Choking Victim
Choking Victim is an American punk band from New York City that started in 1992. They mix hardcore punk with ska, a style sometimes called ska-core. The band became known for its political lyrics and bold, provocative imagery, including Satanic themes and references to a rough, homeless lifestyle. They often performed at the C-Squat on the Lower East Side.
Their only studio album, No Gods, No Managers, was recorded in one day—the day the group broke up. The album also features short clips from political thinker Michael Parenti. After the breakup in 1998, members went on to form other bands such as Leftöver Crack and INDK. Ezra Kire joined Leftöver Crack in 2001, Skwert led Public Serpents, and Sascha spent years farming in upstate New York and helped start the Icarus Project.
Choking Victim returned for a reunion show on November 11, 2000, in Tompkins Square Park, with Alec replacing Shayne on bass. They played again in 2005 for four shows and in 2006 at Tompkins Square Park with political speakers. In July 2006 they toured the Dominican Republic, while Leftöver Crack went on a European tour. In 2012, Stza formed The Choking Victim Show with the Irish ska-punk band Chewing on Tinfoil to perform Choking Victim songs in the UK, Ireland, and France. The band has continued to play sporadic concerts worldwide from 2014 to 2017, including a 2017 tour—the first in more than ten years.
Choking Victim is connected to several other groups, including Leftöver Crack, INDK, Public Serpents, Morning Glory, and Crack Rock Steady 7. They have also reformed for a few dates in the UK and Europe as The Choking Victim Show, featuring Stza, Sascha, Alec, and Ezra. The band re-formed in 2016 and has played occasional shows since.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:42 (CET).