Surgery

About

Surgery is a post-hardcore band from Manhattan's lower east side that emerged in the early 1990s. The group originally consisted of Sean McDonnell on vocals, Scott Kleber on guitar, John Lachapelle on bass, and John Leamy on drums. Signed to the Amphetamine Reptiles label, they released their full-length debut album Nationwide in 1991, followed by the EP The Trim, 9th Ward High Roller in 1993. As part of the wave of bands following major label signings by Nirvana and Helmet, Surgery moved to Atlantic Records in 1994 for their album Shimmer. The track "Off the A-List" received limited airplay on MTV's 120 Minutes program. The band's trajectory was cut short when vocalist Sean McDonnell passed away on January 18, 1995, from complications related to asthma. Following McDonnell's death, the remaining members decided to disband. Surgery's blues-drenched, no-holds-barred approach to post-hardcore music left a mark on the New York underground music scene of their era.