The Sick

San Francisco Hardcore Band

Est. 1996-2008

01

Music

4 LPs · 1 EP · demo · click a release
02

Videos

live shows & music videos

Live Shows

Treasure IslandAugust 3, 2002 · San Francisco

LivermoreMarch 29, 2002

Bottom of the HillFebruary 7, 2002 · San Francisco · pt. 1

Bottom of the HillFebruary 7, 2002 · San Francisco · pt. 2

Maritime HallSeptember 1, 2000 · San Francisco

Great American Music HallAugust 5, 2000 · San Francisco · soundbooth

Great American Music HallAugust 5, 2000 · San Francisco · cam

Paradise LoungeSeptember 26, 1999 · San Francisco

Lindee’sJuly 29, 1999

Embarcadero St.June 21, 1999 · San Francisco

Cactus ClubMay 26, 1999 · San Francisco

Transmission TheaterFebruary 20, 1999 · San Francisco

Maritime HallFebruary 9, 1999 · San Francisco

Slim’sAugust 9, 1998 · San Francisco

Slim’sAugust 9, 1998 · San Francisco · cam 2

Slim’sAugust 9, 1998 · San Francisco · cam 3

Slim’s1998 · San Francisco

Club BoomerangDecember 13, 1996 · San Francisco

Paradise LoungeJune 6, 1996 · San Francisco

Paradise LoungeJune 6, 1996 · San Francisco · cam 2

Club BoomerangMarch 16, 1996 · San Francisco

NightbreakFebruary 3, 1996 · San Francisco

Song Videos

BetrayedKilling My Hope · 2006

We WillKilling My Hope · 2006

Community RapeBetter For Who?… · 2002

ShoshinBetter For Who?… · 2002

Tunnel VisionBetter For Who?… · 2002

ResolveCode of Growth · 2000

Code of GrowthCode of Growth · 2000

Point Blank RangeCode of Growth · 2000

Impoverished YouthCode of Growth · 2000

BulletproofCode of Growth · 2000

TodayCode of Growth · 2000

Bring It OnSF Hardcore · 1999

My HouseSF Hardcore · 1999

03

Photos

924 Gilman · Maritime · Warped Tour
“The Sick” concert posters on a street in France, SF Hardcore, produced by Henry Rollins
A member of The Sick beside a “The Sick” show poster on a European street, 1999–2000 tour
The Sick live at 924 Gilman, Berkeley
The Sick at 924 Gilman, 2002
The Sick on the Vans Warped Tour, 2005
The Sick at The Pound, San Francisco
The Sick at 924 Gilman, 2005
The Sick at Maritime Hall, San Francisco
The Sick at 924 Gilman, 2001
The Sick band lineup
Warner Harrison of The Sick at the Cocodrie, San Francisco
The Sick in their rehearsal space (SF Chronicle)
The Sick performing live
The Sick, crowd at a hardcore show

The Full Archive

2,000+ photos, tap a year to dig in.

04

The Band

San Francisco hardcore · 1996–2008

San Francisco hardcore. Four LPs, one EP, a demo and an unreleased single, hundreds of shows across more than a decade and two European tours.

First show in San Francisco on February 9, 1996; last show in Oakland on November 11, 2007. Founded by bassist Warner Harrison (R.I.P.). The name came from early member Nick Lynch. Many musicians gave their time, talent and heart to this band over the years, and we’re grateful to every one of them, each left a mark on who we were.

Contact

Final lineup

  • Tony Bonillavocals
  • Steve Wrightguitar · original
  • Ian Hartleyguitar
  • Matt O’Brienbass
  • Billy McMillandrums

Alumni

  • Warner Harrisonbass · founder · R.I.P.
  • Nick Lynchfounding member · named the band, wrote several early songs
  • Rick Bakerguitar
  • Ashif Hakikguitar
  • Todd Bernsdorfdrums · original
  • Nicky Bernardidrums · longest-serving
  • Jay Michaelisdrums
  • Cory Harnguitar, later bass
  • Sam Diosdadobass
  • Morgan Delaneybass · co-wrote “Shoshin”

The Story

The Sick was a San Francisco hardcore band, fast, heavy and confrontational, with a stubborn streak of hope running through it. It was formed by musicians who had come through addiction and out the other side, and you can hear it in the songs.

It started as a demo. In 1995, Nick Lynch wrote and recorded a tape on his own, playing every instrument, and called it The Sick. A year later, bassist Warner Harrison met Nick and built a band around it, pulling in players he had gigged with before, among them guitarist Steve Wright, who became the longest-running member. They played their first San Francisco shows in 1996 with Nick out front and were well received; when Nick soon stepped away for health reasons, Tony Bonilla took over as singer and fronted the band from then on.

