Episode 220 Scream Guitarist Franz Stahl

The Lydian Spin

Franz Stahl, guitarist of seminal hardcore band Scream, helped shape the band's journey from its inception in 1979. Alongside drummer Kent Stacks(AKA Kent Stax), bassist Skeeter Enoch Thompson, and his brother Pete Stahl, Franz attended school in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia, where they discovered the punk and new wave scene of Washington, D.C. Influenced by the Bad Brains like many other DC punk bands, Scream's fusion of punk with rock and roll set them apart. Their collaboration with Ian MacKaye and Eddie Janney led to the recording of Dischord's first full-length album, Still Screaming, in 1982. Over the years, they experienced lineup changes, with Franz's friend Harley Davidson joining on second guitar, and eventually, a local drummer named Dave Grohl. Scream's legacy endures, with their latest album, DC Special, set to release in November of 2023 on Dischord Records.