Blatant Dissent

Blatant Dissent's most well known lineup

Blatant Dissent were a punk/hardcore band from the mid 1983 to 1988 from Dekalb. They released two singles and a posthumous LP in their career. The last version of the band eventually changed their name and became the popular Chicago band Tar. They were probably the most well-known band from Dekalb and at one point toured to WV, NY and CT. It can be safely said that Blatant Dissent was the best 80s punk band from Northern Illinois University.

Blatant Dissent reformed in 2009 (August 22nd) at the Abbey Pub. They performed for the first time in 22 years along with Subverts, Ring 13, Happy hunting and Otis Ball and The Chains.

Members

Logo from Dial-A-Trance

• Jim Wohlever - Vocals
• John Mohr - Vocals, Guitar
• Tim Fowler - Guitar
• Jeff Burka - Bass (His name is spelled Jeff Berka)
• Jim Taylor - Drums, Vocals
• Dave Fishman - Drums
• Tom Clark - Bass, then Guitar
• Tim Mescher - Bass
• Bruce Halverson - Guitar
• Mike Greenlees - Drums
• Mark Zablocki - Guitar

Releases

• Demo Tape (Summer 1984)
  • This was recorded in 1 day at a studio in La Grange Illinois
  • First time in the studio
  • Five-ish songs that were re-recorded on the later records. There were 7 songs on that demo:
  • Wrong Reasons
  • Catalyst-They, They, They
  • Man In Black
  • Dissipate
  • Undermine
  • 2 un-named tracks
  • recorded by: Tim Folwer, Mike Folwer, Jeff Berka, Jon Mohr and Jim Taylor
  • This version of the band performed live at: The Cubby Bear

• • Sleeve art by Kevin Kurtz
• Is There A Fear? 7" (1985, Landmind Records)
  • 1000 Released, 850 with the Tom Clark sleeve
  • Co-Produced by Jeff Pezzati and Iain Burgess
  • Recorded 2/1985 at Chicago Recording Company

1. Is There A Fear
2. My Hands Are Tied
3. The Man In Black
4. The Catalyst - They, They, They

• Two tracks from the Dial-A-Trance compilation (1985)

1. The Catalyst / They, They, They
2. The Man In Black

• Dreams 7" (1987, No Blow Records)
  • Lineup was Mohr, Clark, Mesher and Greenlees

1. Fist Comes Down
2. Eleven Days

• Hold the Fat LP (1991, Glitterhouse Records)
  • Lineup was Mohr, Clark, Mesher and Greenlees
  • Recorded in one session at Studiomedia in 1986 by Steve Albini

1. Contemporary Hip
2. Man in Black
3. Painted Women
4. How Can I Lose
5. Status Quo
6. 11 days
7. The Beast
8. The Party
9. Overreaction
10. Is There A Fear
11. Bandit
12. Undermine
13. My Hands Are Tied

History

Though I should add some info to this, started at Douglas dorm at NIU in the summer and fall of 1984 the "demo" line up of the band played at: The Cubby Bear, Avalon, Two Fools many times in DeKalb to name a few. They often appeared on a Punk radio show called "Fast and Loud" hosted by Rodney Anderson one of the founding hosts and a member of "Seismic Waves".

MXV had one of his Selections from The Punk Vault entries on the Is There A Fear? 7-inch. In that, just about every member of Blatant Dissent chimed in with a history and stories. So instead of plagarizing, read it here.

Record covers

• 

  Is There a Fear?

• 

  Is There a Fear?
  Tour cover

• 

  Hold the Fat

External Links

• Blatant Dissent review/discussion The Punk Vault
• CPP thread on Blatant Dissent
• Download the entire Hold the Fat LP at Strange Reaction - approved by Tom and John, so it's legal!
• Facebook
• Discogs profile