Hammer Damage

Hammer Damage
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Origin	Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Punk rock
Years active	1978–1984
Labels
Members	Dave Zagar ("Donny Damage"); Michael Hammer; Scott Winkler; George Cabaniss; Bad Bob Basone; Ray Wolf; Kevin Mullins; Dave Ihmels; Alison Berger; Ig Morningstar
Associated acts	Rubber City Rebels; Dead Boys
Website

Hammer Damage was an American punk rock band from Akron, Ohio, that performed from 1978 until 1984.<ref> Hammer Damage, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

</ref> Active in the so-called "Akron sound" scene, they built a strong regional following and later gained renewed attention through compilation appearances and the PBS documentary If You're Not Dead, Play.<ref> If You're Not Dead, Play!!, Western Reserve PBS, 2005. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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Career

Hammer Damage was founded in 1978 by drummer Michael Hammer and guitarist Dave Zagar (a.k.a. Donny Damage) after their split from the Rubber City Rebels.<ref> Hammer Damage, Buckeye Beat. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

</ref> The original line-up included George Cabaniss on guitar and Scott "Butch" Winkler on bass, with Damage on guitar and Hammer on drums.<ref> Hammer Damage, Buckeye Beat. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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The band quickly built a strong following in the Akron–Kent scene and also played regularly in Cleveland, Columbus, Kent, and Youngstown.<ref> Hammer Damage, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

</ref> They opened for acts such as the B-52’s and Public Image Ltd. at the Cleveland Agora, and played several shows in New York with the Dead Boys.<ref> Exploring Akron's Early Punk Scene, The Devil Strip, 2015. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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Hammer Damage released independent singles and appeared on compilation albums of Ohio bands. After extended trips to New York and Los Angeles and several line-up changes, the band fizzled out around 1984.<ref> Hammer Damage, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

</ref> Their song "Noise Pollution" appeared on the Bowling Balls II compilation on Clone Records and later on other archival punk releases.<ref> Ohio punk discography – compilations, Collectorscum.com, 2002. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

</ref><ref> Various – Bowling Balls II, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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Hammer Damage was one of three bands (along with Chi-Pig and Unit 5) profiled in the 2005 PBS documentary If You're Not Dead, Play, which focused on the second wave of Akron punk and garage bands.<ref> If You're Not Dead, Play, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

</ref> Their song "Laugh" was later featured on the compilation Punk 45: Burn Rubber City, Burn! Akron, Ohio: Punk and the Decline of the Mid-West 1975–80 and used in the television series Mr. Mercedes.<ref> Punk 45: Burn Rubber City, Burn!, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

</ref><ref> Hammer Damage, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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2010 reunion

In 2010, Hammer, Zagar, Cabaniss, Winkler, and Kal Mullens reunited Hammer Damage for live performances. They played at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland in April and at the Tangier in Akron in May, revisiting material from the original late-1970s and early-1980s era.<ref> Hammer Drops on Fans, Cleveland Scene, 2006. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

</ref><ref> Hammer Damage, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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Members

Original lineup

• Dave Zagar ("Donny Damage") – vocals, guitar<ref>

Hammer Damage, Buckeye Beat. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• Michael Hammer – drums<ref>

Hammer Damage, Buckeye Beat. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• Scott Winkler – bass<ref>

Hammer Damage, Buckeye Beat. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• George Cabaniss – guitar (left in 1979 to join the Dead Boys)<ref>

Hammer Damage, Buckeye Beat. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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Later members

• Bad Bob Basone – bass<ref>

Hammer Damage, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• Ray Wolf – bass<ref>

Hammer Damage – Credits, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• Kevin Mullins – guitar<ref>

Hammer Damage, Buckeye Beat. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• Dave Ihmels ("Dave Illinois" / "Hollywood Illinois") – guitar (joined 1979)<ref>

Hammer Damage, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• Alison Berger – guitar<ref>

Hammer Damage – Credits, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• Iggy Morningstar – guitar<ref>

Hammer Damage – Credits, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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Discography

Singles

• "Automatic Lips" / "Laugh" – 7″ single, 1979<ref>

Hammer Damage – Automatic Lips / Laugh, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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Compilation appearances

• "Noise Pollution" – on Bowling Balls II (Clone Records, c. 1981)<ref>

Various – Bowling Balls II, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• "Noise Pollution" – on Bloodstains Across Ohio: Punk Rock Rarities 1977–83<ref>

Various – Bloodstains Across Ohio: Punk Rock Rarities 1977–83, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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• "Laugh" – on Punk 45: Burn Rubber City, Burn! Akron, Ohio: Punk and the Decline of the Mid-West 1975–80<ref>

Punk 45: Burn Rubber City, Burn!, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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External links

• Hammer Damage page on ClePunk.com (archived)<ref>

Hammer Damage – ClePunk (archived), Internet Archive. Retrieved 2025-11-23.

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References

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