Damage is an American Hardcore Band
from Orlando, Florida formed in the early 80s with the unique distinction of combining live drums with synthesizers to create what they described as the synthcore sound. Their discography includes the debut cassette release Tennis Shoe Politics from 1983 followed by the unnamed Polar Bears on the Beach 7" EP in 1984, three studio LPs Synthology, Jubilee O' Kindness, and Euphoria followed by a split 7" EP shared with Space Fish Records label mates Love Gods in Leisure Suits. The unusual combination of synths (no guitars) and hardcore punk rock music did not hinder Damage from touring the U.S. 80s hardcore scene headlining shows and on occasion opening for historic bands such Dead Kennedys, Adolescents, 7 Seconds, Government Issue, Battalion of Saints, SNFU, and many others outside the H.C. scene including the Flaming Lips and Alien Sex Fiend. Damage continues to record and occassionaly perform as an electronic duo.
Playing Warehouse shows in the early 80s were a blast thanks to Robin and Regina!
Damage headlining show at Electric Avenue, Orlando FL
Damage opening for New Jersey's AOD
Damage opens for Dead Kennedys in Orlando - Tyler singing, Mike on lead synth (Moog Liberation), Joe on Drums
Polar Bears on the Beach 7
Damage opening for Italian band RAW POWER
Damage opening for Dead Kennedys
Damage opens for Dead Kennedys in Orlando - one of several variations of the show flyer
Joe & Mike at DK show - Damage opens for Dead Kennedys in Orlando
Jello Biafra - Dead Kennedys Show - Orlando FL with Agitpop and Damage
Damage playing with the incredible Mad Parade and Orlando's Declared Ungovernable
Jubilee
Damage and Mighty Sphincter from Arizona. We would later play with JFA and Sun City Girls at other shows, all from Arizona.
Damage at the Cuban Club in Tampa, FL - Tyler is in the air flanked by Mike Brown (lead synth) on the left and Mike Buchanan on the right (bass synth)
The Warehouse shows were incredible. Joe was playing drums for Morning Sickness at the time, right before he came to play with Damage moving forward. All great bands.
Damage opening for punk legends the Adolescents at the Axiom in Houston, Texas. We toured with the Adolescents for a number of shows across the south. Texas, that state above Texas and a few more.
Mars Needs Tuna - Club Space Fish show at the Beach Club, Downtown Orlando. Illustration by Michael Bales of Love Gods in Leisure Suits and Space Fish Records.
Mike's original Moog Liberation still in use in 2024. Originally white, this keyboard is currently candy apple blue and has thousands of miles under its sweat soaked shoulder strap
Cover Me - Tribute to Dave Gage, Wills Pub - Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014
S.N.F.U. were an inspiring powerhouse! Damage performed with this fine Canadian hardcore band at Below Zero. We also played with another fine Canadian band, the Asexuals, but that is another story and different night.
Tim Yohannan review of Synthology in Maximum Rock N Roll
Euphoria - Damage's third LP featured the title track as well as The Robert Palmer Glam Rock Song, Itchy Wool Blanket, and Living the Lie.
Damage opens for Fugazi at the Beacham Theater
Synthology - Damage's first LP featuring such classics as Radio Shack You Suck and 10 Reasons Why I Hate Rednecks - Fast and thrashy. Recorded at Adult Motel Studio under the supervision of engineer Randy Myers.
Back cover of the Polar Bears on the Beach untitled 7
Puke napping next to a rack of gear while Damage is touring in the big blue van. Rare because he was usually driving.
Space Fish Records - SYNTHOLOGY
Damage - Left to Right: Skeeter, Chief, Tyler, Puke - Mid 80s show
Joe and Tom (from Love Gods In Leisure Suits) find a comfy nest in the big blue van while on tour. Sleeping amongst the equipment was frequent.
Tim Yohannan - not yet convinced in the early Max Rock n Roll review. We did get better equipment and he liked the next album.
Fugazi Show with Damage at the historic Beacham theater. It was St. Patricks Day and green beer was served.
Damage opened for 7 Seconds, Angry Samoans, and Flaming Lips at the famous City Gardens theater in Trenton NJ while on tour. We would play several shows with Flaming Lips but this was the best.
A weekend of hardcore mayhem in Gainesville, Florida - 2 or three days of non-stop bands.
Tyler Stans drinking a bud on his battle wagon behind Buddy, next to Cotton, Wade (from Dissent) and Denise. We toured in this beast and could heat up a can of beans on rear passenger floorboard due to a broken exhaust pipe.
Flipside of Synthology album cover
Have a Synthology and a beer
Wake Up and Smell the Fish! Split 7
Euphoria album insert from the 3rd Damage LP - 1990
Radio Shack You Suck
You've got your head up your ass and it just won't pass
Jubilee album insert
Damage opening for Dead Kennedys
Eye of the hurricane - the pit at the Dead Kennedys show in Orlando
Tyler before the show in another state of mind
Damage Skull Sticker
Jubilee O' Kindness - flipside of LP
Synthology - Reviewed in Keyboard Magazine, Oct. 1986
Mike Brown on the Realistic MG1 and Arturia Microbrute - 2014 at Will's Pub. Damage performs set at Cover Me tribute show for our friend Dave Gage.
2014 at Will's Pub. Damage performs set at Cover Me tribute show for our friend Dave Gage.
2014 at Will's Pub. Damage performs set at Cover Me tribute show for our friend Dave Gage. Joe on Drums.
2014 at Will's Pub. Damage performs set at Cover Me tribute show for our friend Dave Gage. Mike singing Jock Mentality.
Joe behind the drums. Will's Pub, Orlando at the tribute to Dave Gage
Damage at Below Zero, Downtown Orlando Night Club
Al at the merchandise table for Damage and Love Gods In Leisure Suits show
Damage's first gig with Joe on drums. He shows up in his mom's wig. It was a ramp jam or outdoor skate event.
Damage in reflections of a show window - Pictured Left to Right: Mike Brown, Joseph Livingston, Mike Buchanan
Damage passing through NYC at Grand Central - Late 80s. On tour or playing at CMJ.
Damage recording tracks for Euphoria album at Parc Studios, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Mike Brown playing the Moog Liberation in the back, Mike Buchanan playing bass synth via Korg RK100 midi controller.
Damage Synthology review in Maximum Rock N Roll by the famous and sometimes infamous Tim Yohannan (RIP)
Damage from L to R - Puke, Chief, Skeeter - early 90s configuration - possibly St. Augustine, FL
Max Rock N Roll - Florida Scene Report
Dead Kennedys Frankenchrist tour concert poster from the Orlando show.