31 Comments
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erniet's avatar

I'm bummed you didn't mention the punk band I formed in high school (in 1980). We were called Nuclear Waste.😂

Andrew Smith's avatar

Any chance of a recording online? I absolutely will listen!

erniet's avatar

😂 No, it was all on cassette tapes which I lost years ago. I do remember the lyrics to one of our songs, though...it was called "Chain Reaction"...

When you can't get copulation you resort to masturbation

This results in much frustration turning you into crustacean

It's a chain reaction

It's a chain reaction

PCP is on the table you take acid when you're able

But be sure you read the label or you'll end up dead like Sid Vicious

It's a chain reaction

It's a chain reaction

Hey, we were in high school!

😂

Andrew Smith's avatar

I love it! Maybe when we're both in the retirement home we can record this together. I wanna make some of the stuff I wrote but never got to record, probably around 1993.

erniet's avatar

Sounds good!😂

Phoebe Howe's avatar

Wonderful time! I saw my first punk band with my brother in Crocs, Rayleigh. That place was incredible and I used to walk there, always happily then trundle home a bit more slowly maybe due to alcohol 🥴 When it first opened in 1976 I used to love watching the crocodiles in their tank but not actually surprised they had to go… Band wise though - wow!!! Punk got me seeing bands but led me on to much more, well, both of us actually, but some bands played there for their early public event (Depeche Mode and Culture Club spring to mind) then became rather famous! We are slightly different over here and it’s rather interesting to read your tales! Always!

Phoebe Howe's avatar

🥹 yes! Oh boy they were fab times! I’d never thought of checking them out on YouTube before! 🤦🏻‍♀️ the punks were at the start of that clip, all be it briefly but that was Crocs alright!!!

Andrew Smith's avatar

Yay! What a cool time.

I thought I was way, way after that time, but honestly I was really close to it in retrospect, and the crust punk genre I was ultimately a part of was really new and exciting in many ways. Very neat to see the perspective of time.

Phoebe Howe's avatar

Definitely a cool time! The true punk period apparently didn’t last long but a part of it went on in a different direction. The links with what I adore now share plenty these days in reasoning and passion with what they do. The prog I adored watching was The Young Ones and I’ll let you find it on YouTube again to enjoy it but it essentially showed what was going on. I’m thinking of the punk character especially right now and smiling!

Andrew Smith's avatar

Very familiar w/the Young Ones! our generation of punx were eager to revisit the 1st gen stuff like that show. I mean, 1st gen to us!

Phoebe Howe's avatar

I don’t mean to just assume that you guys over there know what I’m on about 😄 so, sorry, glad you know it.

Melvin Eugene Martin 111's avatar

While a bit fuzzy. The Damned. Their first record was released in '76 if memory serves. I do believe there has been discussion as to what The Damned are in terms of genre. That first record gets overlooked often. Worth checking out if you're a fan of the English early punk bands.

Andrew Smith's avatar

Excellent callout, though Death, the Ramones, and the Sex Pistols do predate them by a year or so. That first record is really fun!

Brad Kyle's avatar

Great as always, Andrew! I, uh....see your 1975/birth of punk birth date, and raise you *ahem* MY birth year of being the same as rock'n'roll and Disneyland: 1955, he said proudly! You experienced the last quarter of the century, granted (and impressive), but, I lived through the last bloody HALF of the century, give or take!

What is punk, and/or when was it born are both great debates, and I'm certainly not gonna quibble with your assertion, 'cause I know where you're going: The currently ascribed def of punk as we now know it! But, bands like the late-'60s Seeds and Ig's Stooges will broaden out that argument pretty convincingly, I know you'll agree!

That '74 Ramones clip was HIGH-larious! Their hair, bless'em, was not quite yet at the prescribed length to qualify as certifiable rock stars, but, they hurried it along, and were ready by the time Seymour came-a-knockin'! And, Dee Dee's false start I had heard about, and I wonder just when they flipped his and Johnny's stage positioning (and why)! Johnny was notoriously picky and demanding, so......Thanks Andrew, always, for your kind house-pa-tality and support!--B😁

Andrew Smith's avatar

Brad, thanks for sharing these thoughts on the Ramones. What a fun clip! I was delighted to see it myself for the first time last year, even after all this time.

Rock and roll is just so similar to punk in so many ways. I love that we share that origin story, and I think about you all the time when I talk about the birth of rock and roll! Rock on, amigo.

Rudy Fischmann's avatar

I don’t know that I see it much differently, but for the sake of talking great bands, I’ll pretend. 🤣 I recently learned about a band that preceded Death and was dominated by Black musicians but the name escapes me. The idea that certain characteristics define the difference between proto and actual of any genre. Like is Sabbath the first true metal band because they defined many of the required aspects. Is Pigmeat Markham’s “Here Comes the Judge” the first hip hop record or does it go back much farther? Or even (relatively) more recently in time?

And just to complicate things, how about “This Perfect Day” by The Saints from Australia? I believe it was first written and performed in 1973 or 1974 as a hybrid of power pop and The Stooges (I refuse to acknowledge the “Iggy &” part lol). “Stranded” is another great example by them. I dunno, both sound pretty punk to me.

https://youtu.be/PDfHrdZZp54?si=mDtugG8EJKjfwuXy

Andrew Smith's avatar

It's all such a spectrum. I think Death has faster stuff than these dudes, but also? Elements are crossing over all over the place both ways. I agree, the sound is definitely punk-adjacent and/or fully punk depending on how you define it.

This wasn't as spicy as I was initially intending it to be.

Rudy Fischmann's avatar

If speed is a requisite in your mind then I’m wondering if there were some loud and sloppy ass surf bands that might qualify. Pacific Northwest, I’m looking at you.

Andrew Smith's avatar

I like where this is headed. Maybe we can have a listening session next time we hang out. I'd be down to dive deeper here.

Ever listen to Los Saicos?

Rudy Fischmann's avatar

Not in depth. I’d definitely be down for a hang soon. I’ve been meaning to reach out. BTW I might have a driver’s license soon. But I’ve said too much…

Andrew Smith's avatar

Baby step: a video call for next month

Rudy Fischmann's avatar

I’ll be in touch.