# The World/Inferno Friendship Society

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 in May 2021.

## 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 |
| 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 |
| Brendan Furey | Electric guitar | 2018–2021 | Senator Horse, Future Ghosts, Off Target, Teorema |
| 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 |
Other Personnel :
| Name | Instrument(s) | Years Active | Other groups |
| Ellie Goodman | Violin | 2020–2021 | Speakeasy Streets, Teorema |
| Jonny Zuckerman (Jonny Zeee) | Guitar | 2019–2020 | Powdermaker, Kung Fury, The Shivering Brigade, Res Novae |
| Matthew Landis | Keyboards | 2008–2015, 2017–2019 | Minor Arcana, Poison Street, Teorema |
| Benjamin Reichman | Trumpet, Guitar | 2017–2019 | Glowing-Eyed Friends, Future Ghosts |
| Francis Morin | Guitar | 2010–2018 | Voltaire, Serpenteens, Res Novae, Black Rose Burning |
| Sandra Malak | Bass, Vocals | 2006–2019 | Leftöver 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 |
| 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 |
| Lucky Strano | Guitar | 1996–2010, 2019 | Morning Glory, Sewage, Devastation Wagon, Banner of Hope |
| Maura Corrigan | Alto saxophone | 1998–2010, 2019 | Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, Mod Alpert |
| 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 |
| Franz Nicolay | Accordion, piano, backing vocals | 2001–2008, 2010–2011, 2019 | Guignol, The Hold Steady, Anti-Social Music, Against Me!, Voltaire |
| Yula Beeri | Electric bass, backing vocals | 1999–2006, 2019 | Nanuchka, Star Fucking Hipsters, Yula & the eXtended Family |
| Karen Kanan Correa | Bass, backing vocals, viola | 2005–2006 | Demander |
| 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 |
| Kevin Corzett | Tenor saxophone | 2007–2008 | 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 People |
| 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 | Actor, Bag of Nothing | 1996-2021 | Syndicate of Human Image Traffickers, The Wolfboy of Rego Park |
| Jon Gilch | Drums | | Sticks and Stones |

## 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"