The Pinkerton Thugs were a punk band from Kennebunk, Maine. While the band officially became the Pinkerton Thugs in March of 1996 (taking their name from the infamous Pinkerton National Detective Agency), the band had been together since July of 1994 under a number of different names. The band, which consisted of vocalist/guitarist Micah Smaldone, drummer/vocalist Paul Russo, and bassist James Whitten drew influence from punk bands such as Sham 69, the Clash, Conflict, and Crass as well as Woody Guthrie's political ballads. They were known for their spirited live performances as well as their radical anarchist political views. Attempting to put their ideas to action, members of the band formed a now-defunct collective called the Anarchist Liberty Union which set out to distribute anarchist literature for free and establish better communication between activists. During most of the band's existence, Paul Russo was also a member of Boston band The Unseen, whom the Thugs

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