More than anything, The Sick were a live band. They played hundreds of shows across the Bay Area and beyond, 163 documented local gigs, enough to rank them the 12th most prolific punk band in San Francisco Bay Area history. They toured Europe twice, including a three-month run across the continent, and turned up everywhere from 924 Gilman and Maritime Hall to the 2005 Vans Warped Tour, SXSW and EAT’M.

Along the way they became the Bay Area’s go-to local opener, and some of their best nights were spent warming up the stage for punk legends: Suicidal Tendencies, Bad Brains, 999 (in Europe), Angry Samoans, Agent Orange, Dead Kennedys, Fear, D.I., Verbal Abuse, Fang, Flipper, Dr. Know, Exploited and UK Subs. They shared bills with D.R.I., H2O, Time in Malta, Hatebreed, Death Angel, Dickies, Vibrators, U.S. Bombs, Dwarves, Rich Kids on L.S.D., As I Lay Dying, Marky Ramone, Papa Roach, and even Everlast and a metal-phase Vanilla Ice, plus countless hometown shows alongside Lica Sto, Insolence, Spike 1000, STFU, La Plebe, Oppressed Logic, Powerhouse, Will Haven, ZBS and many many more.

The break that put those records out came almost by accident. The band met Joey L. of The Edge Recordz at an indoor skatepark show in Reno, a bill they were on with Lagwagon, whose van broke down so they never made it. Joey saw something in The Sick, signed them, and The Edge Recordz carried the band’s name well beyond the Bay.

The records kept coming: the Rebellion demo in 1997, then four LPs: SF Hardcore (1999), Code of Growth (2000), Better For Who?… (2002) and Killing My Hope (2006), plus the On The Fence EP in 2008. SF Hardcore was mixed by Henry Rollins at Fantasy Studios, with Rollins singing backup on Naked, and the band took Best Punk Band at the 1999 SF Weekly Wammies. Their songs kept turning up in unexpected places: Thrasher’s Hall of Meat, 411 Video Magazine, ESPN2’s X2Day and Fox Sports’ Blue Torch TV.

In May 2002 the band lost Warner Harrison, the founder, and the heart of its low end. They played a memorial show at 924 Gilman that July with every dollar going to his young daughter and, carried by an outpouring from the scene, chose to keep going in his memory. The Sick played their last show in Oakland in November 2007 and bowed out with On The Fence in 2008, more than a decade after that first night in San Francisco.

Warner Harrison of The Sick
Warner Harrison, forever missed.
In loving memory

Warner Harrison

Founding bassist · taken from us in 2002

The Sick began with Warner. He founded this band, anchored its sound, and became one of the most beloved people in San Francisco hardcore, his iconic walking bass lines under every song and the heart of every room he walked into. When we lost him in 2002 it broke something in all of us, and the love that still pours in for him here, all these years later, says everything about the man he was. Gone far too soon, never forgotten, missed every single day.

History & News

A decade of San Francisco hardcore, records, tours, press and the friends made along the way.

  1. 1995

    Nick Lynch records a solo demo called The Sick.

  2. 1996

    Warner Harrison forms the band in San Francisco; first show on February 9, 1996. Tony Bonilla soon takes over as frontman.

  3. 1997

    The Rebellion demo is recorded at DC Productions and pressed as a run of 500 cassettes, mostly handed out at shows.

  4. 1999

    SF Hardcore is recorded at Mr. Toad’s Studios and mixed by Henry Rollins at Fantasy Studios, Rollins also sings backup on Naked. The band is named Best Punk Band at the SF Weekly Wammies, and tours Europe for the first time, three months across the continent.

  5. 2000

    Code of Growth is released May 15, 2000 on The Edge Recordz, recorded at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Songs land everywhere: Tailgate in Thrasher’s Hall of Meat, Code of Growth in 411 Video Magazine, and tracks on ESPN2’s X2Day and Fox Sports’ Blue Torch TV.

  6. 2002

    Better For Who?… is recorded in April at Shark Bite Studios with Michael Rosen. In late May, founding bassist Warner Harrison passes away. The band holds a memorial show on July 20 at 924 Gilman, with all proceeds going to his young daughter, and resolves to carry on. Longtime friend and bassist Sam Diosdado of The Oozies steps in on bass for the memorial show and stays with the band for the next two years. The Sick also represent at SXSW (Austin) and EAT’M (Las Vegas).

  7. 2003

    A professional music video for Shoshin is released, The Edge Recordz hired a pro video crew to produce it, following the earlier fan-made Bring It On video shot by Tony’s friend Jean-Paul.

