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KIFF (Knowledge Is For Fools)

2/5/2016

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KIFF is an acronym for Knowledge is for Fools.  They are a Shock Rock   band out of Raleigh, NC.  Some classify them as Punk, some as Metal, but if you ask any members, they are likely to err on the side of Hard Rock Purists.   When you listen to their music you can hear the definite influences of The Ramones, Motorhead, Slayer, with some of the pop music jangle of Cheap Trick.  The subject matter of their songs ranges from Zombie cowgirls, sex in a graveyard, and seeing their ex-girlfriends in the local lock up paper “The Slammer”. 

The live show is a chaotic mixture of mind boggling stage antics.  There are bagpipes, costumed characters, a crowd insulting band manager, and sometimes burlesque dancers.  The show has been known to chainsaw guitars or pumpkins full of blood, smash televisions, break records over the heads of the fans,  and breathe fire.   The great thing is that it is loosely themed and you will never know exactly what is going to happen.  There is a Christmas themed show every December that is called KIFFMAS where the show takes on a life of its own.  Be sure to check one out. 

KIFF’s lineup has remained the same for all of their 10 years.  Andy Miller on the main vocals.  Slayer Dug Smith on the guitar, Edward Warner on bass, and Jason Wheeler on the drums.   There are some extended members of the KIFF family that you can see in the pictures.  Each with their own talent they bring to the show. 

KIFF has made some amazing accomplishments over the last 10 years.  They have songs on two horror movie soundtracks.  Some of the members were stars in the films.   Look for Fistful of Brains and The Forever Dead. 

Each member of KIFF is a rabid vinyl collector.  So when the opportunity to be on a tribute album to the 1970’s biker rock band, The Godz, arose, KIFF jumped at the chance.  The tribute album has some great artists keeping KIFF company.  It is the debut of Jeff Danzig (Glenn’s son).  It also includes some ex members of The Godz and the shock rock band, The Mentors. 
KIFF was then offered a gig in Ohio with Eric Moore of The Godz and some of the other bands on the tribute album.  There is now a live CD of that show that was released in late December 2015.

KIFF will be headling Punk Rock Smackdown 4 on Feb 6th at The Maywood in Raleigh. They are slated for studio time in mid Feb to record the rest of their 2nd album.  Look for it’s release!!
 

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Andy Miller - Vox, KIFF

2/5/2016

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Andy Miller, the notorious prank caller "James AT-15",  is the lead vocalist of KIFF.

We asked Andy for some info to share and this is what he says:
A bio of Myself? Hard to do. The short story is, At the age of 11 or 12 I was taken to a rock concert by older cousins. KISS in the late 70s. It blew My mind. I was hooked on rock n roll ever since. Collecting records. going to concerts. Bands Booking, Promoting whatever. I have always been involved.

I sold more $$$ making prank calls then I ever did in a band ha ha ha ha. But hey why not do both. I'm a rocker at heart. I can't seem to leave the game. So KIFF is the current focus for the last 10 plus years. In some ways I thought it was gonna be over by now. But nope, its still going on. So Here We are.

In KIFF My goal is to entertain rockers and have fun. Simple as that. Make music and put on shows I can be proud of. Nobody's getting rich. Nobody's making any important statements. KIFF is not likely to be the next big thing. Just having fun. And hopefully the people that pay to get into the shows are too. Rock N Roll is supposed to be fun. So come on out and rock with KIFF. Loud fast raw & rude! Get a beer and bang that head! Shake that ass and scream along. That's what it is.

I have nothing else to offer or say. I hope if You come see Us. You have fun. That's our goal. We ain't no cover band. Our originals are our tribute. We tribute rock n roll and a Saturday night ! You might be old. we are too. But be young wild and free. The band I grew up with. And the bands I still get into. Punk metal hard rock whatever? Who cares about labels and classifications? That's for nerds. Its all rock n roll. Loud and pissed off. Offensive stuff. But fun. Stage shows. Wrecked clubs. Wrecked eardrums. And good times! That's My goal. That's KIFFs goal hope to see Ya in 2016 !!!


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Jason - KIFF's Drummer

2/4/2016

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Jason Wheeler, or "Wheelz",  has been rocking non-stop for 30 years. His parents gave him his first snare drum when he was 4. He also played guitar and saxophone as a kid. Jason’s biggest influences are Kiss, Blondie, The Police, Cheap Trick, Gary Numan, Ramones, Motorhead, Kreator, Slayer, Destruction, The Posies, Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Scorpions and Iron Maiden. He’s been in the music industry since 2001. He was with Sanctuary Records from 2001 to 2006, and has been working with Redeye Distribution since 2008.

Jason was only 15 when he started playing clubs and house parties in his metal band Scavenger's Daughter that he started in high school with Mark Roper of Tuesday’s Gone. About 3 years into it they caught the attention of local doom metal gods Confessor and were lucky enough to open for them at The Brewery in the summer of 1988. Both bands had a great following, and they packed the house! Unfortunately, that happened to be the last gig for Scavenger’s Daughter.

