The World/Inferno Friendship Society (also referred to as World Inferno, or Inferno) was an American band from Brooklyn, New York. Its style merged punk, soul, klezmer and jazz, while its collective membership featured horns, piano and guitar and had a membership of about 40 players, of whom only about seven to ten active members usually performed at a time. The group was led by singer Jack Terricloth, who was the only constant during the group's history. Terricloth was known for his pointed commentary during shows; his monologues touched on politics and his transformation from the "old school."

Its lyrics often concerned historical or biographical subjects, such as Weimar-era Germany, Peter Lorre, Jeffrey Lee Pierce of the Gun Club, Paul Robeson, Leni Riefenstahl, Dante Alighieri, Philip K. Dick, and Jonathan Fire*Eater.

Terricloth died on May 12th 2021, effectively ending the band Terricloth's sister Lisa Ventantonio and band cofounder Scott Hollingsworth founded The Jack Terricloth Foundation in 2022 that have produced multiple events and media, including the tribute album Endless Possibilities: A Tribute to Jack Terricloth (featuring artists and collaborators such as Will Wood, Worriers, The Slackers, My Favorite, Ted Leo, The Bouncing Souls, Catbite, Jeff Rosenstock, and more) since his passing. Surviving members of the Inferno's 'Heritage Lineup' (spanning 2001-2005) have since formed and recorded under the name Just the Best Party.

Hallowmas The World/Inferno Friendship Society's annual Halloween show, Hallowmas, was its most-anticipated performance of the year. The event was known for its elaborate planning and surprises. Past Hallowmases have included a burning effigy of Mr. Terricloth constructed and set alight by a large, caustic cat; an ethereal string quartet performing throughout the evening in the rear of the hall; circus performances and fire breathing by the Odd Child Uprising troupe and a cadaverous marching band materializing on stage for the finale, "Pumpkin Time". The song (performed only at Hallowmas shows) includes street rallies, and references The Great Pumpkin from the Peanuts comic strip.

Members

Name Instrument(s) Years Other groups Jack Terricloth Lead vocals, misc. instruments 1996–2021 Sticks and Stones, P.E.D.Scott Hollingsworth Keyboards, bass, programming, producer, engineer 1996–1999, 2012–2020 Sticks and Stones Aaron Hammes Baritone saxophone, guitar, vocals 2012–2021 The Del Moroccos, Deal's Gone Bad, The Stranger, Res Novae, Roselit Bone Rafael Calderon Trumpet 2014–2021 The Bandulos, Rising Sun Gang, DYT, Cause and the Effects Jeffrey Young Violin 2014–2020 thingNY, Valerie Kuehne and the Wasps Nests Gina Marie Rodriguez Electric bass, backing vocals April–May 2005, 2018–2021 Moisturizer, Madam Robot and the Lust Brigade, Telemeres Brendan Furey Electric guitar 2018–2021 Senator Horse, Future Ghosts, Off Target, Teorema, Vice Trip Felipe Torres Drums 2018–2021 Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Zire's War, Reagan Youth, The Monkees, The Davy Jones Band, Res Novae Matt Dallow Accordion, keyboards, theremin 2018–2021 Amour Obscur, Vic Thrill, Dead Man's Terminal, The Pendulum Swings, The Trummytones, Space Robot Scientists, Telemeres