  8. 2004

    The band’s longest-running drummer, Nicky Bernardi, makes the move to Southern California; Billy McMillan steps in on drums and Matt O’Brien replaces Sam Diosdado on bass.

  9. 2005

    The Sick play the west-coast leg of the Vans Warped Tour on the DIY stage, which puts out a post-tour compilation CD on Smelvis Records. Across the pond, Broken Ways is featured on UK label ORG Records’ compilation Organ Radio 21.

  10. 2006

    Killing My Hope is released on November 11, 2006, recorded at Pop Smear Studios in San Rafael.

  11. 2007

    The band plays its last show in Oakland on November 11, 2007.

  12. 2008

    The On The Fence EP arrives, and The Sick retire from playing live. “We have had the time of our lives and want to thank everyone who has supported us through the years.”

With gratitude

The Edge Recordz

The Sick owes a real debt to Joey L. of The Edge Recordz. Joey gave us the critical support that helped launch the band, merchandise, a touring van, studio recording fees, and distribution, and even hired a professional video crew to produce the music video for Shoshin. Without his support and his belief in us, we would not have been nearly as successful as we were. Thank you, Joey, for everything.

Shout Outs

  • Paul F.Our first manager, booked us countless shows and got our gigs advertised in the SF Weekly.
  • Liz S.Our second manager, booked endless shows and kept us all in line through every bit of shenanigans (Liz was only 17 when she started with us).
  • Andrea & CurtisRan our merch table flawlessly for years, and came out on the road with us for the Warped Tour.
  • Franco D.The ultimate roadie and security man, loading gear, keeping us on track, and getting us through endless shows and road trips.
  • RobFor hauling endless gear in the early days.
  • EthanRoad crew, for hauling gear and keeping the show on the road.
  • Jean Paul B.Took amazing photos at our shows and made an early music video for “Bring It On.”
  • TammyWho married Steve in 2006, for helping out at the merch table and always making the best food for the crew.
  • Tomas R.From Teplice in the Czech Republic, the one person who spoke English well, he came on the road with us across Europe and made that whole tour so much fun.
  • Petr R.Our Czech tour promoter, drove us all over Europe, booked all our gigs there, and kept us fed and sheltered the whole way.

Some of the bands we played with

Across more than a decade, The Sick shared bills with hundreds of acts. A documented sampling:

