World Inferno Friendship Society

The World/Inferno Friendship Society (also referred to as "World Inferno", "The Wifs" or "Inferno") is a band from Brooklyn, New York. Its style merges punk, soul, klezmer, and jazz, while its collective membership features horns, piano, and guitar. This musical collective has over 30 members, including a former member of Dexys Midnight Runners. Usually one can expect to see about nine or ten members on-stage when they perform. The group is led by singer Jack Terricloth, who has been the most constant member throughout the group's history. Terricloth is known for his pointed commentary during shows: his monologues have touched on politics, his transformation from the "old school," and baiting of bouncers which usually ends up with the band buying drinks for the whole staff. Their lyrics often concern historical and/or biographical subjects, such as Weimar-era Germany, Peter Lorre, Jeffrey Lee Pierce of The Gun Club, Paul Robeson, Leni Riefenstahl, Dante Alighieri, Philip K. Dick, and Jonathan Fire*Eater. Other songs deal with the terrifying, exulting, magical, and awful aspects of life that "make it more than waking up and going to work every day". One notable composition is ... more...