The Generators
The Generators were an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1997, following the breakup of the 1990s punk rock group Schleprock. The original lineup featured Doug Dagger (Doug Kane) on vocals, Mike Snow and Sir Doosky (Eric Ortega) on guitars, "Dirty" Ernie Berru on drums, and Rich Richards (Rich Santia) on bass.
History
The Generators released their debut album, Welcome to the End, on Los Angeles-based Triple X Records in 1998. The band released a seven-song EP titled Ninety Nine, and two more albums by 2001: Burning Ambition on Urgent Music Ltd. and Tyranny on TKO Records.
During the European leg of the Tyranny tour, Dirty Ernie Berru and Sir Doosky temporarily left the band. Mike Snow and Doug Kane recruited drummer Mike Clark and began working on a new EP. Sir Doosky returned to the band before the recording session for the EP State of the Nation, released on TKO Records.
In 2002, guitarist Mike Snow left the band, coinciding with Dirty Ernie's return to the drums.With Kane and Doosky as the primary songwriters, the band released the album Excess, Betrayal... and Our Dearly Departed in 2003. This direction continued with the release of The Winter Of Discontent in 2005.
Throughout these changes, Kane, Sir Doosky, and Dirty Ernie remained the core members. The band welcomed bassist Teddy Hahn and guitarist Ace Von Johnson, leading to the release of The Great Divide in 2006, followed by touring until 2008.
In 2009, Dirty Ernie and Teddy Hahn left the band. Derek O’Brien of Social Distortion handled recording duties on the next album, and Brandon Lutz took over on bass. The resulting album, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, was recorded and released via People Like You. The album was followed by a summer European tour alongside the Damned. Ace Von Johnson left the band after a disagreement with Kane during the tour.
In 2010, Sir Doosky left for personal reasons, leading to a restructuring of the lineup.
In 2011, The Generators reconvened with a new lineup that included the return of Mike Snow, former Schleprock guitarist Sean Romin, and drummer Lou Guzman. The band recorded and released their eighth studio album, Last of the Pariahs, under DC-Jam Records.
Subsequent years saw further lineup changes and releases, including the six-song EP The Deconstruction of Dreams in 2013 under Concrete Jungle Records and the album Life Gives Life Takes in 2014 under Randale Records.
During a brief hiatus in 2014, Doug Kane and Mike Snow initiated a side project called Bedlam Knives, which released a 7-inch record under Dr. Strange Records. Simultaneously, Sir Doosky, Dirty Ernie, and former Generators bassist Brandon Lutz formed NeuAllies, releasing an EP the same year. In 2015, both Bedlam Knives and NeuAllies disbanded.
The band returned in 2016 with the retrospective album Earn Your Stripes on Randale Records, followed by a split EP with British band Crashed Out titled Blood, Sweat & Glory and touring.
In 2017, The Generators released the single "Street Justice" and announced a forthcoming album, resulting in the release of Broken Stars & Crooked Stripes in 2018.
After over two decades, the Generators went on hiatus in 2019. During this period, Doug Kane reunited with his 1980s Oi! band, Doug & the Slugz.
2022 Reunion
On September 20, 2022, the band announced a reunion of the original 1997 founding lineup via social media. The band played shows throughout the end of 2022, performing material from their first three releases.
Following the reunion shows, Kane, Doosky, and Snow reunited, adding former member Ted Hahn on bass and Marco Duarte on drums. Duarte had previously filled in on tours. Their return included a performance at the 2023 Punk Rock Bowling Music Festival in Las Vegas and a European tour the following summer.
Death of Doug Kane
Doug Kane died on May 30, 2024, after battling cancer. Before his death, the band had decided they would not continue as The Generators in his absence.
Discography
- Welcome to the End (1998), Triple X Records, US
- Ninety-Nine (1999), Outcast Records/Triple X Records, Europe
- Burning Ambition (2000), Urgent Music Ltd. US/People Like You, Europe & Japan
- Dead at 16 7-inch (2000), TKO Records
- Tyranny (2001), TKO Records US/People Like You, Europe & Japan
- State of the Nation (2001), TKO Records/ Dead Beat, US
- Sounds of the Street Vol. 2: Split CD w/ Vicious Rumors
- From Rust to Ruin (2003), TKO Records (compilation: greatest hits album)
- Riverboat Gamblers split 7-inch"
- Excess, Betrayal...And Our Dearly Departed (2003), People Like You, Europe & Japan, Fiend Music, US
- The Winter of Discontent (2006), People Like You, Europe & Japan, Sailor's Grave, US
- The Great Divide (2007), People Like You, Europe & Japan
- Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (2009), People Like You, Europe & Japan
- You Against You 7-inch (2011), I Hate People Records
- Last of the Pariahs (2011), I Hate People Records, Europe & Japan, DC Jam, US
- 3 of a Kind (2012), Split with Sledgeback and C.A.F.B.
- The Deconstruction of Dreams (2013), Concrete Jungle Records
- Life Gives-Life Takes (2014), Randale Records
- Earn Your Stripes (2016), Randale Records
- Blood, Sweat & Glory (2016), split EP w/ Crashed Out, Randale Records/Longshot Music
- Street Justice (2017), Longshot Music/Randale Records
- Broken Stars & Crooked Stripes (2018),Randale Records
Filmography
- Where the Bad Boys Rock 2004 (Live DVD) (2004), People Like You Records
- Where the Bad Boys Rock 2005 (Live DVD) (2005), People Like You Records