Los Angeles punk rock had a chip on its shoulder. Our city was a place of
Raymond Chandler, The Doors, and Charlie Manson, not The Eagles and Farrah Fawcett.
This playlist reflects some of the range of style and sounds, but some music was left out because it wasn't even available on digital formats.
Here's some of the real-deal, leaded-gasoline, sun-baked, wild-in-the-streets music that helped influence future generations of rock 'n' rollers.
1. “Los Angeles” by X
We wanted to change people’s perception of L.A. back to something akin to film noir.
Charles Bukowski. The Doors or the viciousness of 5th and Main in 1977.
2. “Don’t Push Me Around” by The Zeros
From San Diego, these guys were Hispanic teenagers who went to high school in the day and played punk rock at night. Generally known as the Mexican Ramones. Robert Lopez went on to become El Vez.
3. “Rise Above” by Black Flag
Under less judgmental circumstances this song would’ve been a bona fide hit song. It was the shape of things to come. Rollins kicked the band into high gear.
4. “Solitary Confinement” by The Weirdos
Here’s more evidence that punk rock songs are catchy as hell with the darkest sense of humor. A band that everyone thought would be the first breakout band, but it’s still a mystery what happened.
5. “Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs” by The Minutemen
A fusion of punk rock, jazz, prog, and stream of conscious all rolled into 1:29 of jagged precision. Here’s proof that all SST bands weren’t hardcore. Mike Watt continues his stream of consciousness.
6. “American Music” by The Blasters
Though part of a second wave, the Blasters and their kind of raw, loud roots music fit seamlessly into the punk rock fury of 1978. They could always hold their own with FEAR or any other speed demons. Could also probably kick their asses in a fist fight.
7. “This Town” by The Go-Gos
Such pop songs and fun. Everyone was mystified why it took three years for them to get signed and go to no. 1! After they became America’s Sweethearts, no one believed that they cut their teeth in dark, beer-soaked, punk-rock basements.
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8. “Kill the Hippies” by The Deadbeats
Classic L.A. punk rock: short, fast, repeated chorus lyrics, but surprisingly tight playing. I don’t think we wanted to actually kill hippies. We just wanted something more fun and less laid back, more room to make noise and fuck things up, just like that totally OUTSIDE guitar solo.
9. “Nothing Means Nothing Anymore” by The Alley Cats
TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT! Punk rock then would be just rock by today’s standards. These guys never really hung out, and were all the more strange and rare for it.
10. “Manimal” by Germs
With a huge appetite for chaos and disaster, here’s an autobiographical song from Mr. Darby Crash. Since their live shows were like demolition derbies, it blew everyone’s mind that they could make such a professional-sounding record.
11. “Trouble at the Cup” by Black Randy and the Metrosquad
Gay hustlers, metro cops, and drug addicts were everything that Black Randy knew and loved. Drugs were his weakness and he was dead by 1982.
12. “Code Blue” by T.S.O.L.
By this point, things had changed in Los Angeles. Hardcore was redefining punk rock with even more shock value, testosterone, and suburban rage. As evidenced here, the music wasn’t always hard, fast, and loud.
13. “See You in the Boneyard” by The Flesh Eaters
A kind of punk rock, indie super group with members of The Blasters, X, and Los Lobos. The voodoo ritualistic sounds and lyrics are a true testament to Chris D’s dark genius. Who says punk rock can’t have both marimba and saxophone.
14. “The World’s a Mess (It’s in My Kiss)” by X
Little did we realize what an anthem this was. The message and music are true as ever. A truly great and prophetic lyric by Exene. It was considered radical to have Ray Manzarek play on and produce our record. I’m still proud of that.
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John Doe is the author of
Under the Big Black Sun. He has worked as a roofer, an aluminum siding mechanic, a manager of poetry readings, a musician, and an actor. He met Exene Cervenka at the Venice poetry workshop in 1976 and started working with Billy Zoom around the same time. When DJ Bonebrake joined X in mid-1977, the lineup was complete. As one of the last original punk rock bands standing, they continue to tour, most recently with Blondie and Pearl Jam in front of stadium-sized crowds and audiences born after the band's formation. Doe has recorded eight solo records with numerous renowned singers and musicians, and as an actor has appeared in over 50 films and television productions, including
Road House,
Great Balls of Fire,
Boogie Nights, and
Roswell. He currently tours as both a solo artist and with X. Doe lives north of San Francisco.