Rocket From the Crypt Biography

Pledging to never play a venue with a stage, singer/guitarist John Reis formed San Diego's Rocket From The Crypt in the summer of 1990 after becoming disillusioned with the hardcore punk band he was in called Pitchfork. Bassist Petey X and guitarist N.D. joined him, along with backing vocalist Elaina and drummer Sean who departed soon after their debut album, 'Paint As A Fragrance' in 1991.

Though the album caused a lot of people to take notice, a line-up change ensued; Atom Willard became the drummer, and Apollo 9, a Reis drinking buddy who played sax in high school, joined as saxophonist. After second album 'Circa: Now!' was released on Cargo Records in 1992, a major-label bidding war resulted in Rocket From The Crypt signing with Interscope Records (in addition to Reis' other band, Drive Like Jehu, which featured another former Pitchfork member, Rick Fork). Eventually, a sixth member - JC 2000 on horn - was added in 1994.

By the end of the year, the group released its most acclaimed album to date, 'Scream, Dracula, Scream'. It included the unlikely hit, 'On A Rope', which went Top 20 in the UK. 'RFTC' followed in 1998, and 'Group Sounds' hit the racks in 2001. After signing to punk label Vagrant, the band released what would be their final studio album 'Live From Camp X-Ray' in 2002. The band's members began drifting in to different projects as

Rocket moved more and more to the margins. After 16 years of playing together, Rocket Trom The Crypt played their farewell show in San Diego on Halloween 2005.