Rob and his buddy Clif were teenagers when they founded The Freeze, a Boston punk band, in 1978. One of the definitive compilations of music from the Boston’s '80s hardcore punk scene was named after a Freeze song: "This is Boston, Not L.A." They opened for Black Flag, Fear, the U.K. Subs, and toured across the U.S. and Europe. The Freeze remains Cape Cod’s longest running punk band. Like most punk bands from this era, they sang about what they were against: religion, jocks, and conformity. But they were bratty, too, and aimed to offend. Now, 40 years later, Rob and Clif reckon with the lyrics they wrote as teenagers.
Clif "Hanger" Croce & Rob "DeCradle" Rosenthal
The “I Hate Tourists” sleeve Clif made out of construction paper
The “I Hate Tourists” vinyl Rob listens to at the end of the story
The Freeze - Clif Croce, Lou Cataldo, Rik Andrews, Rob Rosenthal, Steve Wood
Rob Rosenthal and Rik Andrews performing with the Freeze
Gig Flyer - The Freeze with Black Flag
Rob Rosenthal and Clif Croce today