Strike Out

Location: Orlando
Years Active: 2001-2002

Website: www.myspace.com/strikethefuckout

Back in 2001 the Florida Hardcore scene consisted of kids with black hair and tight jeans...spockers...not us. Ben the Skin (a New England deadbeat) came to us (Mike C. & I) with the idea of starting a straight-forward hardcore band - no metal chug, no cheesy breakdowns, no crying, etc. Mike C.'s friend Graham had a drum set and a place we could practice, so he jumped on board.

We took influences from Bad Brains, Warzone, Black Flag & Right Brigade and got busy writing songs for a demo. Recorded it at the legendary Reel Sound in Daytona and were surprised at how decent it sounded compared to our previous efforts recording in other bands (see Bet My Life & Hell II Pay). Stardom and credibility in the hardcore arena was just a few shows away. Unfortunately after realizing that the only shows we could play were with As I Lay Dying (pre-Revolver cover boys), A Jealousy Issue and bands of that ilk, members decided to part ways. The scene at that point in time consisted of about five people who knew who the Cro-Mags were and then about thirty-forty who cared more about their hair than the message behind "Life of My Own." Ben also had a habit of breaking cameras at shows, hence the lack of pictures.

Associated Acts:

Mike C. [Guitar] - Bet my Life, Make or Break, Tigerstyle

Matt P. [Bass] - Hell II Pay, Make or Break, Strike a Chord, Rockfist (somewhat)

Graham [Drums] - Nothing that I know of, but he is punk as fuck so that's cool

Ben [vocals] - Slow Dance Kings

- Matt Pick

Bet My Life

Location: Oviedo
Years Active: 1999-2001
Website: www.myspace.com/betmylife407

Bet My Life was a group of high school friends from Orlando having fun. Each member of the band wanted to do something else (Mike C pushed to sound like Agnostic Front, Dirt-E wanted to be Throwdown, Nik wanted to be Millencolin, & J. Hoenshelt and Poochy wanted to smoke weed). At one point in time, they were all "straight-edge" but I believe that lasted less than a month. They recorded 2 EP's (which were really just demo's, but Nik paid to get them pressed up on CDs).

Bet My Life played around the sunshine state (mostly at Rumour's Lounge on Goldenrod & University or random bars along the coast), but did have one "tour" which consisted of a 10 hour drive to Augusta, GA for a Comin' Correct show, then a 12 hour drive south to "Vision Fest" in Sebring, FL. Bet My Life had the pleasure of playing with bands like Punishment, Underoath, Downpour, Remembering Never, Fortitude, The Autumn Offering, One Fifth, Sadiya, Seraphin, Comin' Correct, Keepsake, and more. Pressure mounted within the band (as any band with Mike C. will do) and Bet My Life imploded upon itself.

"Oh yeah, on 'tour' the van died before we crossed over the Georgia border so 5 of us had to sit in the back of a pick-up truck for 9 hours on the way to Sebring, FL. 2 days later I got to drive back up to Georgia with Nik to pick up the van. Shambles..."

Associated Acts:
Mike C. [Drums] - Strike Out, Make or Break, Tigerstyle
Dirt-E Chris aka Twig [Vocals] - xReignofTerrorx, xAFBx, xXXXx
Nik Peeps [Guitar] - is now a compulsive gambler and heavy drinker who loves fast cars and faster women

Surfer Jake AKA Poochy [Guitar] - went on to join the Russian Mafia & US Coastguard
J. Hoanshelt [Bass] - J. Hoenshelt Party for One