The Templars (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Templars


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Long Island, New York
Genre = Oi!
Years_active = 1991–
Label = Various
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

The Templars are an Oi! band formed in Long Island, New York in April 1991.

Originally comprised of black and white skinhead members, their musical influences include Oi!, punk, glam rock, and rock and roll. They have tended to purposely use low-quality recording techniques (their Acre Studios is a garage). Side projects include Stamford Bridge, The Butchers, Wodnes Thegnas, and Tartan Mushroom.

The band's name comes from an ancient order of Christian militants called the Knights Templar. Band members have mined the films of Amando de Ossorio, a Spanish cult filmmaker best known for his "Blind Dead" series. This series, which started with "La noche del terror ciego" (1971), is based on the concept that the scorned Templars have returned from the dead with their eyes burned out, in order to take revenge. The Templars' focus on history is largely informed by singer Carl's historical studies and interests in Viking, Scandinavian, and Middle Ages history.

A Templars album cover was recently featured on a History Channel documentary about the Knight's Templar. The narrator states that the legacy of the medieval organization has influenced such varied aspects of modern society as film, literature and "hardcore punk music."

Founding Members

*Carl Templar (Carl Fritscher) - guitar & vocals
*Phil Templar (Phil Rigaud) - drums
*Don Templar (Don Gurle) - bass & vocals

Other Members

*Perry Hardy - Bassist
*Chet Knight - Former Guitarist
*Matt Katz - Former bassist
*Chris White- Guitarist

Note: The band recognizes Perry Hardy as their full-time bassist and Chris White as full-time guitarist, even though they do not record on the albums (with the exception of Perry on two albums). The band currently uses a lineup of 4 for live shows, with a second guitar player, but still usually records as only a 2-piece (with Carl playing all bass and guitar parts, as well as vocals with Phil on drums).

Partial discography

Albums

*The Return of Jacques DeMolay - 1994 - Dim Records
*Phase II - 1997 - Dim Records Germany/Vulture Rock
*Omne Datum Optimum - 1999 - GMM Records
*Horns of Hattin - 2001 - GMM Records
*Outremer 2005 - GMM Records

plit 12"s

*Super Yobs Showdown (split with Red Alert) - 1994 - Vulture Rock
*Split with The Glory Stompers - 1996 - Knockout Records

7"s

*The Poor Knights of Acre - 1993 - Sonic Aggression
*Clockwork Orange Horrorshow (double 7") - 1995 - Vulture Rock
*La noche de los gaviotas(sic) (aka Night of the Seagulls) - 1997 - Headache Records (Note: correct Spanish would be Las gaviotas)
*Milites Templi - 2000 - TKO/Templecombe
*The French Connection - 2004 - Bords de Seine
*Out of the Darkness - 2008 - TKO/Templecombe

EPs

*Beauséant (mini CD)- 1994 - Dim Records
*1118-1312 (CD/10") - 1997 - Do A Runner/Go-Kart
*I.S.P. Connection (with Stomper 98 and Vortex) - DSS/Cargo

plit 7"s

*Powerfist (split with Oxblood) - 1994 - Vulture Rock
*split with 90 Proof - 1996 - 90 Proof Records
*split with Bottom of the Barrel - 1997 - Oink! Records
*split with Lower Class Brats - 199? - TKO Records
*split with Wodnes Thegnas - Haunted Town Records
*split with Gundog - 1999 - New Blood
*Ivano + The Templars - 1999 - Durango 95/Pinhead Generation
*We Stick Together (split with Stomper 98) -1999 - DSS Records
*split with P38 -2000
*split with Devilskins - 200? - Oi!Strike
*Battle for the Airwaves Vol 2 (split with Workin Stiffs, The Bodies, The Wretched Ones) - 200? -Radio Records
*split with Crashed Out - 2005 - TKO/Templecombe

Compilation Appearances

*Anti-Disco League - Templecombe/TKO
*Oi! It's a World Invasion! Vol. 1 - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog
*Oi! This is Dynamite! - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog
*Step on a Crack - Sound Views/Go-Kart
*Oi! It's a World Invasion! Vol. 2 - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog
*Oi! The Gathering - Sta-Prest
*Backstreets of American Oi! - Sta-Prest
*Oi Against Racism - Havin' A Laugh
*Super Yobs Showdown Vol. 1 - Vulture Rock
*US of Oi Vol. 2 - GMM
*Urban Soldiers: Tribute to the Oppressed - DSS/Longshot

Note: Many exclusive tracks on 7"s or compilations have been later compiled on CD (such as Milites Templi) or certain releases reissued on different labels and/or formats (such as Clockwork Orange Horrorshow). Templars completists often struggle to keep up.

External links

* [http://www.thetemplars.com/ The Templars website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thetemplars The Templars on Myspace]
* [http://underthevolcano.net/article.php?content=issue88/f_templars.html/ The Templars Interview In Under the Volcano Fanzine]
* [http://www.myspace.com/specialpeoplequalityrecords SPQR on Myspace (Phil's skinhead reggae DJ nights)]
* [http://www.myspace.com/hammersmithnyc Carl's clothing company Hammersmith]
* [http://www.myspace.com/waterlooservices Phil's t-shirt company Waterloo Services]