Kill the Hippies

Kill the Hippies is an American punk rock band from the Cleveland, Ohio area, formed in the early 1990s. Active for more than three decades, the group has maintained a presence in the underground Midwest punk scene and is known for its raw sound, off-kilter songwriting, and unconventional approach to punk performance.

History

Kill the Hippies emerged around 1993 in the Lakewood/Cleveland punk community.<ref> Kill the Hippies Return, Faster and Louder, April 2014. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

</ref> By 2005 they had been active for roughly twelve years, receiving local coverage from Cleveland Scene that highlighted their role within the city's DIY punk environment.<ref> Kill the Hippies, Cleveland Scene, March 2005. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

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The band has undergone various lineup changes, eventually solidifying around guitarist/vocalist Morte Treehorn, bassist/vocalist P.P. Envy, and drummer Tic Toc, who appear on their most widely circulated recordings.<ref> You Will Live With Us Forever, Bandcamp, 2014. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

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Musical style

Kill the Hippies combine elements of hardcore punk, early new wave, and experimental Midwest punk traditions. Reviews describe the group as blending “snotty” punk energy with offbeat, sometimes absurdist songwriting, occasionally drawing comparisons to DEVO and early SST-era bands.<ref> Kill the Hippies, Maximum Rocknroll. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

</ref> Their recordings frequently incorporate aggressive tempos, jagged guitar work, shouted vocals, and moments of eccentric melody.

Discography

Albums

You Will Live With Us Forever (2014)

Released January 28, 2014, the album marked their first full-length vinyl LP and includes tracks such as "Die in the Past," "Dig Your Own Grave," "Mustache," and "Entrails."<ref> You Will Live With Us Forever, Bandcamp, 2014. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

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Other releases

Kill the Hippies have issued multiple tapes, 7-inch singles, and CD releases across their career, documented primarily through underground labels and fan archives.<ref> Kill the Hippies, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

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Members

Current members

• Morte Treehorn – guitar, vocals
• P.P. Envy – bass, vocals
• Tic Toc – drums

<ref> You Will Live With Us Forever, Bandcamp, 2014. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

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Former members

• Food Fortunata
• Matt Lindsay
• Dave Schall

<ref> Kill the Hippies, Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

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Legacy

Kill the Hippies represent a longstanding thread within Ohio's underground punk history. Music writers have referred to them as “a force in the underground punk world since the early/mid ’90s,” praising their longevity and the distinctive character of their recordings.<ref> Kill the Hippies Return, Faster and Louder, April 2014. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

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References

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