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The South Florida Slammie Awards show was held annually from 1992 through 1999, spotlighting the area's top metal, punk, hardcore and alternative bands during a golden era of underground music in the state. Venues and musical tastes changed, but the event remained irreverent and relevant throughout the years.
June 25, 1992
The Button South, Hallandale
The inaugural event was held at the region's longtime rock showcase club, located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. More than 900 fans filled the venue, and the mosh pit, leading to a short-lived ban on slam-dancing in the city.
Malevolent Creation, Solstice, Raped Ape, Amboog-A-Lard, Meatlocker, Load
Malevolent Creation headlined on the heels of the the release of a second worldwide album. Solstice, which shared several members, had also just signed an indie label deal. The bill was rounded out by four of the region's most popular metal, hardcore and punk bands.
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July 15, 1993
The Plus Five, Davie
Moving to another Broward County club that supported and booked many of the top local bands, the second Slammies drew an all-ages crowds of 700 in a scene-friendly event that included award presentations by Marilyn Manson, Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden, and many others.
Collapsing Lungs, Demonomacy, The Itch, Timescape Zero, Machine, Brutal Mastication, Sinful Lust
Imminent Atlantic Records signee Collapsing Lungs headlined an eclectic bill that included bands that cranked out industrial, hardcore, death metal, funk and punk sounds.
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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
Reflecting the burgeoning growth of the local scene, the event moved to the largest concert club in the area and hosted breakout band Marilyn Manson, timed perfectly with the release of the debut album on Nothing/Interscope Records.
Marilyn Manson, Raped Ape, Load, Jack Off Jill, Holy Terrors, Tension
A Slammie record 1,200 attended the nearly six-hour showcase to see the a stellar lineup of mainstay bands that helped define the alternative, metal, punk and hardcore scenes of the mid-1990s. Four of these bands, plus three from 1993 and one from 1992 are featured on the 1995 album, SFSA: South Florida Slammie Awards, Vol. 1.
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Genitorturers
July 3, 1995
The Edge, Fort Lauderdale
Returning to The Edge, the Slammies tapped one of the state's most controversial bands to headline one of the event's strongest lineups to date. The scene responded with 1,100 attending the fourth awards show.
Genitorturers, L.U.N.G.S., Anger, Strongarm, Puya, Smite
Riding high after a worldwide release on I.R.S./Shock Therapy Records, Tampa's Genitorturers provided an over-the-top climax after powerful sets by veteran locals L.U.N.G.S. (ex-Collapsing Lungs), Anger, Strongarm and Puya, who would all go on to sign record deals during the peak of the 1990s South Florida scene.
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Level Nine performs at the South Florida Slammie Awards at The Edge in Fort Lauderdale. (Copyright 1996 / Rag Magazine / Crystal Clark)
June 23, 1996
The Edge, Fort Lauderdale
The third and final Slammie Awards at The Edge featured the first (and only) national headliner. Brooklyn's Biohazard (and support band D.F.L.) fit the bill perfectly stylistically with their metal-hardcore and punk sounds, enabling the event to fill the club and still spotlight five top local bands.
Biohazard, D.F.L., Radiobaghdad, Subliminal Criminal, Brethren, Nonpoint, Level Nine
Two longtime punk and alternative favorites (Radiobaghdad, Subliminal Criminal) were joined by three up-and-coming hardcore and metal bands, including future MCA recording artists Nonpoint.
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Strongarm
Sept. 13, 1997
Squeeze, Fort Lauderdale
The Slammies moved across town to a smaller venue for perhaps its most eclectic event, which drew more than 500 to the intimate club. The event date also changed from its previous June-July to September after a series of Slammie events all summer at the venerable venue.
Strongarm, Shai Hulud, King 7 & the Soulsonics, Brutal Mastication, Cavity, The Groovenics
Two powerful hardcore bands with national releases (Strongarm and Shai Hulud) whipped up the event's signature most pit. The lineup featured another indie label signee, Cavity, and support from bands that ranged from rap-metal to ska.
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Elias Soriano and Nonpoint perform at the 1998 Slammie Awards.
Dec. 17, 1998
Fu-Bar, Fort Lauderdale
The ever-evolving club scene forced a venue change for the seventh annual Slammies, as well as a new date to make it a true year-end showcase. Downsized to an 18-and-older show, the event drew close to 400 to see another local hard-edged band (Puya) recently signed to a major label.
Puya, Load, Quit, Nonpoint, Endo, Gonemad, Creative Pain
Defying categorization with its fusion of Latin and metal styles, Puya celebrated its MCA Records deal atop a bill featuring local favorites old and new. Nonpoint returned with a fury, less than two years before its own debut album for MCA.
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The final Slammie Awards in 1999 featured (from left) Further Seems Forever (fronted by Chris Carrabba) and Crease (Kelly Meister). (Copyright 1999 / Rag Magazine / Sean McCloskey)
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Dec. 30, 1999
Fu-Bar, Fort Lauderdale
All ages returned, and the Slammies went out with a bang as more than 400 packed Fu-Bar for a local music celebration like no other.
Crease, The Groovenics, Further Seems Forever, Darwin's Waiting Room, and Lost. Plus a special Collapsing Lungs reunion
Roadrunner Records signee Crease closed the show with a hard-rocking set, but the highlights came earlier when Collapsing Lungs reunited for the first time in five years. The opening bands drew enthusiastic fans to their new nu metal sounds, and attendees got a glimpse at the future of the local scene when Further Seems Forever, fronted by Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional), played an immaculate set of post-hardcore and punk meets emo and indie rock.
Full event recap, flyer, photos, press coverage
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