In recent weeks, long-lost Massachusetts hardcore punk band The Proletariat — who separated themselves from the scene’s sweaty pack in the early 1980s with a sound and style maybe better described as post-punk — started surfacing in our posts, first regarding Newbury Comics’ reissue of essential local compilation This Is Boston Not L.A., and then in the video gallery of old rock club The Channel being recognized by General Electric.
This afternoon, The Proletariat have made some news of their own, as ONCE Ballroom announced they’ll be playing the Somerville club on November 3. There’s some activity on the group’s Facebook page as well, including a note that says this: “Soma Holiday vinyl reissue and shows coming this fall.”
Soma Holiday is the band’s 1983 debut, which arrived two years before second and final LP Indifference. The Proletariat Facebook page also lists its active members as Richard Brown, Peter Bevilacqua, Frank Michaels (aka Frank DeMello), and Tom McNight.
After a 33 year hiatus, legendary Boston punk rock band The Proletariat is back! Come join us on Friday 11/3! https://t.co/Ul4eVRot5j
— ONCEsomerville (@ONCEsomerville) August 12, 2016
As we await for info, listen to Indifference below, and check out this 2012 piece by souciant.com, which lists The Proletariat as one of five lost “Pioneers of Post-Punk”.