+ Other Personnel Name Instrument(s) Years active Other groupsEllie GoodmanViolin2020–2021Speakeasy Streets, TeoremaJonny Zuckerman (Jonny Zeee)Guitar2019–2020Powdermaker, Kung Fury, The Shivering Brigade, Res NovaeMatthew LandisKeyboards2008–2015, 2017–2019Minor Arcana, Poison Street, Teorema, Vice TripBenjamin ReichmanTrumpet, guitar2017–2019Glowing-Eyed Friends, Future GhostsFrancis MorinGuitar2010–2018Voltaire, Serpenteens, Res Novae, Black Rose BurningSandra MalakBass, vocals2006–2019Leftöver Crack, The Working Mothers, SHLSHKD, Twitcher, Elegant Everyone Mora Precarious/Jess Townsend Drums 2010–2018 Parlour Bells, Ketman, Trabants Peter Hess Tenor saxophone, clarinet, percussion 1998–2011, 2013–2014, 2019 Guignol, Slavic Soul Party, Anti-Social Music, Balkan Beat Box, Capital M, The Peter Hess Quartet, Asphalt Orchestra, Just the Best Party Rebecca Schlappich Violin 2011–2015, 2019 Kiss Kiss, Mariachi El Bronx, River City Extension, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Leslie Wacker Alto saxophone 2010–2012 Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band Ken Thomson Baritone saxophone, clarinet 2005–2010 Gutbucket, Asphalt Orchestra, Anti-Social Music, Signal Raja Azar Piano, backing vocals 2006–2010 Jollyship the Whiz-Bang Benjamin Kotch Drums 1997–2007, 2010, 2019 Eve's Plum, Just The Best Party Lucky Strano Guitar 1996–2010, 2019 Morning Glory, Sewage, Devastation Wagon, Banner of Hope, Just the Best Party Maura Corrigan Alto saxophone 1998–2010, 2019 Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, Mod Alpert, Just the Best Party Brian Viglione Drums 2008–2009, 2018, 2019 The Dresden Dolls, Nine Inch Nails, HUMANWINE, Voltaire, Violent Femmes, Morning Glory Kevin Raczka Drums 2007–2008 Jollyship The Whiz-Bang, Hungry March Band Ara Babajian Drums 2007 Leftöver Crack, The Slackers, Star Fucking Hipsters Semra Ercin Percussion, bells, backing vocals 1996–2008, 2019 The Working Mothers, Chandeliers, kiss Slash Crooked Smile, Casa de Chihuahua, Kid Casanova, Just the Best Party Franz Nicolay Accordion, piano, backing vocals 2001–2008, 2010–2011, 2019 Guignol, The Hold Steady, Anti-Social Music, Against Me!, Voltaire, Just the Best Party Yula Beeri Electric bass, backing vocals 1999–2006, 2019 Nanuchka, Star Fucking Hipsters, Yula & the eXtended FamilyYula & The Extended Family Accessed 2011-11-13., Y&I, Just the Best Party Karen Kanan Correa Bass, backing vocals, viola 2005–2006 DemanderDemander Retrieved 2011-11-13. Erik Proft Shouts 2007 Planned Collapse, Kama Rupa, Missing Foundation Steve Paelet Electric bass 2002 Dan Bailey Baritone saxophone 1998–2005, 2019 Milk Money, The Grown-Ups, The Panic, The Maspeth Holders, Just the Best Party Kevin Corzett Tenor saxophone 2007–2009 Reverend Glasseye, Ketman, Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys, Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band John Moore Baritone saxophone 1997–1998 Brian Pearl Piano 2000–2001 Matt Pond PA Ms. Xtal Chaos Tuba 1996–1998 Detroit Rios Percussion 1997–1998 Stephe Polier Tenor saxophone 1997–1999 Geoff Blythe Tenor saxophone 1999 Dexys Midnight Runners, The Bureau, Black 47, The TKO Horns Sam Burns Tenor saxophone 1999–2000 Rio Glenn (ABC No Rio) Backing vocals 1999–2000 Kika Von Kluck Backing vocals 1997–1998 Sioux Kovax Backing vocals 1996–1997 (graphics, 1994–2003) Mike Wagner Trombone 1999 Antibalas, King Changó, Moshiach Oi! Klaus Schank Trombone 1998 Scrapy Lauren Black Trumpet 1997–1999 Kenn Firpo Rent Explosion, 1,000 Pounds of PeopleKen Firpo Rent Explosion Retrieved 2011-11-13. David Patrikios Marimba, banjo 1997–1999 Serpico, Milhouse, Greensleep, The Realistics, The Flying Aces Chris Leo Trombone 1997 The Van Pelt, The Sin Eaters, The Lapse, Native Nod Dan Neustadt Piano, backing vocals The Hold Steady Jeffrey Wengrofsky Cabaret Host, Funeral Director, Actor, Bag of Nothing 1996–2021 Syndicate of Human Image Traffickers Jon Gilch Drums Sticks and StonesJon Gilch Retrieved 2011-11-13.

Discography Albums The True Story of the Bridgewater Astral League – 1997 Just the Best Party – 2002 Red-Eyed Soul – 2006 Addicted to Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's Twentieth Century – 2007 The Anarchy and the Ecstasy – 2011 This Packed Funeral – 2014 All Borders Are Porous to Cats – 2020

Live/compilation albums East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today! (compilation) – 2000 Hallowmas: Live at Northsix – 2003 Valhalla, Definitely (compilation) – 2023

EPs International Smashism! – 2001 Speak of Brave Men – 2004 Me v. Angry Mob – 2005 Vox Inferne – 2010 Maps, Saints & Just This Side of Way Too Much (live, 2 songs from The Anarchy and the Ectasy) – 2012 Turnstile Comix #2 (three-song EP released with a comic book) – 2013

Singles "Tattoos Fade" b/w "Nothing You Begin" (1994), Blue Ghost Records ("Tattoos Fade" was re-released on the East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today! compilation) "The Models and the Mannequins" b/w "Glamour Ghouls" (1996), Gern Blandsten Records (both re-released on the East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today! compilation) "Our Candidate" b/w "All of California and Everyone Who Lives There Stinks" (1996), Gern Blandsten (both re-released on the East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today! compilation) "Pumpkin Time" b/w "Ich Errinere Mich an Weimar" (1999), Gern Blandsten (both re-released on the East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today! compilation) "I Wouldn't Want to Live in a World Without Grudges" b/w "All the World Is a Stage (Dive)" (2000), X-Mist Records (both re-recorded for Just the Best Party) "Hallowmas 2010" (2010), Chunksaah Records (7" disc distributed at Hallowmas 2010, featuring "Canonize Philip K. Dick, OK") "This Packed Funeral" (2013) "Freedom Is a Wilderness Made for You and Me" (2019) "All I Can Do to Help You with Your Nightmares Is Keep You Up Late" (2019)

Unreleased demos A Demonstrational Introduction to the Astral Plane – 1996–1997 Powder Waves Goodbye Sessions – 2000 A Lexicon of Friends & Enemies – 2004 The New Americana Demos – 2008 3 Ring Brain and a Circus Heart – 2010

Other appearances CMJ New Music April 1997 - compilation with CMJ magazine, featuring "Our Candidate" Achtung Autobahn (2000) - benefit compilation featuring "Peter Lorre" Against Police Injustice (2003) - compilation featuring "Secret Service Freedom Fighting USA" Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 (2004) - compilation featuring "The Expatriate Act" Fuck World Trade (2004) - album by Leftöver Crack with "Soon We'll Be Dead" Go-Kart vs. The Corporate Giant 4 (2006) - compilation featuring a live version of "Tattoos Fade" Hugs for Chelsea (2017) - compilation featuring "Freedom Is a Wilderness"

References

External links

The World/Inferno Friendship Society's myspace Review of "Red-Eyed Soul" on PunkNews.org Interview with World/Inferno Friendship Society on Twilight Vision TV World Inferno In The Studio 2009 The World/Inferno Friendship Society at BandToBand.com