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  • The Dead Boys

    Originating in Cleveland, Ohio, The Dead Boys were Stiv Bators (vocals), Cheetah Chrome (lead guitar), Jimmy Zero (rhythm guitar), Johnny Blitz (drums) and Jeff Magnum (bass guitar).

    Emerging from the wreckage of Rocket From The Tombs, Cheetah and Blitz took Stiv Bators straight from the stage at the bands last performance to form a band known as Frankenstein. This was actually the beginning of The Dead Boys. Other Rocket members would form Pere Ubu. Bators had been in a band called Mother Goose prior and already had a reputation with bombastic style and performance antics.

    Constrained by Cleveland’s small city atmosphere, The Dead Boys were convinced to relocate to New York City, where a like-minded scene was forming in the wake of bands like Suicide and The Ramones at CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City.

    Links:

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Boys
    Discogs.com: https://www.discogs.com/artist/266431-The-Dead-Boys

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  • Stiv Bators

    Stiv Bators of The Dead Boys, Lords of the New Church

    Iconic frontman of both The Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church, Stiv Bators grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, born Steven John Bator (*October 22, 1949 – †June 4, 1990). His first forays into the world of music was in proto punk bands like Rocket From The Tombs and Frankenstein, along with future members of what would evolve into The Dead Boys, who would move on to the New York punk movement forming around bands like Television, The Ramones and fellow Ohioans, The Cramps.

    After the Dead boys came to an end in 1979 during the recording of their second album, Stiv Bator recorded as a solo artist in Los Angeles for Bomp! Records. Eventually he would relocate to London to work with David Tregunna of Sham 69 as The Wanderers, but meanwhile forming a musical relationship with Brian James of The Damned, a project which would come to be known as The Lords of the New Church.

    He appeared in the films Polyester (directed by John Waters, 1981) and Tapeheads (1988) and is the subject of a documentary film Stiv: No Compromise, No Regrets (2019). He is portrayed in the movie CBGB (2013) by Justin Bartha, about the rise of the iconic New York venue and centers largely around the antics of The Dead Boys.
    In 1990, Stiv Bators died in his home in Paris after sustaining an injury being struck by a car. Not believing he was seriously injured, he died in his sleep. He was 40 years old. His ashes were scattered over the grave of Jim Morrison, as well as according to some statements, snorted by a select group of friends.

    Links:

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

    This profile is in development. Contributions?