The Krays

Not to be confused with the sharply dressed twin British gangsters of the same name, the Krays emerged from the New York City punk scene during the mid-1990s. They stayed resolutely underground and hardcore even as West Coast contemporaries pursued major-label deals and MTV exposure. Lacking studio polish or any meaningful recording budget, the band stayed true to its punk origins and earned comparisons to Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All. Rejecting catchy choruses and confessional teen lyrics in favor of raw street-life stories delivered at breakneck speeds over loud, slashing guitars, the Krays forged a strong connection with disaffected young listeners. Fronted by Jon Rosado, known to fans as Johnny Kray, the group formed in Brooklyn, NY, in 1994. Drawing inspiration from classic American and British punk acts, the Krays belonged to a modest East Coast oi! community. Their first release, Inside Warfare, arrived in 1998. Following 2000’s A Battle for the Truth, the band joined TKO Records and issued the well-received A Time for Action in 2002. That year Johnny Kray also contributed drums to Roger Miret & the Disasters, the project led by Agnostic Front’s Roger Miret.