Cast Iron Hike

Lore & Background

Cast Iron Hike formed after the breakup of Worcester hardcore band Backbone, with that group's drummer Dave Green and guitarist Chris Pupecki. The band began by playing shows on the East Coast before releasing material in the mid and late 1990s in rapid succession. Their releases included EPs on Big Wheel Recreation and Trustkill Records, as well as a full-length on Victory Records. The group split up in the winter of 1997.

After the band's dissolution, members pursued diverse paths. Guitarist Michael Gallagher went on to join Isis and to start MGR. Chris Pupecki currently plays guitar in both Doomriders and Blacktail. Dave Green became a university professor and author of When Children Kill Children: Penal Populism and Political Culture (Oxford University Press). Singer Jake Brennan continued as a solo artist and as a member/producer of Bodega Girls. Bassist Pete deGraaf has played in bands such as Villain and CLEARTHEWAY and works as a sound engineer.

Reader's Guide

Cast Iron Hike's significance lies in their brief but concentrated output during the mid-1990s post-hardcore scene. Their rapid succession of releases—two EPs, a full-length, and a split single—captured a moment in East Coast underground music before the band disbanded in 1997. While they did not achieve widespread fame, their members went on to notable projects: Michael Gallagher joined the influential band Isis and started MGR; Chris Pupecki played in Doomriders and Blacktail; Jake Brennan worked as a solo artist and with Bodega Girls; and Dave Green transitioned to academia, authoring a book on penal populism. The band's legacy is thus tied to the later achievements of its members and their place in the post-hardcore lineage of the 1990s.

Did You Know?

• The band released a full-length album titled Watch it Burn on Victory Records in 1997.
• Guitarist Michael Gallagher later joined the band Isis and started MGR.
• Drummer Dave Green became a university professor and authored a book on penal populism.