Craig Setari

Craig Setari (sometimes known by the stage name Craig Ahead) is an American musician who is the bass player of the hardcore punk band Sick of It All. He has also worked with many other hardcore bands, including Youth of Today, Straight Ahead, Rest in Pieces, Agnostic Front and Cro-Mags. Alongside Dan Lilker, he recorded the Noise for Noise's Sake demo tape under the name Crab Society. This demo tape inspired Lilker's band S.O.D. to record their 1985 demo album titled Crab Society North.

Biography Craig Setari grew up in what he described as a poor household with his mother and older brother. He first began listening to rock and heavy metal music at the age of twelve, through his older brother Scott and his friend Dan Lilker. One day, Lilker gifted Scott a bass, so that he could learn the instrument and join an early iteration of Anthrax. When Scott wasn't using the instrument, Craig would begin to teach himself how to play it. Within the next two years, Craig Setari would progress to listening to hardcore punk. Despite not having much money Setari’s mother made sure Setari had rudimentary gear (bass and cord) and she and his older brother would give him money so he could take the bus to attend rehearsals. They released their sophomore EP, Breakaway. On the Hardlore podcast bassist Setari confirmed Straight Ahead would play two shows in Brooklyn on April 25th and 26th of 2026 as support of Gorilla Biscuits.

Agnostic Front and Rest in Pieces

In 1987, Setari auditioned for Murphy’s Law, following the audition he got a call from Agnostic Front guitarist Vinnie Stigma who told him that he had lost the audition to Chuck Valle. But Stigma then offered him a spot in Agnostic Front who had just released Liberty and Justice For... Setari then joined the band replacing their bassist Alan Peters. During his stint in Agnostic Front, he recorded one album with them One Voice which was released in 1992, he left the band the following year.

Agnostic Front singer Roger Miret was arrested in 1989, leading to the band going on a hiatus. During this time Setari would play bass in fellow New York hardcore band Rest in Pieces with his old Straight Ahead bandmate Armand Majidi.

Sick of It All

Setari joined Sick of It All in 1993, after leaving Agnostic Front. Setari had history with the band prior to joining as he booked their first ever show in 1986, at the Right Track Inn in Long Island, supporting Youth of Today. He made his recording debut with in the band in 1994, on their breakthrough album Scratch the Surface. Setari has remained with Sick of It All, helping to write tracks such as "Built to Last," which was the first New York hardcore punk track to enter the U.S. Top 100. Setari later joined Joseph’s other hardcore band Bloodclot releasing the album Souls in 2022.

Martial arts Outside of Music Setari has a background in martial arts and is a former competitive boxer. When he is not on the road touring he trains both boxing and muay thai.

Style and influences

When asked on his picking style Setari stated:

Setari uses a guitar pick when he plays hardcore, but when plays with non hardcore musicians he opts to use his fingers. Some of his influences on bass include James Jamerson, Geezer Butler, John Entwistle, Daryl Jennifer, Steve Harris, and Danny Lilker.

Discography

With Straight Ahead EPs We Stand (1985) Breakaway (1987) Demos Mayhemic Destruction (1985) Violence (1985)

With Youth of Today Break Down the Walls (1986)

With Rest in Pieces Under My Skin (1990)

With Agnostic Front One Voice (1992)

With Sick of It All Scratch the Surface (1994) Built to Last (1997) Call to Arms (1999) Yours Truly (2000) Life on the Ropes (2003) Death to Tyrants (2006) Based on a True Story (2010) XXV Nonstop (2011) The Last Act of Defiance (2014) Wake the Sleeping Dragon! (2018)

With Creep Division

Creep Division (2000)

Bloodclot

Souls (2022)