Then, they released 'POLICE BRUTALITY,' a recorded analog at 'Flux Magnetic
Studios’ in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It was later mixed at Billy Corbin's studio. The final mix was
created at 'If And Only If Productions.' In live performances, Spike Polite & Sewage performs the
entire Pandemonium E.P., the Italian Sessions album, and additional tracks