When thinking of actual known Punk coming out of California, surely one can't help but being brought to mind the very sizeable array of bands who made it happen in Los Angeles, one of the most prolific places for the birth of a tremendously unique music scene in the past.
I'll split up the subject in at least two parts, trying to give my own brief passionate overview.
I'll split up the subject in at least two parts, trying to give my own brief passionate overview.
Almighty Black Flag must be put on top place. From its name, members, logo, everything about them was the 80's Hardcore highest representation of music power alive, if not even a source of endless inspiration for many ahead to come.
Their incredible story is scattered with continuous lineup changes, furious gigs and unforgettable personalities as Keith Morris, Henry Rollins or Chuck Dukowski, who epitomized the band's crashing sound. Album covers as well as flyer art have no less strong impact; for the most part, they're superbly designed by Raymond Pettibon's (Ginn's brother pen name) distinctive hand, the grotesque illustrations craftman behind all Black Flag imagery. Along with Six Pack, Damaged and My War are certainly masterworks of pain, alienation, rage apart from presenting themselves just as hard-times products (perhaps that's quite then when something can be really considered "punk", climbing over any barrier whatsoever..). Before ever anything, Black Flag meant uncompromised will to tear down the walls of blindness, silence and obedience, having your say without fearing others judge. We're thankful for this and what great SST has done for spreading up the right word.
(Panic, early B.F. formation on a gig at the Church, where they lived. Ph. by Hudley Flipside)
(Black Flag "Damaged" shots by Edward Colver)
(Ginn, Rollins, the Duke. Ph. David Markey)
GERMS.. - oh, fuck. Can't seem to tell how much I love them. It's not just about melody or speed, dunno.. it's the whole feel they had that makes me dig'em. Had spinned G.I., What We Do Is Secret, M.I.A. on heavy rotation for days and days, watched their biopic movie, read lots of articles on Darby's complicated life and the band.. Really interesting stuff what he and Smear believed to do and they did it their way. Worshipping David Bowie and Iggy Pop as idols, Darby lived up to his stage persona, controlled people's mind like a veritable god who took advantage of all his rhetorical learning at IPS, created a cult for himself and Germs significance mirrored in legendary symbols such as the circular burn, which kept inside the essence of repetition and eternity in things. The well-known five-years plan he had adopted served him to this "immortal memory" intent, eventually sew it up with suicide, we do know..
I believe that even though he was a wasted guy cracked on acid and drug, he had a lot to say to us in his lyrics about fear, love, paranoia, more than anyone else at the time, synthesizing Nietzsche, Huxley and Spengler lessons rolled into one explosive compound made out of self-mythologized yet most destructive feelings on Earth.
Whenever I listen or think of the Germs, I get quickly invaded by the clear sensation of primitive completeness dragging you right off this world and getting you into the infinite void.... But it makes feel strangely good.
I believe that even though he was a wasted guy cracked on acid and drug, he had a lot to say to us in his lyrics about fear, love, paranoia, more than anyone else at the time, synthesizing Nietzsche, Huxley and Spengler lessons rolled into one explosive compound made out of self-mythologized yet most destructive feelings on Earth.
Whenever I listen or think of the Germs, I get quickly invaded by the clear sensation of primitive completeness dragging you right off this world and getting you into the infinite void.... But it makes feel strangely good.
X and Gun Club perfectly seal the bound between Punk and American Roots Music that's to be found in bluesy and folky rhythms; Exene Cervenka and the great Jeffrey Lee Pierce are unquestionable minstrels of Dark-And-Gloomy lullabies like Nausea, Los Angeles, Johnny Hit & Run Paulene, Death Party, Ghost On The Highway, Idiot Waltz, Stranger in Our Town ..just dashing off some of their best pieces. They're not quite an easy listening, almost totally different in vocal style, compared to their more rocking peers.
But if I had to be honest, CIRCLE JERKS are those I switch onto when I wanna have me a real fucked shit up blast. In my eyes, they are sorta Black Flag but speeded up to the utmost. "Operation, operation..!!" .... "I've got the World up my Ass!!" gee, hell of anthems every time I rave on. Keith absolutely rips asses off everyone there on Group Sex. Not to forget my friend Lucky Lehrer, damn incredibly kickass drummer whom I adore nearly as much as Chuck Biscuits and Greg Hetson, one of my favorite giant guitarists ever.
OFF!, Redd Kross, FLAG, my highest praise for you as well!!
(Circle Jerks, private shoot & live, greatly captured by Edward Colver)
(OFF! Left to right: Mario Rubalcaba, Keith Morris, Dimitri Coats, Steve Mcdonald.)
Among all these bigger protagonists, the infamous FEAR are hardly less so. Led by the charismatically handsome Lee Ving, they were a diamond-point in feral L.A. punk scene so much that have been featured on the front line of Spheeris movie The Decline Of Western Civilisation. My friend Erikka introduced me to them when I didn't know yet of their existence with the song I Believe I'll Have Another Beer, and I immediately thought: "Why the heck I haven't discovered these guys before?! They're total awesome shit!!".
Ending with a bang..BAD RELIGION. What else more beautiful can I say about them.. Well, they're simply the best intellectual punk band in the whole universe, the one that drew me into listening Cali punk and loving it to death.
Greg Graffin is one fucking enlightening, inspirational figure to me mastering lyrics with Epitaph head genius Brett Gurewitz, straight followed by killer bassist Jay Bentley and the greatest guitar player ever existed, Dag Nasty's chief Mr. Brian Baker!!
From start to end (revolutionary name that's meant to go against every kind of dogma, exemplified by the famous BR crossbuster, lyrics full of criticism towards government and society's greed), Bad Religion represent the quintessential core of melodic fastness conceptuality we can find in ageless landmarks such as Suffer and Stranger Than Fiction.
Still kicking and crafting incredible badass tunes after 30 years activity.
As you can see from the flyers, notable venues for L.A. shows were the Raji's, the Masque, Whiskey A Go-Go, Vex, Hong Kong Cafè, Fleetwood, Starwood, Club 88, Fender's Ballroom, Cathay De Grande, and others..
I know there're still many bands I omitted and should've talk about, like T.S.O.L., Adolescents, Descendents, Social Distortion, D.I., Shattered Faith, Channel 3.. Next part I'll make up for it. :) Hope you enjoyed this initial attempt.
To be soon continued..
Please Note: I particularly dedicate this post to my friends Keith Morris, Edward Colver and Lucky Lehrer. Thanks guys for all you've done and I'm so damn glad you deal with me. Many many cheers n luv to ya.
