Hirudin (pronounced "hear-you-din") formed in Chicago in early 2003 out of the remains of a couple of bands you've never heard of, bands that did things like play Phyllis' Musical Inn in Chicago once then break up. The three founding members of Hirudin—Dan Demba on drums, Michael Girgis on bass and Kyle Ryan on guitars/vocals—had played together before (and Kyle and Michael were high-school friends back in their hometown of Houston) and decided to try again, with the intention starting of a Drive Like Jehu-ish band.
The result, of course, sounded nothing like that. All fans of the D.C. post-punk scene, Hirudin instead veered in that direction.
Dan left in the summer of 2003 to go to law school, and the search began for a replacement. After what felt like an eternity, Hirudin found Mike Allen, aka Mallen, a Champaign, Ill., native and veteran of several other bands whose names you'd have no reason to recognize. Mallen joined Hirudin in December of 2003.
Since then, Hirudin have regularly hassled friends about upcoming shows around the Midwest, playing with other bands you've never heard of—but they've occasionally shared bills with recognizable names like PILOT TO GUNNER (Arena Rock), CAT ON FORM (Southern Records) and THE ONE A.M. RADIO (Level-Plane).
On Sept. 10, 2004, Hirudin self-released their debut record, an eight-song EP called "Neither Created Nor Destroyed". It will be available at Chicago record stores and through the band's website, www.hirudin.net.
Influences Jawbox/Burning Airlines/J. Robbins, Jawbreaker, Hüsker Dü/Sugar/Bob Mould, Versus, Fugazi, Shellac, Dianogah...the usual cerebral melodic punk/post-punk/D.C.-style post-punk.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.hirudin.net
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