454 Big Block was formed by four members of the recently disbanded BostonHardcore bandWrecking Crew. The last track of 454 Big Block's second album was a re-recording of the Wrecking Crew song "Why Must They?" Record label Century Media had been in talks with Wrecking Crew before the band changed its sound and reformed as 454 Big Block. Originally vocalist Elgin James decided not to join the new project, but when the band's new vocalist didn't last for long, James changed his mind. The band released two albums, one for Century Media Records, the other for Big Wheel Recreation, and toured with Marilyn Manson, Clutch, Deadguy, Bloodlet and Earth Crisis before breaking up. The group's performances were known to attract a violent audience. In 1998, three members formed another band named The World Is My Fuse. As they began to focus their efforts on the new band, 454 Big Block came to an end.
Band members
Elgin James - Vocals James was a founding member of 454 Big Block. He had originally replaced Glenn Dudley as the frontman for Wrecking Crew before that group disbanded. He was well known in Boston at the time as the founder of the militant Straight Edge gang FSU. After 454 Big Block broke up, he went on to front the bands The World Is My Fuse and Jaded Salingers, play guitar with Righteous Jams, and release a folk-punk solo album. Today he is as a filmmaker. Dean Baltulonis - Guitar Baltulonis was a founding member of 454 Big Block, previously playing with Wrecking Crew and Eye For An Eye. His next band was The World Is My Fuse with James and Garcia-Rivera. He currently produces records at Wild Arctic studio in Queens, New York. Ralph Dinunzio - Guitar Dinunzio was a founding member of 454 Big Block, previously playing with Wrecking Crew. He quit while the band was touring for the second album. Nick Kean - Bass Kean was a founding member of 454 Big Block. He quit the band before they recorded the second album. Taras Hrabec - Drums Hrabec was a founding member of 454 Big Block, previously playing with Wrecking Crew. He quit the band before they recorded the second album. Alex Garcia-Rivera - Drums Garcia-Rivera recorded drums for the band's second album and toured afterward. His next band was The World Is My Fuse with James and Baltulonis. Later, he played in the bands Get High, Good Clean Fun, Saves the Day, Give Up the Ghost, Avoid One Thing, Bars, and Bloodhorse. Today he is a recording engineer. He had previously been in the bands Kingpin and Shelter. Kevin Norton - Bass Norton joined before the band recorded their second album. He was previously in Eye For An Eye. He left the band to move to California where he joined Straight Faced. Jeff Caxide - Bass Caxide, formerly of the band Cable, joined while 454 Big Block was touring the second album. Afterward he joined the band Isis, then co-founded the bands Red Sparowes and Palms. Mike Hill - Guitar Hill joined while the band was touring the second album. He was previously in the band Otis, and later founded and fronted Tombs.
