Boxed In

Movie Trailer

Pagan Babies are one of the most acclaimed Hardcore Punk bands to come out of Philadelphia. Now, years after they played their final show, they return in the form of “LAST.” This comprehensive anthology is a must-have for fans of the band and a window into the “LAST” moments of the Golden Age of Hardcore Punk.

For the first time on CD, a comprehensive collection of the band’s music is finally available. All of the band’s official releases have been re-mixed and re-mastered: NEXT LP, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION EP and compilation tracks. + unreleased tracks, alternate versions, live tracks and early rehearsal tapes and the never before released, the classic fan favorite “Dumb Cops Attacked by Squirrels.”

The “LAST” anthology also includes the DVD documentary film, “Stories of Old,” which tells the tale of the band’s members, its history and all things “Philly.” Chronicling Pagan Babies from their pre-formation era to the 2007 reunion, the “Stories of Old” documentary film takes the viewer on a trip back in time to the Philly Hardcore scene of the mid 80’s. The DVD includes tons of never-before-seen video from the band’s personal archives, new footage and accounts of the band’s history as told by its members and fans, all against the backdrop of old Philly Hardcore haunts.
On July 14th 2007, 18 years after they played together for the “LAST” time, Pagan Babies returned to the stage for the “Legends of Philly Hardcore” show. This set is captured in a multi camera shoot and presented here in its entirety. The band members may hit Philly one more time to celebrate the release of this CD/DVD. Let’s keep our fingers crossed !!

So are these “Pagan Babies” ?

Mark Pingatore, the shirtless wonder of 4 string righteousness, was the band’s manager, booking agent, accountant, driver, lawyer, record label impresario, publishing magnet, show promoter and de facto leader. Without Mark the band would never have made it out of the basement… a fact about which Mark would remind every one on a consistent basis. Besides hating his parents, Mark was a trendsetter, being the first Bass player in Hardcore Punk history to play with a thumb pick and a wireless unit. When asked why, he responded, “Chicks dig it.”

Eric Squadroni, Mohican and lead axe grinder, devoted his time in the band to a number of ventures including expanding his knowledge of music of all types, partying, developing new forms of body odor, and constantly reminding Dan that he (not Dan) was the band’s lead guitar player. Completely rejecting Hardcore music at one point, Eric went on to wallow in complete obscurity with fellow like-minded musicians, causing audiences to exclaim “who are those hippies and what is that smell?”

Bruce Boyd, Tippy the B-boy Beat Master Blaster, was stolen from his parents and sold into white slavery to the other members of the PAGAN BABIES for a Sadistic Exploits flexi disc. Aside from solid drumming, Bruce created all the artwork for the band, which, consequently, is more famous than the band’s music. After years of abuse and corruption Bruce escaped to the Left coast to find no fame or fortune as the drummer for Grotus. Suffering a complete mental and physical breakdown, Bruce now spends his days holed up in a trailer park in Moab Utah screening t-shirts and watching Monster truck rallies while eating hot dogs off of a prison tray.

Dan McGinnis, socially awkward master of the un-rhythm style, was the band’s pseudo intellectual. Dan loved to point out all the things that he read about in books and basked in the warm glow of his fellow band member’s appreciation of these factoids. It’s rumored that Dan spent his entire run in the band without actually owning a guitar. Aside from his ability to pen Hardcore Punk classics and then not remember how to play them, he served as the focal point for the other members’ hatred, disgust and ridicule.

Mike McManus, the World’s most unaffected Human Being, greatest front man of all time and punk poet laureate, commanded audiences wherever the PAGAN BABIES played. Mike’s distillation of teenage angst was unparalleled. Feeding himself on a steady diet of all things Philly, Mike currently resides in a special hyperbaric chamber kept at an atmosphere of three Scrapples, where he convenes with the spirits of Jim O’Brien, Gene Hart, John Facenda and Larry Ferrari