Toby Morse

Toby Morse (born April 8, 1970) is an American vocalist who is best known as the lead singer for punk rock band H2O. He is also one of the vocalists for hardcore punk group Hazen Street.

Toby Morse
Morse in 2009
Morse in 2009
Background information
Also known asToby1
Born (1970-04-08) April 8, 1970
Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1994–present
Labels

Early life

Morse was born on April 8, 1970[1] in Taunton, Massachusetts, the youngest of three siblings.[2] When he was three years old, his father died of a rare heart condition, and Morse was raised with the help of his brothers and grandparents because his mother started to work on multiple jobs. Morse and his family moved to Newport, Rhode Island, and later to St. Mary's County, Maryland. Around the age of twelve, Morse's siblings turned him on to skateboarding and punk music, taking him out to shows of bands such as Descendents and The F.U.'s.[3] They also were having parties at the house, but "seeing the way they acted when they were high or drunk really scared" him.[2] By age thirteen he discovered the song "Straight Edge" of Minor Threat and claimed edge, having never drunk before.[4] Morse graduated from Great Mills High School in 1988.[5]

Career

In 1988, Morse relocated to New York City to be nearer to its hardcore punk scene.[5] That year, he was living in the same house as band Gorilla Biscuits and sang backing vocals on their album Start Today.[6] In 1989, Morse started being a roadie for bands such as Gorilla Biscuits, Killing Time and finally Sick of It All, staying with them for several years.[3] Initially during the soundchecks and then at their shows, Morse would join the group to perform the song "My Love is Real". By then, along with his friends Rusty Pistachio and Eric Rice, he formed H2O, playing their first show in December 1994.[7] They became part of the New York hardcore scene.[4]

In 2004, Morse started collaborating with David Kennedy, best known for being in Tom Delonge's side-project Box Car Racer. Out of this came Hazen Street, which included Toby's friend Freddy Cricien, of another New York hardcore band Madball, as a co-vocalist.

In 2006, Morse started a clothing line called Straight Edge OG (stylized as SXEOG).[3]

One Life, One Chance

In 2009, Toby Morse founded the nonprofit organization "One Life, One Chance" whose objective is "to inspire kids to make healthy life choices, maintain a PMA, be themselves, and to avoid peer pressure", mainly visiting schools to share the experiences of his early life and as a member of a world-touring band.[8] Its name comes from the song of the same name of the 1999 album F.T.T.W..

O.L.O.C. was prompted by a teacher friend of Morse who invited him to give a talk at a school in Queens, New York City, in early 2009, because her students were fans of H2O, which had a widely positive reception.[9]

Contributors to the organization include Travis Barker, CM Punk, C. J. Wilson, Moby, Hayley Williams and Ethan Suplee, among others.[10]

Personal life

Morse currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Moon and son Max.[11] In 1988, he became a vegetarian inspired by the song "Cats and Dogs" of Gorilla Biscuits[8] and, as of 2016, he is the only vegan in H2O.[12] From 2006 to 2010, he was nominated for the title of "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" by Peta2.[13][14][15][16][17] Morse is also the only H2O member who has remained straight edge through all their years active.[18]

He is the younger brother of Todd Morse, guitarist for H2O, The Operation M.D. and Juliette and the Licks and bassist for The Offspring.[19]

Discography

H2O

Hazen Street

Guest appearances
Year Song Artist Album Source
1989 Various Gorilla Biscuits Start Today [3]
2003 "Falling Down" Story of the Year featuring Ray Cappo and John Feldmann Page Avenue [20]
2009 "2 Hip" Danny Diablo International Hardcore Superstar [21]
2009 "Goodbye Farewell" Danny Diablofeaturing Natasha Nicholson International Hardcore Superstar [21]
2014 "My Armor" Madball featuring Chad Gilbert and CM Punk Hardcore Lives [22]
2015 "RMA (Revolutionary Mental Attitude)" Stick to Your Guns Disobedient [23]
2015 "Never Walk Alone" Agnostic Front featuring Freddy Cricien and Lou Koller The American Dream Died [24]

References
  1. Miller, Liz (September–October 2010). "Morse's Code". VegNews. p. 63. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  2. Hardy, Katy (December 11, 2011). "Toby Morse (H2O) in anti-drug PSA" (video). Punknews.org. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  3. "Toby Morse – H2O, Hazen St, SEOG, NYHC, Youth Crew ..." howsyouredge.com. February 2, 2007. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  4. Zengler, Andreas (August–September 2010). "H2O | The Weight Of The Water". Ox-Fanzine (in German). No. 91. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  5. "Great Mills High School" (video). onelifeonechance.com. Great Mills, Maryland (published December 22, 2010). December 2, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  6. Sciarretto, Amy (May 30, 2011). "H2O Recording 'Don't Forget Your Roots' Covers Album". Noisecreep. Archived from the original on February 16, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  7. "H2O Bio". epitaph.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  8. "An interview with Toby Morse from H2O and OneLifeOneChance.com". pmakid.com. May 24, 2011. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  9. Matview, Steven (September 2, 2011). "Interview: Toby Morse (H2O)". Punk in Vegas. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  10. "Testimonials". onelifeonechance.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  11. Ramirez, Carlos (August 5, 2015). "'Life in 1 Day': Watch H2O's Toby Morse Give Us a Personal Tour of L.A." (video). Fuse. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  12. "H2O en interview: East Side Burgers, Vegan et New York Hardcore". musique.jeuxactu.com (in French). JeuxActu. January 8, 2016. Archived from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  13. "Who's the World's Sexiest Vegetarian?". peta2.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  14. Trostle, Patricia. "Who's the World's Sexiest Vegetarian 2007?". peta2.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  15. Trostle, Patricia. "The 2008 World's Sexiest Vegetarians Are…". peta2.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  16. Trostle, Patricia. "Who's the World's Sexiest Vegetarian 2009?". peta2.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  17. Soh, Helena. "2010's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities Are …". Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  18. Fossum, Melissa (September 21, 2011). "H2O's Adam Blake on Promoting a Positive Lifestyle, Post-9/11 New York City, and Appropriate Times to Hardcore Dance". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  19. "Audio: Offspring Bassist Todd Morse Helps Howard Bare His Soul in 'Suit of Armor'". The Howard Stern Production Company. April 5, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  20. Cramer, Stephen. "Story of the Year | Page Avenue". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  21. "Danny Diablo | International Hardcore Superstar". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  22. Morgan Ywain Evans (July 2, 2014). "Interview: Madball – Hardcore Lives Forever, Of Course". metalriot.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  23. Sharp, Tyler (January 21, 2015). "Stick To Your Guns premiere new song, "RMA (Revolutionary Mental Attitude)" feat. H2O vocalist". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  24. Booth, Mark (March 25, 2015). "Agnostic Front – The American Dream Died". All About the Rock. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
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