Biography
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www.chopperstepe.com
Born out of the early '80's Chicago hardcore punk scene, Chopper Stepe has been playing the clubs and writing/recording music since age 12. He recorded his first official release on Version Sound by age 14, which is still getting notoriety and being hunted by record collectors to this day, resulting in the inevitable 2009 re-issue on Akashic Records (Japan).
Cutting his teeth musically with Negative Element, a hardcore punk band from Chicago, between 1980-1984, Stepe shared the stage with the likes of punk icons Minor Threat and Dead Kennedys by age 15. Now a seasoned musician and songwriter, Chopper continues to experiment, and collaborate. Most importantly, he never stops playing.
Stepe's style has matured over the years to a more acoustic, jazzy, alt-country style; melody driven, catchy tunes infused with a heavy dose of pop sensibility with just a hint of that punk attitude from his younger days. Now settled in as a solo artist, he has been recording some of his best material to date.
Chopper Stepe has recently located to NYC, and is looking forward to gathering a new batch of musicians to continue the band's laid-back and intimate live shows, delivering unforgettable tunes, appealing to a variety of musical tastes and rousing any audience, from punk to mainstream, to their feet. The songs of Chopper Stepe linger long after the listen.
DISCOGRAPHY;
Meathouse Compilation-Negative Element-Version Sound 1982
Negative Element-“Yes, We Have No Bananas”ep-Version Sound 1983
Starving Dogs Comp-Negative Element/KGB-Little Farmer Music 1984
Caustic Defiance- “No Apologies, Ever!”- DIY 1985
Kill City-Self Titled-Ring of Fire-1992
Alex Ballard-“Madeira”-Don’t Records 1993
Crapshoot-“13 Reasons”-Bottomline Records-1995
Regress-“Price Of Power”ep-Boot Camp-1997
Regress-“Look Who’s Pulling The Strings”ep-Lengua Armada-2004
Hysteria 2 Comp.-Regress-Lengua Armada-200?
MaximumRock ‘N’ Roll Comp-Regress-2006
Bony Orbit Comp-Racin For Pinks-Bony Orbit Records 2006
Another Boat Has Landed Comp.-The Lechers/Racin For Pinks-Florida’s Dying 2007
Negative Element/Caustic Defiance split reissue CD-Akashi Records (Japan)-2009
(Film) “You Weren’t There-A History Of Chicago Punk 1977=1984”-Regressive Films-2007 (TV)"Chic-a-Go-Go"-Nov 2007
(Book)”American Hardcore-A Tribal History”-Steven Blush
(Book)”Going Underground-American Punk;1979-1992”-George Hurchalla
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