Local Hardcore Band 'Furious Styles' Uses Cop-Killing to Sell T-Shirts
UPDATE: Another former band member disowns the shirt. Details after the jump.
A big tip of the hat to SeattleCrime.com for what they accurately titled as today's classiest story.
A local hardcore metal group didn't have the same reaction as most Seattleites to the assassination of Officer Tim Brenton. Whereas most of the city saw the murder of a cop as a good time to remember that peace officers have a very dangerous job and we should be thankful for the work they do, the charming fivesome that is Furious Styles (that'd be those fine gentleman to your right) decided now would be a good time to make money selling t-shirts.
There's no way in hell we're going to tell you how to actually buy this thing.
Witness: an alleged cop-killer glorified. That's accused murderer Christopher Monfort screenprinted behind a badge, blood and Furious Styles's clever logo. The back reads "most of my heroes don't appear on no stamp."
SeattleCrime.com tracked down comments made by Michael Torres, the group's lead singer, on a message board. And lest you think the cold-blooded killing of a cop would change his nuanced views about law enforcement, allow Mr. Torres to set you straight
Over the last week, I saw a lot of support for this dead officer, and a lot people who alledgedly hate the police putting their opinions aside in the wake of this supposed "tragedy". I've heard it all...he had a family...he has kids...etc...so spare me that bullshit. Everyone has families, many adults have children. That doesn't excuse the actions of police in general and I refuse to change my opinion on the subject. When police die, I feel that the streets are just a little bit safer. So with that being said, I'm in no way embarrassed that we made this shirt. A lot of people took a stance on the situation....now I'm taking mine.Feel an ounce of compassion for a kid who's going to grow up without a father? That's grounds for dismissal, man!
It's good to see that the ideological purity so dividing us politically isn't restricted to our nation's dominant parties. Now it's tearing apart groups of anti-authority assholes with daddy issues! Hooray for net-positive collateral damage!
UPDATE: Apparently the group broke up earlier this year. And the former members don't support the shirt they say was all Torres' idea.
"It's fucking stupid," former Furious Styles guitarist Harris Richardson told SeattleCrime.com about the shirt. "It's not like [Monfort] was a political activist. He...wanted to be a cop. He's not really standing up against cops. It's not like we're talking about Mumia or anything."
UPDATE: In an e-mail to Daily Weekly, former Furious Styles member Miles Freeborn says he has been "taking a lot of heat" over the t-shirt controversy and reiterates Richardson's point that he had nothing to do with it.
Monfort's family is also speaking out. In a statement, Monfort's mother and other relatives said they were angry when they learned about the t-shirt and "horrified" by what it glorifies. Meanwhile, another Furious Styles member has taken to defending his band in the comments below.
37 comment(s)
i don't know why i even read your stuff says:
The more I read from you, the more I think you are a complete jackass. Your snarky tone is intolerable.
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 @ 2:59PM
Andrew C says:
Snark? You call this snarky? Look at the shirt. This bands is a disgrace and their sad, vile t-shirt deserves all the negative reproach they get. You should hear my snark when I get going about this band, idiot.
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 @ 4:40PM
Andrew C says:
Caleb rules.
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 @ 4:41PM
Anonymous says:
congrats. once again the stranger has taken one side of one story and called it journalism. did anyone note that half of the band members in the photo above are no longer with the group? futhermore, none (but maybe mike)has been contacted about this story. and third, who the fuck does the stranger think they are dragging kids faces into a potenially dangerous situation without any research? what about these kids? and their families? did anyone check to see if the whole band (ex-members apparently included) were the ones to print this shirt? or was it just their lead singer who lives in california?
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 @ 10:09PM
Andrew C says:
Ahhh, this is isn't the stranger.
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 @ 10:42AM
Matt says:
This is my first time reading this, and I'd have to agree: the tone is a bit overdone and unnecessary. Its one thing to be biting, but that just comes off dumb. Don't get me wrong: I'm glad he wrote about this topic. And I agree with him. It just comes off immature. Sorry, Caleb. I do hope you take this to heart, though.
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 @ 1:00PM
Anonymous says:
Let the market sort it out. The market already sorts out hardcore music anyway, it's all s**t..
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 @ 1:24PM
The United States of America says:
They're just a bunch of bored kids from my 'burbs.
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 @ 5:37PM
Anonymous says:
4 out of 5 members in that photo are no longer in the band. Take it down please.
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 @ 8:46PM
scott says:
mr. hannan,
in your pursuit of a story you've implicated four guys who have nothing at all to do with any of this. is furious styles a "local" band because some former members live in seattle or because mr. torres lived in seattle at one point? the weekly ought to take the picture down before someone serves you guys with a civil suit.
