“Hi friends! Doc here with another “Strange Stories” from my past. This time up it’s the BEST band I’ve ever seen….”
Fenders 1985 Bad Brains, The Adicts and Major Accident
Yeah, that IS a weird line-up huh? But it was an amazing gig! I’ve been to many gigs and have seen hundreds of bands and NONE of them even come close to The Bad Brains. Seriously, it’s something you just “had to be there” to believe. They played great plus HR’s “acrobatics” on stage made them the BEST band I’ve ever seen.
The Adicts were cool but Major Accident was even better. The Fenders (in Long Beach, Ca) was always a dangerous place to go. A lot of gangs; Suicidal Tendencies, Nazi Skinheads plus just your “normal” [non-punk] gangs. People were stabbed and shot outside and beaten inside (by skinheads usually). I never really enjoyed going the The Fenders but they had a ton of great bands that played and seeing the Bad Brains was worth the risk.
*Want more info on this story? e-mail me directly atdrstrange@drstrange.com or if you want music, shirts, buttons etc… from this band or others, visit the world’s largest PUNK ROCK site at www.drstrange.com
Hey Punks! Heads Up! You Don’t wanna miss this Dr. Strange Records EXCLUSIVE…. Minor Threat “Try Not To Forget” LP the whole album is Live recordings from 1983 when Minor threat played as a 5-piece band for the first time! Pressed in White, Purple, Orange, and Blue wax ONLY 125 of each, and ONLY available at Dr. Strange Records, and selling FAST! get ’em before their gone!!
Hey Gang! Check it out, here’s a new review from The Punk Vault of The Billy Bones’ just-released Lp “The Complexity of Stupidity” out NOW on Dr. Strange Records
The Billy Bones “Complexity of Stupidity” LP
Album Art by John Miner, screened, poster sleeve, hand #’d, colored wax + download card
Billy Bones (the person) was part of the original L.A. punk scene way back in the late 1970′s and was the lead singer of the Skulls. The band never put out a proper record and only appeared on a What? Records compilation which is why a lot of the generations of punk rock fans that followed likely never heard of them. The band didn’t last long enough to record a proper album but they played a lot of shows in their area back then and then disbanded and wasn’t heard from again in any form for decades. Around the year 2000, sole survivor Billy Bones resurrected the Skulls name and put together a new band to play a couple of reunion type shows for special events in the L.A. area and that led to him putting together a new Skulls and recording new material. The material was surprisingly strong and they found a nice blend of the old punk sound with some modern touches and released two great albums before they too disbanded a few years later.
Billy Bones
You can’t keep a good man down and that certainly applies to Mr. Bones as he is back after a somewhat quiet few years with a new band, the aptly titled Billybones. They put out a single a few years ago and now are finally back with their first full length LP. Those familiar with the more recent incarnation of the Skulls will find a lot of similarities in the Billybones to that of the former Skulls. The vocals obviously sound the same but the music is very similar too. The Billybones blend 1970′s style tuneful and punchy punk rock and give it a bit of a modern face lift to keep it from sounding too dated or retro. The songs are mostly fast and upper mid temp with straightforward beats and punchy guitar with occasional short leads. The songs have a lot of sing along choruses and call and response type of structures. They all have catchy hooks and are easy to get stuck in your head and get you singing along to them. These were all the ingredients of what made the modern version of the Skulls so great and that formula has been duplicated here with ear pleasing results. This is a catchy punk rock record with a lot of energy and none of the wimpy pop trappings of what modern pop music trying to market itself as punk is guilty of.
Doctor Strange Records has always supported the vinyl format so it’s no surprise that this comes on the vinyl format. The record (on red vinyl) comes inside a tri-fold silkscreen cover that is printed on two sides. The vinyl is very thick and it has color labels with artwork that matches the album cover. It does not come with any inserts. This is a limited edition of only 250 with another 250 in blue with a blue cover. What it lacks in inserts or information it more than makes up for with some kick ass punk tunes and a cool looking package and this new album is well worth your time.
I am SICK and TIRED of you guys coming in topless to the store! That’s MY “thing” people! Buy a fuckin’ shirt and cover your “milk bags”! Many to choose from & several to piss off your parents; http://www.drstrange.com/punk-rock-clothing.html
Here’s a couple shots of me with my buddy “Ting” (I’m in the yellow sleeved leather jacket). The other was taken with my buddy “Beaman” (I’m in the trenchcoat). Both were taken while I lived with long time friend (since 3rd grade) Gay-Ray and Beeman in our studio apartment. It was cheap but crowded!
Every weekend was a party [whether is was wanted or not] and someone would get their eyebrows shaved off for passing out. (or ever worse). I have a whole photo album full of what we would do if you passed out. Shaved eyebrows, pubes, body hair, dye your hair etc… It got WAY out of control! They never got me by the way. Stay tunes for next Monday’s story. Up next? The Bad Brains!
Dead Kennedys at de Anza Theater, Riverside Ca. 1985 photo: Doc Strange
“Strange Tales From The Doc” October 1985 The Dead Kennedys at The de Anza Theatre
October 1985 The Dead Kennedys at The de Anza Theatre
Growing up in Southern California during the early 80’s was a GREAT time! So many amazing bands would play nearly every weekend. This one was in 1985 at The de Anza Theatre in Riverside, Ca.. The Dead Kennedys! I know that Entropy played that night as well. (Another great band that no one has heard of) and I think Love Canal too.
Dead Kennedys, Cease Fire, Love Canal at de Anza Theater, Riverside, Ca. 1985
As with all DK’s gigs you KNEW “something” was going to go down. Usually the riot squad would show up and break up the gig before they finished playing. True to form that’s exactly what happned! Dead Kennedys went on and people started ripping out the seats and throwing them all around. I always thought that kind of behavior was stupid. We were only fucking things up for ourselves. Anyway, cops came in and the crowd ran out! But they did get to play several songs and it was WAY better than the night at The Longshoremen’s Ballroom! Now that was a full scale Police Action! Tear gas, Riot Squad, Helicopters and beatings (from the cops)……..Until next time, Doc
*Want more info on this story? e-mail me directly atdrstrange@drstrange.com or if you want music, shirts, buttons etc… from this band or others, visit the world’s largest PUNK ROCK site atwww.drstrange.com
Hi Guys! Jinx the Cat from Dr. Strange here. I’ve taken over The Doc’s computer to let you know a bunch of great used t-shirts (for only $4.00 each) arrived yesterday.
And yes we are open on Labor Day and I WILL bite, scratch and then give you kisses if you stop by (but mostly bites)… www.drstrange.com
It’s like you’ve DYED and gone to Punk Rock Heaven… Jerome Russel Punky Colours Hair Dyes, and Fienbing’s Acrylic Leather Jacket Dyes, everything you need to decorate yourself appropriately, you want ’em we got ’em! See more accessories and Cool Punk Stuff HERE….
