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  • Mau Maus

    Location: Los Angeles  

    Active: 1978

    Punk band from Hollywood, California formed in 1978. Rick Wilder is a notorious scenester known for his wild attitude, formerly frontman of The Berlin Brats, a proto-punk glam band that had racked up equal infamy in Hollywood. Bobby Bones has contributed his guitar to The Flesheaters, Demolition Gore Galore and an album with Nikki Sudden of Swell Maps. Paul Marmorstein was replaced by Nicky Beat (The Germs, The Weirdos, The Cramps) when he left to join The Joneses with other Mau Mau Scott Franklin. Franklin played bass with The Cramps for a time, and was later with Mr. Badwrench. Marmorstein, aka Paul Mars later formed L.A. Guns. The California Mau Maus are not to be confused with the UK band of the same name. They appeared on the sequel ‘Hell Comes To Your House’ compilation along with The Joneses, Cambridge Apostles and Tex And The Horseheads, which was more of an exploration of the emergent cowpunk phenomenon than its predecessor’s focus on deathrock.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/878569-Mau-Maus-2

    BandCamp: http://maumaus.bandcamp.com

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mau_Maus

    Related: The Berlin Brats, The Flesheaters, Demolition Gore Galore, The Germs, The Weirdos, The Cramps, The Joneses, L.A. Guns, Mr. Badwrench, Mau Maus (UK), Tex And The Horseheads, Cambridge Apostles, Rick Wilder, Bobby Bones, Paul Marmorstein, Nicky Beat, Scott Franklin, Hell Comes To Your House, Hollywood, California

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  • 1984

    Location: Rzeszów, Poland 

    Active: 1985 – present

    Polish new wave band formed by original vocalist Krzysztof ‘Bufet’ Bara and guitarist Mizerny aka Piotr Liszcz (previously in the band Modeln) in 1985, along with Wojciech “Pancerny” Trześniowski on bass, and Leszek Cielak as drummer. They recorded their debut LP ‘Radio Rzeszów’ soon after formation. In 1986 Piotr Liszcz and Krzysztof Bara formed Wańka Wstańka, and Pawel “Tschester” Tauter (ex. Blind Eyes) spent some time as vocalist until leaving to the USA, and Piotr Liszcz moved permanently from guitar to vocals.

    1984 enjoyed success on the eastern markets with fellow Polish wave bands like Siekiera, Variete and Madame. They recorded for radio programs and national compilations, including a session for John Peel of the BBCs Radio 1 in the UK. Despite this, it was difficult for bands east of the wall to achieve success further afield. They remained active however and with the postpunk explosion and rediscovered interest in non-English language bands they reached new audiences in the new millennium. 1984 still performs into the 2020s.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/829673-1984-5

    Related: Siekiera, Variete, Madame, Modeln, Poland

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  • Carcrash International

    Location: London 

    Active: 1983 – 1985, 1993 – 1995

    Photo by Mick Mercer, 1984

    Bassist Dave Robert’s of Sex Gang Children got together with Lester Jones of Crisis after they departed those bands to form Carcrash International. They contributed the theme to the Dave Roberts compiled various artists LP ‘The Whip’. Along for the ride on that one was Matthew Best (Psychic TV) who also played a solo piano track. Roberts’ former Sex Gang bandmate Nigel Preston then joined, he had also been in Theatre Of Hate and was the drummer for Death Cult in 1983 when they became the Cult. Other contributors were David Glass of Christian Death and Nicky Garratt of UK Subs on Carcrash’s 1993 sole album, ‘Fragments Of A Journal In Hell’. They only released a handful of 12”s aside from the above-mentioned album.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/290186-Carcrash-International

    BandCamp:

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcrash_International

    Related: Sex Gang Children, Crisis, Psychic TV, Theatre Of Hate, Death Cult, Christian Death, The Cult, UK Subs, Dave Roberts, Lester Jones, Matthew Best, Nigel Preston, David Glass, Nicky Garratt, The Whip, London, UK

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  • Crisis

    Location: London 

    Active: 1977

    Punk group formed in London in 1977 by Tony Wakeford, Douglas Pearce, Phrazer and Lester Jones. Their stance was highly political; they were adamantly anti-fascist, focusing on anti-racism, criticizing the British government, and promoting worker solidarity. Their distinct sound distinguished them from the one chord wonder bands in the punk scene of that time, and helped influence bands like Warsaw (later to become Joy Division) and Killing Joke. They paved the way for what would start to become the Postpunk sound, a forerunner of which was known as positive-punk.

    This was punk with a strong message, and while some presented such in a pessimistic way like The Mob, or ironically like Blood And Roses and the Kill Your Pet Puppy collective associed bands, sometimes also the Anarcho bands associated with Crass, Crisis was straightforward: “We can change the destructive world through solidarity and standing up against fascist governments.” Singer Phrazer (he would audition unsuccessfully for Actifed) departed in 1979 along with their original drummer, when Luke Rendle and Dexter joined. By 1980 they called it a day, but not before a final gig supporting Bauhaus and Magazine.

