UPTOWN RUMBLE: 24-7 Spyz
African-American musicians and bands made serious contributions to hard rock–heavy metal–punk of the ’70s. (Take Death in Detroit or Pure Hell in Philadelphia.) Still, by this point in time heavier rock and roll had become increasingly associated with white youth culture. Musicians, and especially bands, of color were typically labelled as “Latin rock” or “Black rock” and in many cases were excluded from the genre altogether. Instead, “funk” became a catch-all genre that absorbed many Black and Latino rock and roll musicians alongside those playing more traditional funk. Listen to Eddie Hazel on Maggot Brain (1971), Ronny Drayton on Super Natural (1973), or Bronxite Eddie Martinez on Mother Night (1972) and you’ll hear a clear development of the rock and roll electric guitar tradition of Jimi Hendrix.
Above: “Walter,” the longtime logo for 24-7 Spyz. Courtesy of Jimi Hazel.
Thus, while many white musicians explored sonically heavier registers of rock music through hard rock–heavy metal–punk in the ’70s, so too did funk musicians of color in more syncopated, groove-oriented ways. According to oral histories, during this period in the South Bronx every public housing complex had at least one house funk band. The emergence of hip hop tends to overshadow this detail in narratives of the period.
24-7 Spyz came of age in this funky musical atmosphere of the South Bronx. Formed in 1986, the Spyz brewed an even heavier take on the funk they grew up with while mixing in thrash metal and hardcore punk alongside reggae and even polka. In this way, the Spyz united multiple traditions of heavy music, including those that had been separated largely along racial lines, while incorporating entirely unique sonic elements. They named this creative stew “heavy metal soul,” or simply “gumbo,” epitomizing the creative and eclectic approach to music our borough has long been known for—from hip hop to heavy metal.
Rick Skatore of 24-7 Spyz during a live performance, 1980s. Along with Jimi Hazel, Rick has been in the Spyz continuously since the beginning. Uptown Rumble collection, The Bronx County Archives.
Jimi Hazel and P. Fluid (Peter Forrest) of 24-7 Spyz during a live performance, 1980s. Although musically, 24-7 Spyz were their own unique thing, during their early years, they met the most acceptance in the New York hardcore community. Through this scene, Jimi met John Connelly, lead vocalist and guitarist for Nuclear Assault, who also served as the Spyz’s roadie at times. The song “John Connelly’s Theory” on Gumbo Millennium (In-Effect, 1990) reflects this relationship. Uptown Rumble collection, The Bronx County Archives.