Jason’s name quickly spread around the music scene in Raleigh and it wasn’t long before he received a phone call from Glen Crickmar, the vocalist for Raleigh band Ignorant Bitch. Jason was very interested in their style which was heavier and faster than S.D. He joined the band and moved to Raleigh in 1989. They did shows with Aftermath A.D. Bone Shelter, and Blood Sport to name a few. He stayed with them for about a year, before starting his own thrash metal band in 1990 with Daniel Powell. They recruited Shawn McCoy and Ritchie Peterson and Gross Reality was born. They were successful in building a following and opened for many national acts in the early to mid-nineties including Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation, Unleashed, Deicide, Dismember and Type O Negative. Gross Reality recorded several demos from 1991 until they broke up in 1996. They reformed in 2009, recorded a full length album in 2013, and are currently working on another album. Be sure to keep your eyes out for some festival dates that will be announce soon!

In 1997 Jason joined an Irish pop band from Dublin and jammed with them during the summer of 1997. After that he formed a band with old friends Scott Little and Mike Brown of COC Blind and King Hitter called Magna Save. They played together until local thrash punk band Slugnut’s drummer quit and they asked him to join them. He played with Slugnut for 12 years. They recorded an album called “All The Splendor and Rot” in 2003 and opened for bands such as M.O.D., Crisis, & Lamb Of God.

Jason had a lot of fun with Slugnut but wanted to branch out and play a different style (Pop Rock) as well. He looked around and found a band out of Chapel Hill called Midnite Sun. He joined them in 1999 and has been with them ever since. Midnite Sun has played festivals such as The International Pop Overthrow Fest, Sparkle Fest, and the Apple Chill Fest. They are currently working on a new album.

In 2005, while still playing with both Slugnut and Midnite Sun, the guys in KIFF asked him if he would be interested in jamming for fun. Of course he said yes to his old friends. He had met Andy when he was in Ignorant Bitch.

In 2014 Jason joined Widow and toured with Destruction and Krisiun for a week playing up and down the east coast and through the mid-west. They flew to Madrid, Spain to play Pounding Metal Fest with Raven, The Rods, Night Demon, Crisix, and Breathless. They flew to Los Angeles to play at the world famous Whiskey A Go Go, and traveled to NYC to play with Canada's Skullfist.  Some of the best things he has done musically were packed within that year. Jason is not with them any longer, but he wishes them all the best.
Jason is currently playing with KIFF, Midnite Sun and Gross Reality and looking forward to recording with them all this year and playing out as much as possible. Slugnut played a reunion show this past New Year’s Eve. Maybe we will get to see more of them in the future!
“Sex, Drums, & Rock N Roll”



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Slayer Dug - Lead Guitar, KIFF

2/3/2016

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A native of Raleigh NC, Slayer Dug (aka Douglas Smith) has been a fixture on the local/regional music scene for more than 20 years, serving at one time or another in the capacity of promoter, roadie,security,stagehand,and technician.

Prior to KIFF, he was a member of local punk legends, 'The Semantics' (featuring Lutie Cain and Stephan Lintner of 'Snake and the Plisskens').He was also a member of 'Halfcocked' (precursor to "The Semantics"), and a one off collaboration known as 'The Blimey Limeys' , featuring fellow former members of the 'Kelford Street Punx'.
In 2013 Slayer Dug was lead guitarist of the highly acclaimed Raleigh band, 'Back Stabbath', a 'Black Sabbath' cover band which featured Jon McClain ('The Ugly Americans'; 'The Bad Checks', and 'Leadfoot') on drums and fiery songstress Rose Higgins ('Osbeck', 'Psycho Cupid') on lead vocals.

Notable acts opened for include 'Antiseen', 'Murphy's Law', 'The Pietasters', 'The Independents', 'Wednesday 13', 'The Dead Kings', 'Hammerlock', 'The 440's', 'Blatant Disarray', 'Widow', 'Automag', Eric Moore ('The Godz'), 'The Mentors', and 'Kelen Heller'.

Versatile and talented, 'Slayer Dug' continues on with KIFF, collaborating by writing new songs and refining old favorites for an upcoming recording session.


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Edward Warner - Bassist, KIFF

2/2/2016

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Edward Warner is KIFF’s bassist.  He locks down the grooves and delivers the low end crunch that drives KIFF’s rhythm section.  You can hear the pumping and thumping of Motorhead’s influence and the crunch of a Metal bass rig.  Look for his lead runs that are fast and furious.

He was the owner of the infamous Caboose Nightclub in Garner from 92 to 97.  The Caboose was known for its “open minded booking policy”.  The Mentors, Nile, Eye Hate God, AC, The Casualties, Wed 13, Antiflag and Jim Dandy’s Black Oak Arkansas were some of the many bands who played there.  There is lots of footage on youtube.com from these shows. Warner started in his first band, “Crosswire”, in 1987. In the last few years he starred in several horror films.  Look for Fistful
of Brains (a zombie western), and Forever Dead.  KIFF also has songs on the soundtracks of these movies. 
He holds down guitar duties in a punk band called “Yea(h)”.  

He is also the owner of The Frightmare Haunted House Attraction in
Raleigh NC.  So don’t be surprised if he pulls up with the rest of the
band in his 1969 Cadillac Hearse!


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