    After they broke up, Douglas Pearce and Tony Wakeford would form Death In June at the forefront of an emerging genre known as neo-folk. Luke Rendel would join Theatre Of Hate. Lester Jones formed Carcrash International with Dave Roberts of Sex Gang Children and also played with Andi Sexgang. Wakeford later performed as Sol Invictus. In 2018, Tony Wakeford revived the band, carrying on its anti-fascist stance.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/288492-Crisis-2

    BandCamp: https://crisisuk.bandcamp.com

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_(punk_band)

    Related: Theatre Of Hate, Sex Gang Children, Actifed, Death In June, Carcrash International, Warsaw, Joy Division, Killing Joke, The Mob, Blood And Roses, Crass, Bauhaus, Magazine, Tony Wakeford, Douglas Pearce, Phrazer, Lester Jones, Dave Roberts, Andi Sexgang, London, UK

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  • 1919

    Location: Bradford, UK 

    Active: 1980 – 1984, 2014 – present

    The band began in 1980 in Bradford, near Leeds, UK, with Ian Tilleard on vocals, Mark Tighe on guitar, Mick Reed on drums and Nick Hiles on bass. Their tribal influenced drumming and bass creates a dance friendly sound they echo from Killing Joke’s most approachable angles, and presented a solid template for what would become known as the postpunk sound. Their debut LP ‘Machine’ was released in 1982, as well as a session with John Peel, an influential radio presenter for the BNC who was known for championing punk and gothic artists like UK Decay and Bauhaus, along with dozens of other well known names from England, Europe and elsewhere. In 1983 Steve Madden stepped in on bass, performed another Peel Session. They put out the ‘Cry Wolf’ singles, and recorded for their final EP, ‘Earth Song’ released after their dissolution soon after.

    After 1919 disbanded, Tighe, Tilleard and Madden formed Another Cinema. Reed recruited synth player who had played with 1919, Paul Drake, and formed The Hive. In 2014 Mark Tighe reformed the band with newcomer Rio Goldhammer on vocals.

    Official: https://1919.co.uk

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/278396-1919

    BandCamp: https://1919official.bandcamp.com/

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919_(band)

    Related: Killing Joke, John Peel, Another Cinema, The Hive, Ian Tilleard, Mark Tighe, Mick Reed, Nick Hiles, Steve Madden, Bradford, Leeds, UK

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  • Boys Next Door

    Location: Melbourne, Australia

    Active: 1977 – 1980

    Coming together in 1977 with Nick Cave, Phill Calvert, Tracey Pew and Mick Harvey, later adding Rowland S Howard on second guitar. But there was a long history of the band together prior to that. Nick Cave had been singing with Harvey, Calvert and Pew in bands together since 1974, the later three had been playing since 1972, all in various party bands while they were students together. Tracey Pew learned bass from Chris Walsh of The Moodists. They all paired up again after graduating and chose the name Boys Next Door in 1977, inspired by the punk explosion in Australia with bands like Radio Birdman and The Saints. The Boys Next Door were gigging for about a year when they released their first single, a cover of ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’ – covers were a large part of their repertoire, like ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ and ‘I Put A Spell On You’. They were joined that year by Rowland S. Howard, after Young Charlatans split, bringing with him the song ‘Shivers’. Their first album ‘Door, Door’ was released in 1979. By 1980 they decided to take themselves more seriously and moved to London, and wasted no time in changed their name to The Birthday Party, though their set list remained the same material.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/78466-The-Boys-Next-Door

    Related: Birthday Party, The Moodists, Young Charlatans, Nick Cave, Rowland S. Howard, Phill Calvert, Tracey Pew, Mick Harvey

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  • Sunglasses After Dark

    Location: London

    Active: 1981 – 1984

    Taking their name from a Cramps song, Sunglasses After Dark incorporated plenty of that energy into their sound, with a healthy streak of both psychobilly and gothic. Members were Bailie Harkness, David “Mitch” Mitchell, Mark Steadman, Simon Cohen, a violinist and artist who contributes to albums from Alien Sex Fiend, Ritual and Demented Are Go (who he played violin for) and others. Their 1984 ‘Morbid Silence’ single was produced by Andi Sex Gang of Sex Gang Children. They were on both the ‘Blood On The Cats’ and its sequel, ‘Revenge Of The Killer Pussies’ compilations, a clear biopsy showing the cross-section of gothic and psychobilly at the infancy of the two genres. They released just one live recorded LP, also on Anagram Records, but following the album tour which was plagued by disasters they disbanded. A retrospective compilation was released in 2008 when Anagram began a series of gothic and post punk albums, like the ‘Last Exit’ compilation from Ausgang.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/1283548-Sunglasses-After-Dark-2