10 Cents, 26 Miles Per Hour, 3 Below, 40 Grit, 401k, 46 Short, 50 Lashes, 7 Days Of Samsara, 7 Eat 9, 999, 9th Lane, A Band Called Pain, Agent Orange, Aggression, Ain't, Alien Love Syndrome, All Bets Off, Allegiance To None, Along For The Ride, American Heartbreak, Andalusia, Angerhead, Angry Inch, Angry Samoans, Animosity, Antagony, Arno Corps, As I Lay Dying, Automatic Head, Bear Hug, Beat Officers, Beauty To Ashes, Becoming, Beefcake And Chains, Betty Rage, Birdsaw, Black Bottle, Black Furies, Black Sun, Blatant Ridicule, Blue Collar Special, BMX, Bobby Joe Ebola And The Children Macnuggets, Bonecrusher, Borderwars, Born Dead, Bottom, Breath In, Brocas Helm, Broken Vision, Built, Bullyrag, Butt Trumpet, C.O.D., Cabbage, Carbox, Cheap Skate, Chritehen, Cinematic, Civil War Rust, Clarke Nova, Code 4-15, Contradictions, Counterpoint, Creeps In Exile, Creuvo, Criminal Network, Crown City Rockers, Cut Throat, Cutthrat Nine, D-face, D.I., D.R.I., Damnation A.D., Dead And Gone, Dead Kennedys, Deadly Weapons, Death Angel, Death Wish Kids, Debri, Deeds Of Flesh, Deface, Defiant Ones, Deficient, Dekapitator, Dekoiz, Delta Force, Divit, DJ Cikee, DJ Decipher, DJ No Name, Don Cikuta, Doomsday Device, Down In Flames, DR. Know, Dredge, Drip Joy, Drivint In Circles, Drone, Drunken Anti Christ, Dsrx, Dynamite, Dyslexics, E.M.B., East Bay Chasers, Eightna-quarter, El Buzzard, Empty, Enacra, Enemies Front, English Dogs, Enthroned, Envain, Erik Core, Esoteric, Exhumed, Eyesore, Fang, Farewell To Youth, Fear, Fetish, Fiction, Fighting Jacks, Fleshies, Flipper, Foreground, Fracas, Fuckwolf, Fuller, Ghostride, Ghosts Of Glory, Gun Power, Gutwrench, H.B.A., Habitual Murder, Hatebreed, Heathen, Hell Brothers, Hellcrew, Hep Si, Hirax, Hit By A Semi, Hot Box, Hot Plate, Hot Toddies, Hurting Crew, Idiots, Impaled, Infamy, Insane Poet Laureate Of Urban Decay, Insolence, Jada Morning, Jato, Jud Head, Keen, Kill Rush, Kill The Messenger, L.M.C., La Plebe, Lapp, Last Man Out, Lavish Green, Leverage, Lica Sto, Lo-fi Niessans, Los Bandos, Los Pepes, Lost Goat, LOVE=DEATH, Low Life, Ludicra, Lung Butter, Luxt, Lythic, M.I.R.V., Mack Truck, Mad At Sam, Mad Parade, Mardo, Marky Ramone And The Intruders, Metagalexxy, Method 5150, Minus, Miscreants, Morning Champ, Movement, Movies, Mummification, My Horsey, Nasci, Natasha Savage, No Gun Go, No Nothing Party, No Regrets, Nuclear Rabbit, Nui, Nuts And Bolts, Octave, Offering To The Sun, Old Granddad, Olivia Nootin John, One Man Army, Oppressed Logic, Others, Paredime Shift, Perfect Machines, Phoenix Thunderstone, Pink Swastika, Pipe Down, Plan 9, Planting Seeds, Planton Beat, Plus Gothic Dj's, Portrait Of Poverty, Pottymouth Society, Powerhouse, Pressure Point, Psycho 78, Psypheria, Puzzlefish, R3d Tap3, Raffel, Rapatron, Raze The Stray, Re:ignition, Red Phantom, Red Sunday, Retching Red, Revenant, Rich Kids On L.S.D., Rickets, Riot-a-go-go, Rock The Light, Roto Ruter, Ru36, S.T.F.U., S8ateing, Sad Boy Sinister, Sangre Amado, Say Bok Gwai, Scraping For Change, Second Class Citizens, Seeds, Severed Savior, SF Reducers, Shannon And The Clams, Shattered Screams, Shevil Kenevil, Shield Your Eyes, Shortie, Shortwave Rocket, Sickmachine, Sift, Skeptic, Sketch, Skinlab, Skribble, Slackjaw, Slender, Sloe, Sloppy Seconds, Slot Machine, Smarty, Solarcane, Solid Dollar, Soul Brains, Sourpuss, Sparrow's Point, Speakers, Spike 1000, Spiritfall, Spitkiss, Stalker Potential, Stars Are Falling, Stench, Step, Step Child, Stepchild Drone, Stiff Richards, Stigma 13, Stomach, Strychnine, Subincision, Subject Of US, Suburban Death Camp, Suburban Threat, Swarm, Sweet Nothing, Switch Blade Riot, Sworn Enemy, Tank Attack, Tear Gas Pinup, Tearing Down Standards, Terezodu, That One Guy, The Angry Amputees, The Bar Feeders, The Blottos, The Blue, The Bridge, The Criminals, The Dagons, The Daygons, The Deviates, The Dickies, The Dwarves, The Eddie Haskells, The End, The Evicted, The Exploited, The Fartz, The Flames, The Forgotten, The Fuzz, The Ghost Next Door, The Hated SG, The Hellbillys, The Hundred Acre Woods, The Infertiles, The Jack Saints, The Lincolns, The Lustkillers, The Moral Tourists, The Nice Tries, The Night Crawlers, The Oozzies, The Phenomenauts, The Program, The Red Guard, The Resistorleros, The Rivals, The Sabians, The Twots, The Vibrators, The Vida Blue, The Whoremoans, The Working Stiffs, Thought Crime, Thousand Pieces, Throat Culture, Time In Malta, Tomfoolery, Torque, Total Chaos, Totimoshi, Tragedy Andy, Tried And True, Trip Device, Tromos Theory, Trouble Maker, Two-o-nine, Tyrant, U.K. Subs, U.S. Bombs, Un I.D., Under, Unjust, Utter Bastard, Vanilla Ice, Vengence, Venus Bleeding, Verbal Abuse, Vidalia, Vile, Vincent's Ear, Wardance, Watch Them Die, Weed'o'men, Welt, What Happens Next, Whiskey Rebels, Will Haven, Wilson Gil and the Willful Sinners, Wire Graffiti, Wurkt, Year Of The Wild Cat, Youth Gone Wild, ZBS, Zefer, Zion I

A decade of shared bills, as documented by The List · bayareapunk.com.

05

Community

messages from the fans & the band

The Sick, listen

The Sick, photo
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