There was never a dull moment at the South Florida Slammie Awards, from the seminal performances on stage to the not-so-serious award presentations. Musicians joined scenesters in an anything-goes atmosphere to celebrate and let loose.
June 25, 1992
The Button South, Hallandale
Award highlights: Amboog-A-Lard wins five signature skull trophies, Malevolent Creation three, and Raped Ape and Load two each as the performing bands dominate the balloting. Jeordie White, in his pre-Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson) days with Amboog-A-Lard, accepts the first Slammie (for rhythm guitar). Raped Ape wins the first Grand Slammie (Band of the Year) award.
Concert highlights: More than 900 turn out for the all-ages show, and the dance floor erupts immediately when Load takes the stage and never lets up during the six-hour slamfest. Malevolent Creation is in peak form with a brutal 75-minute set to cap the evening.
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July 15, 1993
The Plus Five, Davie
Award highlights: Marilyn Manson (the band) wins its first two awards. Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden presents the drummer award to Raped Ape's J.C. Dwyer. Mr. Manson and Jeordie White toss Saigon Kick's award for National Release into the mosh pit.
Concert highlights: Collapsing Lungs steals the show, impressing Atlantic Records reps who later sign the band. Timescape Zero stirs up the biggest pit with a blistering set.
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Marilyn Manson performs at the South Florida Slammie Awards at The Edge in Fort Lauderdale. (Copyright 1994 / Spotlight Magazine / Mike Smith)
July 3, 1994
The Edge, Fort Lauderdale
Award highlights: The Grand Slammie goes to Marilyn Manson for the second year in a row, Load wins three awards, and Open Books and Records wins the first South Florida Pioneer Award.
Concert highlights: The biggest crowd in Slammie history - more than 1,200 - packs The Edge just nine days prior to the release of Marilyn Manson's debut album, Portrait of An American Family. Load and Jack Off Jill perform typically chaotic sets, and Raped Ape whips up a good old fashioned mosh pit. Marilyn Manson closes the show with a tight, no-frills 45-minute set. Just months later, the band is on tour with Nine Inch Nails and taking over the youth of America.
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Crime performs with L.U.N.G.S. during the 1995 Slammies at The Edge. (Copyright 1995 / Spotlight Magazine / Mike Smith)
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July 3, 1995
The Edge, Fort Lauderdale
Award highlights: New bands Smite, Strongarm and Puya win their first skulls, and perennial winners Marilyn Manson, Load, Jack Off Jill, Raped Ape and Amboog-A-Lard add to their Slammie cache. The late Fred Zackrie (who presented the first Slammie in 1992) is posthumously given the South Florida Pioneer Award.
Concert highlights: Genitorturers mesmerize the crowd of 1,100 with their sexually charged show. L.U.N.G.S., who later signed with Pavement Music, adds hip-hop to the Slammie brew.
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Drummer Chris Goldbach and Radiobaghdad perform at 1996 Slammies at The Edge. (Copyright 1996 / Rag Magazine / Crystal Clark)
June 23, 1996
The Edge, Fort Lauderdale
Award highlights: Marilyn Manson is booed repeatedly by the hardcore crowd in an ironic twist on the 1993 show, when Manson trashed Saigon Kick. Manson's three awards (as well as Smite's three) are unpopular with the crowd, but hip-hop/hardcore heroes L.U.N.G.S. walk away with the Grand Slammie and Drummer awards.
Concert highlights: Headliner Biohazard, the first non-Florida band to play the Slammies, receives help from their local friends. Drummer J.C. Dwyer of Paingod jams on Wrong Side of the Tracks and members of L.U.N.G.S. join on vocals for the encore.
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Chad Gilbert was the singer for Shai Hulud before he left to start New Found Glory.
Sept. 13, 1997
Squeeze, Fort Lauderdale
Award highlights: Against All Authority wins Band of the Year, Load and Jack Off Jill continue to gather skulls, and The Groovenics win their first two awards.
Concert highlights: The Groovenics get the show going early with a high-energy set. Ska makes its first Slammie appearance with a tight, swinging set by King 7 & The Soulsonics. Shai Hulud and Strongarm close the night with powerful sets of inspirational hardcore.
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Nonpoint performs during the 1998 South Florida Slammie Awards at Fu-Bar.
Dec. 17, 1998
Fu-Bar, Fort Lauderdale
Award highlights: The Groovenics (Band of the Year, Local Release, Bassist and Vocalist) and Nonpoint (Guitarist and Drummer) establish their dominance of the local scene by sweeping six of the eight awards.
Concert highlights: Puya (MCA Records) returns to South Florida with a blistering headlining set. Nonpoint draws a huge response with its nu metal sounds, and Endo wakes the crowd with a tight hardcore/metal set.
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The Groovenics perform at the final South Florida Slammie Awards in 1999. (Copyright 1999 / Rag Magazine / Sean McCloskey)
Dec. 30, 1999
Fu-Bar, Fort Lauderdale
Award highlights: Nonpoint (Album of the Year, Guitarist and Drummer) and The Groovenics (Band of the Year) again dominate with Endo (Bassist) and Lost (New Band) completing a sweep for the nu metal scene.
Concert highlights: Original members of Collapsing Lungs come together for a surprise reunion. The Groovenics raise the roof with a crowd-pleasing set. Lost and Darwin's Waiting Room give the show a flying start with short but powerful performances. And Further Seems Forever wins over the young metal crowd with its heartfelt emo-core.
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