The Templars

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The Templars

Music genre(s)Oi!
HomebaseNew York, NY
Years active1991-Present
Current StatusActive
Notable Records
Label(s)
WebsiteThe Templars website

The Templars are an Oi! band formed in Long Island, New York in April 1991.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally comprised of black and white skinhead members, their musical influences include Oi!, punk, glam rock, mod and rock and roll. They have tended to purposely use low-quality recording techniques (their Acre Studios is a garage). Side projects include Stamford Bridge, The Butchers, Wodnes Thegnas, and Tartan Mushroom.

The band's name comes from an ancient order of Christian militants called the Knights Templar. Band members have mined the films of Amando de Ossorio, a Spanish cult filmmaker best known for his Blind Dead series. This series, which started with La noche del terror ciego (1971), is based on the concept that the scorned Templars have returned from the dead with their eyes burned out, in order to take revenge. The Templars' focus on history is largely informed by singer Carl's historical studies and interests in Viking, Scandinavian, and Middle Ages history.

A Templars album cover was recently featured on a History Channel documentary about the Knight's Templar. The narrator states that the legacy of the medieval organization has influenced such varied aspects of modern society as film, literature and "hardcore punk music."

[edit] Partial discography

[edit] Albums

  • The Return of Jacques DeMolay - 1994 - Dim Records
  • Phase II - 1997 - Dim Records Germany/Vulture Rock
  • Omne Datum Optimum - 1999 - GMM Records
  • Horns of Hattin - 2001 - GMM Records
  • Outremer - 2005 - GMM Records

[edit] Split 12"s

[edit] 7"s

  • The Poor Knights of Acre - 1993 - Sonic Aggression
  • Clockwork Orange Horrorshow (double 7") - 1995 - Vulture Rock
  • La noche de los gaviotas(sic) (aka Night of the Seagulls) - 1997 - Headache Records (Note: correct Spanish would be Las gaviotas)
  • Milites Templi - 2000 - TKO Records/Templecombe
  • The French Connection - 2004 - Bords de Seine
  • Out of the Darkness - ? - TKO/Templecombe

[edit] EPs

[edit] Split 7"s

[edit] Compilation Appearances

  • Anti-Disco League - Templecombe/TKO
  • Oi! It's a World Invasion! Vol. 1 - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog
  • Oi! This is Dynamite! - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog
  • Step on a Crack Vol. 2 - Sound Views/Go-Kart
  • Oi! It's a World Invasion! Vol. 2 - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog
  • Oi! The Gathering - Sta-Prest
  • Backstreets of American Oi! - Sta-Prest
  • Oi Against Racism - Havin' A Laugh
  • Super Yobs Showdown Vol. 1 - Vulture Rock
  • US of Oi Vol. 2 - GMM
  • Urban Soldiers: Tribute to the Oppressed - DSS/Longshot

Note: Many exclusive tracks on 7"s or compilations have been later compiled on CD (such as Milites Templi) or certain releases reissued on different labels and/or formats (such as Clockwork Orange Horrorshow). Templars completists often struggle to keep up.

[edit] Members

[edit] Founding Members

  • Carl Templar (Carl Fritscher) - guitar & vocals
  • Phil Templar (Phil Rigaud) - drums
  • Don Templar (Don Gurle) - bass & vocals

[edit] Other Members

  • Perry Hardy - Bassist
  • Chet Knight - Former Guitarist
  • Matt Katz - Former bassist
  • Chris White- Guitarist

Note: The band recognizes Perry Hardy as their full-time bassist and Chris White as full-time guitarist, even though they do not record on the albums (with the exception of Perry on one album). The band currently uses a lineup of 4 for live shows, with a second guitar player, but still usually records as only a 2-piece (with Carl playing all bass and guitar parts, as well as vocals with Phil on drums).


[edit] Links

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