Kraut's first performance was opening for
the Clash at
Bonds International Casino in New York on June 11, 1981. Their debut single, "Kill for Cash", and second single, "Unemployed", were both released in 1981 on the band's own Cabbage Records label. While recording their debut album,
An Adjustment to Society (produced by Ryk Oakley), they opened for
the Professionals at
The Channel in Boston. Former
Sex Pistols guitarist
Steve Jones became friends with Kraut and recorded extra guitar tracks for three songs on the album: "Kill for Cash", "Sell Out" and "Onward". The album was again self-released, distributed by
Faulty Products. A video clip for "All Twisted" appeared in rotation on
MTV, making Kraut the first independent band to be played on the station. The band released a mini-album,
Whetting the Scythe, in 1984, and toured the U.S. By the mid-1980s, Kraut had added second guitarist Christopher Smith from
Battalion of Saints, and developed a more
hard rock/
metal sound. Guitarist Holland went on to play for
New York hardcore band the
Cro-Mags. A Kraut reunion show with all four original members took place in 2002 at
CBGB during the
New York Thrash reunion, yielding the ''Live at CBGB's'' album. == Discography ==