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 @ 10:30PM
tommy t says:
i'll still listen to furious styles. menace is a sick album. if you don't think so, then you probably don't get hardcore, which is fine, stay out of our scene. don't judge it cuz you don't understand. it's a little shocking, yes, but come on... it's mike from furious. you ever been to a furious show? or read the lyrics to a song? or talked to the dude? yeah maybe it was in bad taste... but the guy says what he believes in and stands by his word.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 12:25AM
Matt S. says:
ICE AGE/FURIOUS STYLES Split 7" coming in 2010...Ya heard?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 5:45AM
Mike C says:
Sure ban guns for legal citizens everywhere so these idiots are free to kill cops and regular citizens. That sure makes a lot of sense. NOT! This sets a dangerous precedent now. It enables them to do what they want. Thanks anti-gun people. Your ignorance and fear is just going to add fuel to the fire.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 9:59AM
Mike C says:
Feel an ounce of compassion for a kid who's going to grow up without a father? That's grounds for dismissal, man!
He is a killer and needs to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. If he would of killed one of your family members you would understand but then again maybe not. Progressive doesn't mean American. That says it all.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 10:33AM
Current FS member says:
The past day has been a shit-storm for a shirt that wasn't even supposed to reach mainstream society. This shirt wasn't a silly publicity stunt and frankly we're supprised at the ammount of attention it's recieved. We've never wanted or expected mainstream success or attention. This shirt was meant to sell to a select few fans, not to be peddled off onto Seattle's teenagers at Hot-Topic. Anyone who knows Furious Styles knows our stance on police and just because an officer is actually killed doesn't mean we're going to change our tune, so to speak. It wasn't a joke then and it's not a joke now. Because of the press coverage, which was completely unexpected and misinformed, we've had alot of "friends" turn their backs on us. But at the same time, the true friends and fans we have have shown us alot of support. I'm still a member of FS, I still live in Seattle and I still support the shirt as well as all the bands statements.
To be honest I was more impressed by Christopher Monfort's actions when he destroyed those police cruisers a few days before the shooting than the shooting it's self.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 11:31AM
Fred says:
You are an idiot... You or your other idiot band members must not realize the far reach of the internet.
You took the route of something so outrageous that people couldn't resist contacting the media. Bunch of no talent hacks. Try sounding a little less like Madball.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 1:16PM
Hates Some People Sometimes says:
I don't even understand this person. He says "That doesn't excuse the actions of police in general and I refuse to change my opinion on the subject. When police die, I feel that the streets are just a little bit safer."
Sounds like someone is putting every police officer in the same category. Saying that all police are bad is like saying that all hardcore kids are indignant ass holes.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 2:09PM
Joe Kickass says:
Hey FS member,
Don't worry about getting mainstream success.
How come you didn't use your real name if you support the shirt?
Your ignorance is obvious by your terrible spelling.
“supprised” should be surprised
“ammount” should be amount
“recieved” should be received
“alot” should be a lot.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 2:13PM
Joe Kickass says:
@Hates Some People Sometimes
That’s true. When I was a 14 year old listening to Minor Threat and the Gorilla Biscuits, a Fascist was the worst thing you could be in the hardcore community. Calling all cops the same sounds a lot like fascism to me.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 2:18PM
Mike C says:
To be honest I was more impressed by Christopher Monfort's actions when he destroyed those police cruisers a few days before the shooting than the shooting it's self.
Gee you sound connected somehow with your praise for illegal activity. Maybe you should be locked up as well. Brains are for thinking. Guess you never received any.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 4:00PM
Idlechater says:
The action of this person and associated band is disgusting. I hope that you utterly fail in your message and your effort. Your worth to me and to society is Zero!
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 4:22PM
furious styles fan says:
furious styles rules! fuck the police!
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 @ 9:04PM
lavv says:
"Mike C says:
To be honest I was more impressed by Christopher Monfort's actions when he destroyed those police cruisers a few days before the shooting than the shooting it's self.
Gee you sound connected somehow with your praise for illegal activity. Maybe you should be locked up as well. Brains are for thinking. Guess you never received any."
do you realize you sound like your in 3rd grade?
Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 2:18PM
Woody says:
You can get the shirt at the eulogy records web site.
Seattle Weekly sucks balls.
Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 2:44PM
Fred says:
Woody says:
You can get the shirt at the eulogy records web site.
WRONG...
But you can buy a polo shirt with the bands logo. Show everyone how edgy you are with one of those.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 23 2009 @ 1:35PM
Someone should kill him says:
Someone should kill him
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 23 2009 @ 2:06PM
NJHC says:
Hey Current FS member, funny you say Current FS member when the band has been broken up because of the stupid lead singer you guys have/had. It was a publicity stunt and it worked. It got your terrible band out there in the open. And for a shirt that wasn't supposed to reach anyone, maybe you should check in with your brain dead lead singer who blasted that $hit on the B9 board...
