1989–1994: Formation and early years The band began when
New York hardcore band The Shaved Pigs split up, and guitarist Brendan Tween and his roommate (drummer) Mikal Reich, both residents of New York City's
East Village, decided to start a ska band. Over the next year, and after recruiting several friends, including keyboardist Brian "Underpants" Martin, the band was formed under the name Skatterbrains. It was changed to Mephiskapheles, adopting a satanic gimmick, once the band realized that another band had already taken the name. completing the section that would tour and record for the next six years. The band continued to play live, winning the
Brooklyn Lager Band Search in the
World Beat category in 1992 and building a devoted fan base throughout the Northeast by performing frequently at colleges and bars. In 1993, bass player Michael Bitz joined, replacing Vattel Cherry, who had taken over from original bassist
Victor Rice soon after Mephiskapheles got started, in early 1991. Cherry left to tour with avant-garde saxophonist
Charles Gayle. In 1994, Mephiskapheles released its debut album,
God Bless Satan, produced by
Bill Laswell. Originally released on the band's own label Pass The Virgin, it saw wider release after being licensed by
Moon Ska Records for national distribution With support from Moon Ska Records, a video was filmed for the track "Break Your Ankle Punk" which featured hip-hop DJ
Lyvio G. As the band's profile continued to rise, the band embarked on a national tour with British pop-punk icons the
Buzzcocks in the spring of 1997. McCabe, one of Mephiskapheles' main composers during the fertile mid-1990s period, had ceased touring with the band prior to the recording of
Maximum Perversion, the band on the road opting for a two-piece section with Endo and Robinson. However, McCabe, Endo, and Robinson were reunited when they recorded on
Moby's version of
John Barry's "
James Bond Theme" for the soundtrack of the film
Tomorrow Never Dies. In its various
remixes, "
James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" became a hit in several countries, and was included on Moby's greatest-hits albums
I Like to Score and
Go - The Very Best of Moby. In late 1998, Mephiskapheles shocked some fans' sensibilities when they toured the U.S. opening for heavy-metal shock rockers
Gwar. By 1999, the band had gone through a major lineup change with Tween, Bitz, and Endo all leaving the band, for various reasons. New members, bassist Dan Jeselsohn, guitarists Bill McKinney and Dave Hahn and saxophonist
Ian Hendrickson-Smith were brought in to record an album,
Might-Ay White-Ay, that featured
reggae,
hardcore, and
metal with some straight-ahead ska included. Mephiskapheles also made successful headlining tours to the Midwest and Florida, in 2015, as well as hosting its annual Devil's Night party (i.e., the night before Halloween) at the Mercury Lounge in New York. A handful of shows supporting the
Voodoo Glow Skulls filled out a busy and productive year. Saxophonists Neil Johnson and Bourbon Zeigler had both left the band by early 2016, clearing the way for their longtime sub, tenor saxophonist Fernando Leon to join. Leon also played on the band's 2015 EP but was not credited. Mephiskapheles continued to share the stage with established punk and ska-punk bands in 2016, making separate East Coast runs with Less Than Jake and NOFX in the early part of the year. After Meph Records released a promotional video for the song "Friends Like You", in April, the band announced work was ongoing on another video, for the song "Satan Stole My Weed". Returning from a well-received tour of Texas, in May, Mephiskapheles headlined in Asbury Park, New Jersey as part of the Punk Rock Bowling & Music festival in June 2016. Later that month, Mephiskapheles traveled to Montreal and played in support of legendary British glam rockers
The Adicts at the official after-party for the
Amnesia Rockfest. After a frantic five years of activity since regrouping, Mephiskapheles slowed the pace slightly in 2017, playing several shows, occasionally venturing off the Atlantic seaboard such as to play a series of shows in the Midwest with
Mustard Plug.
God Bless Satan was released in a limited edition on cassette for
Cassette Store Day by Jump Up in September. The sixth annual Mephiskapheles Devil's Night Danse was held in late October in two locations, at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park and the Bowery Electric in New York. Jump Up released a 20th-anniversary colored vinyl LP edition of
Maximum Perversion to mark the occasion. In November, Mephiskapheles made its first-ever tour to Central America, playing shows in
Guatemala and
El Salvador. ==Discography==