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Craig Setari

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Craig Setari
Setari performing with Sick of It All in 2015
Setari performing with Sick of It All in 2015
Background information
OriginNew York, U.S.
GenresHardcore punk
OccupationsMusician, former boxer[1][2]
InstrumentBass
Years active1985–present
Member ofSick of It All
Formerly of

Craig Setari (sometimes known by the stage name Craig Ahead) is an American musician who is the bass player of the hardcore punk band Sick of It All.[3][4] He has also worked with many other hardcore bands, including Youth of Today, Straight Ahead, Rest in Pieces, Agnostic Front and Cro-Mags.[5][6][7] Alongside Dan Lilker, he recorded the Noise for Noise's Sake demo tape under the name Crab Society. This demo tape inspired Lilker's band S.O.D. to record their 1985 demo album titled Crab Society North.[8]

Biography

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Craig Setari grew up in what he described as a poor household with his mother and older brother.[9] He first began listening to rock and heavy metal music at the age of twelve, through his older brother Scott and his friend Dan Lilker. One day, Lilker gifted Scott a bass, so that he could learn the instrument and join an early iteration of Anthrax. When Scott wasn't using the instrument, Craig would begin to teach himself how to play it. Within the next two years, Craig Setari would progress to listening to hardcore punk.[10] Despite not having much money Setari’s mother made sure Setari had rudimentary gear (bass and cord) and she and his older brother would give him money so he could take the bus to attend rehearsals.[9]

NYC Mayhem

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This inspired him to join the band Straight Ahead in 1984, with Gordon Ancis and Tommy Carroll, however the band would change its name to NYC Mayhem soon after his joining. NYC Mayhem would release their debut EP We Stand in 1985 and then break up in late-1985, leading Setari to briefly join Youth of Today as their bassist where he played on their 1986 album Break Down the Walls. NYC Mayhem reformed in late-1986 under the name Straight Ahead, this time with Sick of It All's Armand Majidi on drums,[11] They released their sophomore EP, Breakaway.[12] On the Hardlore podcast bassist Setari confirmed Straight Ahead would play two shows in Brooklyn on April 25th and 26th of 2026 as support of Gorilla Biscuits.[13]

Agnostic Front and Rest in Pieces

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In 1987, Setari auditioned for Murphy’s Law, following the audition he got a call from Agnostic Front guitarist Vinnie Stigma who told him that he had lost the audition to Chuck Valle. But Stigma then offered him a spot in Agnostic Front who had just released Liberty and Justice For... Setari then joined the band replacing their bassist Alan Peters.[13][14] During his stint in Agnostic Front, he recorded one album with them One Voice which was released in 1992, he left the band the following year.[15]

Agnostic Front singer Roger Miret was arrested in 1989, leading to the band going on a hiatus. During this time Setari would play bass in fellow New York hardcore band Rest in Pieces with his old Straight Ahead bandmate Armand Majidi.[9][16]

Sick of It All

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Setari with Pete Koller at Rock Al Parque 2016

Setari joined Sick of It All in 1993, after leaving Agnostic Front. Setari had history with the band prior to joining as he booked their first ever show in 1986, at the Right Track Inn in Long Island, supporting Youth of Today.[17] He made his recording debut with in the band in 1994, on their breakthrough album Scratch the Surface. Setari has remained with Sick of It All, helping to write tracks such as "Built to Last," which was the first New York hardcore punk track to enter the U.S. Top 100.[12] In total he has recorded 10 albums with the band the most recent being 2018’s Wake the Sleeping Dragon!.

Cro-Mags and Bloodclot

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In 2008, when John Joseph and Mackie Jayson began playing shows under the Cro-Mags again they recruited Setari to play bass. He played with the band on and off from 2008 till 2019.[18] Setari later joined Joseph’s other hardcore band Bloodclot releasing the album Souls in 2022.[19]

Martial arts

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Outside of Music Setari has a background in martial arts and is a former competitive boxer.[20] When he is not on the road touring he trains both boxing and muay thai.[21]

Style and influences

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Setari in 2018

When asked on his picking style Setari stated:[9]

I have my own unique style of picking, sometimes it is sharp downstrokes but very often for particular rhythms with particular drummers—Mackie Jayson, for example—I will do what I have termed “pulse picking,“ which is a variation of downstrokes with upstrokes on the snare to emphasize and give a real pushing pocket to a beat that has a strong push.

