108 to Play Hellfest 2005

Vic DiCara wrote the first 108 EP in October of 1991 and headed into the studio with Zach Eller (of Blue Tip and Worlds Collide) on drums to record their debut EP, Holyname.

Nearing completion of the recording, Rob Fish joined the band and contributed to the vocal tracks.

Rob soon quit the band and formed Resurrection. Vic took over again on the mic and got Tony Valladerez on Bass and Norm Arenas (of Texas is the Reason) on Second Guitar. They played a few local shows, but Vic soon decided that if he was going to be a monk he might as well go all the way: he broke up the band and headed for India.

However, Vic's Krishna mentor would not to let him become a spiritual hermit, and 108 dutifully reformed in 1993 with Kate Reddy replacing Norm on Second Guitar, Chris Daly (of Jets To Brazil) replacing Zach on Drums. Rob Fish returned to take over the Vocals. They immediatly set out on a US Tour with Shelter.

At the end of this tour Vic (now known by his Krishna name: "Vraja Kishor das"), Rob, and Tony took up residence in a small showerless storefront on the Lower East Side of Manhattan (a historic site for Hare Krishnas) a few blocks away from Don Fury's studio (a historic site for New York Hardcore), where they recorded their first LP, "Songs of Separation," in the New York Winter of 1993.

Just a little while after that, Franklin Rhi replaced Tony on bass, and played a bunch of US shows with the band. Towards the end of 1994, Franklin was replaced by the lovable Tim Cohen ("Trivikrama Dasa").

108 embarked on a World Tour (with Refused as their supporting act in Europe). Lenny du Canada had replaced Chris Daly on drums for this tour.

By 1995, after getting a full page photo in Spin magazine, Vic managed to convince his mentor that he should stop doing music and concentrate on being a monk. 108 agreed to break up after one more recording session and one more world tour.

In 1996, Tim ("Trivikrama Dasa"), Vic ("Vraja Kishor das"), Rob ("Rasaraja Dasa,") and Lenny went into Brain McTernan's Salad Days studio in Boston and began their final recording session - but Matt Cross (of Orange 9mm) took over on drums after Lenny suddenly, mysteriously, and permanently dissapeared.

108 recorded "Threefold Misery" and "Curse of Instinct" in time for their final European tour. Dan Horneker played Second Guitar and Mike Paradise played Drums on this tour.

Indie film-maker Evan Jacobs documented this tour and later released it on Anhedenia Films as a documentary video entitled "108: The Final Tour." A show in Germany was also recorded and later released as a live album entitled "One Path For Me Through Destiny."

108 called it quits in August of 1996, playing their last show at CBGB's.

Band Members

Vic DiCara - The only person to be in the band from start to finish. Except for "Curse of Instinct" on the final CD - Vic wrote every song, every lyric - including almost all of the Drums, Bass, and Vocals.

Rob Fish - Rob is the only person besides Vic to appear on every 108 record. His characteristic screams, grunts, and grimly serious countenance became an essential part of the 108 experience.

Trivikram - Triv started playing bass in 108 after he and Vic met in India. He recorded on Threefold Misery, Curse of Instinct, and on the Live record. Triv brought an amazing amount of creativity to the band and played his bass through all kinds of footpedals and with all sorts of wierdness abounding. He also brought a strong dose of much needed light-spirits.

Chris Daly - Daly played drums in 108 during the "Songs of Separation" era. He was the only steady drums the band ever had. A very, very cool "dude".

Other singers: Besides Rob, 108 started out with a Hare Krishna devotee named "Vedic Jay" on vocals. Jay went in to record on Holyname - but Vic unceremoniously booted him during the recordings. That's when Rob stepped in. Shortly after the recording was done, Rob quit the band for a while, and Vic took over on Vocals.

Other guitarists: At a few points in time, 108 was a 5 piece - operating with duel guitars. The most memorable second guiarist for the band was "Kate 08" - Kate Reddy. She played during the Songs of Sep. era. Before Kate, Norm Arenas played a few shows with the band during the Holyname era. After Kate, Dan Horneker played during the final Threefold Misery tours. Neither Kate nor Norm nor Dan played guitar on any records, though Kate leant some great backing vocals to Songs of Separation.

Other bassists: The first bass player was Antonio Valladarez - who helped form the band with Vic, and who shredded the four strings through the Holyname and the first half of the Songs of Separation era. Interestingly, though, Tony did not record on the Holyname EP. Instead Ekendra Dasa Shelter's drummer at the time, did the bass work - if memory serves. Franklin Rhi replaced Tony during the second half of that era, though neither he nor Tony recorded on any albums (Vic played bass on Songs of Separation).

Other drummers: Zach Elher played for a short time during the Holyname era. He was replaced by Chris Daly, who was later replaced by a revolving door of drummers including a guy from Canada named "Lenny", Matt Cross from Orange 9mm (he recorded on Threefold and Curse after Lenny disappeared in the middle of the sessions). The final drummer in 108 was Mike Paradise who played the final US and European tours.