Vanquish For Disaster

Vanquish For Disaster (often abbreviated to VFD) was a band from Lubbock, Texas. Known primarily for pioneering the "jokecore" genre, taking influence from bands such as Green Jelly, Atom and His Package, and the Dead Milkmen using a similar format of a comedic, and often satirical approach to rock music. The band has been listed as an influence on bands such as Horse the Band and CDC.

Formation and "classic line-up"

Vanquish For Disaster was started in Lubbock, TX in 2002 as an attempt to keep the band's members entertained and out of trouble. The band began playing live shortly after formation, gaining popularity by word of mouth. The band booked its 1st tour around the fall of 2003 solely on word of mouth and quickly became know outside of their hometown for their highly energetic live performances, often theatrical stage personas, and for their secrecy( e.g. costumes, stage names, refusal to do publicity photos, etc.).

The band were forced to take a temporary hiatus in order to regroup in the winter of 2004 at the departure of original keyboardist and emcee, Cam the Ram. Ram's exit caused by disillusion from the band's recording process and lack of live performances at the time would mark the end of the "classic line-up." Shortly after completion of the recording the band would find a stand-in on keyboard, in the form of original bassist "Brother John." Though this would prove to be temporary, the band managed to begin playing live and released a CD-R version of these recordings in and around their hometown.

Final Years and dissolution

By fall 2005 the band parted ways with another keyboardist and added a new member into the fold. Keyboard and organ player, "Osk" joined the group in what would eventually turn out to be the band's final line-up shift. The band self-released the Vanquish for Disaster discography 7" on their own Fable Recordings imprint. The group's lead vocalist, "Chief" had a growing dependency on opiates and the band canceled what would've been the band's first tour abroad, with scheduled dates in Greenland and Europe. While preparing for a final farewell show in their hometown, the group disbanded in the summer of 2006 & the band's website was removed shortly after. Though the band's only release My Faith is All Mine, The Rest of Me...Is Yours, is long out of print, it has been available over file sharing networks such as Soulseek and the Pirate Bay, the band has expressed that interested listeners "feel free to download and share the album because of its already limited availability."

Members

Final Line-Up

• The Chief – vocals, bass guitar, song writing
• Fuzzy Slippers – electric guitar,keyboard, percussion, song writing, studio-ops.
• Sultan of Suspense – drums, percussion, synthesizer, vocals(lead & backing), song writing
• Franklin Du Tor'Tose - electric guitar, keyboard, arranging, song writing, vocals(backing)
• Osk - keyboards, synthesizers, emcee/vocals(backing)

Former members

• Justin Oym - original drummer (fall-winter 2002)
• Cam the Ram - keyboards, emcee/vocals(backing), synthesizers (fall 2002- winter 2003)
• Brother John -original live bassist(fall 2002)/ keyboards, synthesizers (winter 2004-spring 2005)

Discography

Albums

• My Faith is All Mine, The Rest of Me...Is Yours: Discography 7" (2005) Fable Recordings

References

• Davistonovich, B (2004). "Maximum Rock'n Roll", Band of Others, 22,23.
• O! Pioneers: VFD interview1