The Strike

In 1993, brothers Chad Anderson on guitar and vocals along with Chris on drums launched the Strike in Minneapolis, Minnesota, aiming to revive the spirit of early 1977 Brit-punk fused with reggae and mod elements. The duo espoused red politics, support for organized labor unions, and an affinity for Vespa scooters before bassist Kris Adams and second guitarist Micah Garlich-Miller completed the lineup. As a quartet the group built a regional audience across the Midwest, prompting Chicago’s Johann’s Face Records to issue the debut single “Danger”/“Take Action” in 1995. That release crystallized the band’s early 1977 Brit-punk and pronounced mod leanings, echoing the Jam while earning underground notice and critical praise. Following a split single and a brief East Coast tour alongside the Dillinger Four, Johann’s Face reissued the debut album A Conscience Left to Struggle with Pockets Full of Rust in 1996. Its compact, rhythm-brigade drive and working-class anthem resonated globally. The band pared to a trio when Micah stayed behind in Minnesota during the 1997 move to Chicago, where Chad, Chris, and Kris integrated themselves through steady appearances at local bars, clubs, and scooter rallies. Victory Records then put out the second album, Shots Heard ’Round the World, in 1999.