Setari uses a guitar pick when he plays hardcore, but when plays with non hardcore musicians he opts to use his fingers. Some of his influences on bass include James Jamerson, Geezer Butler, John Entwistle, Daryl Jennifer, Steve Harris, and Danny Lilker.[9]

Discography

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Setari with Full Force 2019

With Straight Ahead

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EPs
  • We Stand (1985)
  • Breakaway (1987)
Demos
  • Mayhemic Destruction (1985)
  • Violence (1985)

With Youth of Today

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  • Break Down the Walls (1986)

With Rest in Pieces

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  • Under My Skin (1990)

With Agnostic Front

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With Sick of It All

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With Creep Division

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Bloodclot

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  • Souls (2022)

References

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  1. ↑ "Clobberin' Time: Sick Of It All On The Evolution Of Mosh". Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  2. ↑ Norton, Justin (November 24, 2014). "Clobberin' Time: Sick Of It All On The Evolution Of Mosh". Decibel. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  3. ↑ D, Howie (October 20, 2014). "Craig Setari of Sick Of It All". Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  4. ↑ "SICK OF IT ALL's CRAIG SETARI: 'We Were Always Primarily A Live Band'". Blabbermouth. October 19, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  5. ↑ Alva, Freddy (August 15, 2014). "Rob Echeverria (Straight Ahead, Rest in Pieces, Biohazard, Helmet)". Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  6. ↑ Kamiński, Karol. "STARECraig Ahead (NYHC) interviewed by Double Cross [UPDATE]". Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  7. ↑ Handley, Gen (February 26, 2014). "Craig Setari (Sick of It All)". Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  8. ↑ "S.O.D. "Crab Society Demos '85": an Interview with Dan Lilker". Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Interview: Bassist Spotlight: Craig Setari (Sick of It All, Agnostic Front, Rest in Pieces, Straight Ahead)". www.noecho.net. September 2, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Craig "Ahead" Setari". NYHC Chronicles. Episode 17. May 13, 2020. 30 minutes in. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  11. ↑ "An Oral History of Sick Of It All, Part I: Early Days, New Beginnings, and Swastikas". Vice Media. March 29, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Blush, Steven. New York Rock: From the Rise of The Velvet Underground to the Fall of CBGB. p. 237.
  13. 1 2 HARDLORE (January 1, 2026). Craig Ahead: Straight Ahead Reunion, Sick of it All Hiatus, Quitting Youth of Today, A.F. (HardLore). Retrieved January 1, 2026 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Interview: Todd Youth (FireBurn, Warzone, Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Danzig, Son of Sam, Bloodclot)". www.noecho.net. March 13, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Craig Setari". AllMusic. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  16. ↑ Whitaker, Pat 'Riot' (January 7, 2018). "Oldschool Sunday: REST IN PIECES ⋆ Riff Relevant". Riff Relevant. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  17. ↑ Stockspublished, Matt (February 16, 2015). "Famous Firsts: Sick Of It All". Louder. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ MetalSucks (April 23, 2019). "Cro-Mags Lawsuit Settled; There Are Now Two Cro-Mags". MetalSucks. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  19. ↑ "BLOODCLOT (members of Sick Of It All, Madball, Quicksand) to release Souls LP Via Upstate Records - new video airing now! - IDIOTEQ.com". October 5, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  20. ↑ Norton, Justin (November 24, 2014). "Clobberin' Time: Sick Of It All On The Evolution Of Mosh". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  21. ↑ Hill, Mike (October 4, 2016). "Where NYHC Meets Muay Thai: Physical Culture Collective's Gavin Van Vlack Feels the Burn". VICE. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
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