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 26 2009 @ 7:23PM
Terry Bush says:
Cops are more often than not selfrightous loosers who haven't got a clue about the law they are supposed to "uphold". Many corrupt and racist cops have been uncovered in the past. Far many more of them will never be revealed for what they are, because they are in control of "the streets", as everyone who doesn't live in a suburb knows.
Maybe saluting a murder of a cop is a bit strong (since we don't know his personal story) but many people can actually understand the deeper meaning. The streets aren't safer with these crooks around.
Where can I get a t-shirt then?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 27 2009 @ 1:40PM
Blacks are the problem says:
Cops are not the problem. Guns are not the problem.
Blacks are the problem.
http://tinyurl.com/no5knk
From the article "List of 2008 homicides in Seattle" from the Seattle PI
selected from the list of the 28 Seattle homicides in 2008....
Allen Joplin, Jan. 4 -- black killed by black
De'Che Morrison, Jan. 10 -- black killed by black
Maurice "Moe" Allen Jr., Jan. 26 -- black killed by black
Degene Barecha, Jan. 30 -- black killed by black
Perry Henderson, Feb. 6 -- black killed by black
Stephan Dwaine Stewart, April 2 -- black killed by black
Eldora Earlycutt, July 4 -- black killed by black
James Paroline, July 10 -- white killed by black
Troy Peters, July 22 -- black killed by black
Pierre Lapoint, Aug. 5 -- black killed by black
Jane Kariuki, Oct. 16 -- woman of unknown race killed by black man named Christel D. Murphy
Quincy S. Coleman, Oct. 31 -- black killed by black
Edward McMichael, the "Tuba Man", Nov. 3 -- white killed by multiple blacks
Nathaniel Lee Thomas, Nov. 23 -- black killed by black
So by my count blacks (8% of Seattle) were the killers in at least half (that's at least 50%) of the murders in the Seattle area in 2008. At least five of the other murderers were latinos.
The numbers are actually worse for 2009 and approach the 85% mark.
Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 28 2009 @ 8:04AM
Fred says:
Looks like they found someone to carry the shirt.
http://www.reigncity.bigcartel.com/
Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 28 2009 @ 10:12AM
Jane says:
"Over the last week, I saw a lot of support for this dead officer, and a lot people who alledgedly hate the police putting their opinions aside in the wake of this supposed "tragedy". I've heard it all...he had a family...he has kids...etc...so spare me that bullshit. Everyone has families, many adults have children. That doesn't excuse the actions of police in general and I refuse to change my opinion on the subject. When police die, I feel that the streets are just a little bit safer. So with that being said, I'm in no way embarrassed that we made this shirt. A lot of people took a stance on the situation....now I'm taking mine."
How about you wear that shirt around town, or to one of the local night clubs. Give it 15 minutes, at most, and you'll be begging the same police your were just saying "Fuck the police" about to save you. The sad part is they probably would.
Lets see you take your stance... PLEASE?!
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 10:16PM
Sad Angry Fools says:
I am a metal fan. I follow all genres including hardcore. We may not like what this band has to say but because of the 1st amendment they are entitled to their opinion. The shirt offends me. I think Mike is a dick for printing it. I am allowed to have that opinion and bitch about it on the internet.
I am sick of all these pussies saying their going to kick these guy's asses if they see them... It's wonderful when the anonymity if the internet protects you from your Mercer Island homes. Stop acting tough, you look like babies.
The shirt = fail. But to threaten violence over an opinion (no matter how offensive) is silly and only reiterates their alienation from the society they to desperately avoid.
One more thing please stop lumping all hardcore fans into an ignorant asshole category. I pay taxes. I like cops. I went to college. I dig hardcore. Oh, and they think the music you listen to is shit too...
Posted On: Tuesday, Dec. 1 2009 @ 1:00AM
NyaShy says:
Dear Author blogs.seattleweekly.com !
I suggest you to try to look in google.com, and you will find there all answers.
Posted On: Thursday, Dec. 3 2009 @ 7:58PM
StewartIII says:
Michelle Malkin: The war on cops
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/12/04/the-war-on-cops/
Posted On: Friday, Dec. 4 2009 @ 7:06AM
xerocky says:
" It's not like we're talking about Mumia or anything."
Yeah well, see. I think he should be put to death.
Posted On: Friday, Dec. 4 2009 @ 9:35AM
Fuck all pigs and their families... says:
Too be sure this band sucks; however, I wholeheartedly embrace, condone and support their message that a good cop is a dead cop. I laugh heartily and boisterously every time I hear of a cop dying on the "job." Moreover, I laugh harder and louder when I think of his widowed wife and orphaned children; collateral damage.
Posted On: Monday, Dec. 7 2009 @ 4:54PM
jarod says:
this band is the scum of the earth
Posted On: Wednesday, Feb. 3 2010 @ 1:45PM