Judge formed from the ashes of Youth of Today in 1987. YOT's Ray Cappo decided to join the Hare Krishnas and Walter concentrated on Gorilla Biscuits. Former Youth of Today guitarist and drummer John "Porcell" Porcelly and Mike "Judge" Ferraro noticed that the straight edge movement was dying out and wanted to take a harder approach to the rules of the movement. When asked about the formation of the band, Ferraro said, "I just thought a harder stance was necessary and Youth of Yoday wasn't taking it." Porcelly and Ferraro recorded the legendary New York Crew 7" as a two-piece in 1988 and released it on Porcelly's Schism Records. (1st pressing hovering around $100).

• "Stay off the tracks 'cuz Judge is comin' through."

Eventually the band added pre-Supertouch Jimmy Yu and Warzone/Gorilla Biscuits drummer "Lukey" Luke Abbey to form a full version of this straight-edge powerhouse. Maximum Rock'N'Roll gave Judge a hard time for their extreme straight edge leanings, and their sound became less hardcore & more metal, but the kids flocked to the message nonetheless.

Judge switched some members around and recorded at Chung King Studios in NYC, where other metal-tinged bands of the era were recording. Rumor says that the engineer was allegedly a lazy weed smoker and Judge was unhappy with the results of the recording, all funded by Jordan Cooper's Revelation Records. Cooper allowed Judge to re-record the LP at Normandy Sound in Rhode Island, where the Cro-Mags recorded The Age of Quarrel. To recoup some on the money lost at Chung King, Judge and Revelation released 110 copies of those recordings, released as Chung King Can Suck It, which has become one of the most valuable straight edge artifacts of all time. ($3,383 in 2010!).

Eventually Judge released the actual Bringin' It Down LP in 1989, tough guy straight edgers loved it and Judge toured for another two years, releasing another 7" called There Will Be Quiet. Porcelly eventually left to join Shelter with Ray Cappo and Ferraro started an acoustic rock outfit called Mike Judge & Old Smoke. While Judge was a little too tough and metallic for me, their history and importance cannot be denied and that double hammer cover for the New York Crew 7" totally rules.