    Related: The Cramps, Alien Sex Fiend, Ritual, Sex Gang Children, Simon Cohen, Andi Sex Gang, Anagram Records, London, Blood On The Cats, Revenge Of The Killer Pussies

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  • Scratch Acid

    Location: Austin, Texas

    Active: 1982 – 1987

    A pioneer of noise rock/post punk from Austin Texas, similar to Fugazi, Big Black and Cindytalk. They claimed a kinship with bands like Sonic Youth and Butthole Surfers, and were compared to the Birthday Party in their time. They only released one LP, but a two EPs and singles amounted to a decent body of work for their five year run. ‘Greatest Gift’ was released as a collection album by Touch And Go in 1991. After Scratch Acid, David Yow and David Sims formed alternative rock band The Jesus Lizard. Yow would also collaborate with Pigface, Off!, Cop Shoot Cop, and stood in for Flipper’s Bruce Loose for their 2015 and 2019 reunions. Scratch Acid performed a few reunion shows post 2000.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/219388-Scratch-Acid

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scratch_Acid

    BandCamp: https://scratchacid.bandcamp.com/

    Related: Birthday Party, Pigface, Off!, Cop Shoot Cop, and stood in for Flipper, David Yow, Steve Albini, Austin, Texas

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  • Social Distortion

    Location: Fullerton, California

    Active: 1978 – 1985, 1986 – present

    Mike Ness with the an early lineup of brothers Frank (Der Stab, 45 Grave, TSOL) and Rikk Agnew (Christian Death) and Casey Royer (D.I., Adolescents, Adz). The roster altered drastically over the first year of the band, ultimately with Ness taking over on vocals, bringing in Dennis Danell, who was like Ness, a guitar novice at the time. This would be the core of the band. Their first show with this more stable lineup was in 1979.

    Their first single Mainliner/Playpen came out in 1981 on Posh Boy. In 1982 they went on tour across North America, documented in the film ‘Another State Of Mind’ with their eponymous track as the theme song. After the disastrous tour limped home (spoiler: the bus didn’t survive), they followed up with their debut album ‘Mommy’s Little Monster’ on their own label. Social Distortion was also featured on the landmark compilation ’Hell Comes To Your House’ with Christian Death and 45 Grave.

    The band went on hiatus in 1985 after Ness’ addiction to drugs came to a head. They returned in 1986 however and their 1988 album Prison Bound took a more country direction, oddly solicited to their already melancholic nature. The redemption cliche was successful, however, and they enjoyed widespread success among a crowd of punks who may have undergone similar reformations, not to mention a new more commercial audience.

    Official: https://www.socialdistortion.com

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/255058-Social-Distortion

    BandCamp: https://craftrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/mommys-little-monster-remastered-2023

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Distortion

    Related: Der Stab, 45 Grave, TSOL, Christian Death, D.I., Adolescents, Adz, Mike Ness, Rikk Agnew, Casey Royer, Dennis Danell, Another State Of Mind, Hell Comes To Your House, Fullerton, California

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  • Voodoo Church

    Location: Los Angeles

    Active: 1981 – 1983

    After vocalist and graphic artist Dave Grave disbanded Zombie Legion, he formed Voodoo Church in April of 1981. He was joined by Tina Winter and Rob Reimer. Only one 12” was released, but Dave Grave had already left the band, with former bass player Tina Winter taking over on vocals and Jeff Porter filling in on bass. They were the perfect love child of 45 Grave and Christian Death. The cover of the EP on sweet red vinyl was photographed by renowned punk photographer Ed Colver, using double exposure photography for a ghostly effect. Though they remained relatively undiscovered for many years, their focus on gothic aesthetic and subject matter has earned them recognition as one of Los Angeles prime examples of California deathrock.

    Voodoo Church performed at venues like Zombie Zoo and Anti-Club around Californian for their brief existence. They also played for the television program New Wave Theatre, which also hosted 45 Grave, Castration Squad, Bad Religion, Fear, Legal Weapon and UXA among others – a scheduled Christian Death performance did not occur unfortunately.

    Voodoo Church reunited for another album and some shows in 2001, but with an unclear direction and a more hard rock approach that didn’t capture the spirit of the original band after such a long absence. Despite the effort of scene veteran Tony Havoc (Scarlets Remains, Radio Scarlet, Culture Hex) on drums and deathhawk, after two albums, neither attained the same sound as the original, primarily through production quality. Tina Winter appeared on a gawdy reality television home-makeover show.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/439770-Voodoo-Church

    Related: 45 Grave, Christian Death, Zombie Legion, Frankenstein, Anti-Club, New Wave Theatre, Dave Grave, Tina Winter, Tony Havoc

    This profile is in development. Contributions?