West Coast Teenage fuck ups

dedicated to Nick Traina

R.I.P.

     For those of you who dont know who Nick Traina was, this is a little story of an East Bay (as in Gilman St. home to Rancid, AFI, Operation Ivy and many more) punk/ska band. Better known as Link-80. They started back in the early 90s. Not rare at all for a bunch of teenage kids to have a band around here, however rare to find a one that made an impact. This is Link-80, whos original line up included an obsessive compulsive nerd, a geeky looking jazz fan, a tougher than shit crusty, a rap lovin pot head, and a fuck up. If you know any of the original members you will know whom im talking about, but that's not the point of this Like I said, they were young, but much more than that, they were good. Scratch that, they were great. Of course they didn't start out that way, but they got there soon enough. They started as your basic hardcore punk rock band, they even covered Nirvana (pretty punk huh?). As time progressed, so did their sound. Soon they added a trumpet to the band, as they started to dabble into Ska and Reggae. Next they made the biggest move in their history so far, they got a new singer. His name was Nick Traina. Nick looked and acted the way your arch-typical punk would. He had his spikey hair, a few earings, a spiked jacket with a misfits patch, and eventually a bunch of tatoos. But Nick did much more than sing for the band, he gave them substance, meaning, and ideals. One of the most infamous rallying cries he coined was " FUCK AGEISM ". This was due to all the flack Link-80 got for being so young, yet so awesome. It was obvious that many of the older folks in our humble punk rock scene were envious. But Link-80 was an inspiration to many of the local youth, not simply becuase they were young, but they were also part of a revival, they infact are one of the many bands that are responsible for bringning ska back to life in the 90s. Sure they played punk and ska, just like Operation Ivy did about a decade before them, but they had their own little mix to it, literally.  They really just had the most ingenious ways of mixing together punk rocks pure energy, with Ska's smooth jamaican melodies and beats.

     Around early 97' the band really started to pick up, they were touring all over the country, and were also signed to Mike Parks label, ASIAN MAN RECORDS. They soon released their first full length album 17 reasons. The band also began to experience problems they hadnt faced before, many of which revolved arround Nick. First of all, Nick had a drug problem, he was addicted to heroin. He had OD on the band twice, which made Link-80 want to give him the boot, but they stuck with him anyway. Another interesting thing began to buzz around the Bay Area .

     A vicious rumor, that Nick infact was a rich kid, the son of famous author Danielle Steel. The rumors were true. More vicious rumors began to spread, things like Danielle Steel had funded the Link-80 tours, and merchandise. That Nick owned all of Link-80s musical equipment, and many other silly things along the same lines. However, these rumors were not true. After facing many rumors Link-80 faced an even greater ordeal, propanda that was actually passed out and created my a local East Bay celebrity, Jeff Ott. Jeff Ott is known for such bands as Crimpshrine, and 15. He was also known for accusing Operation-Ivy of stealing lyrics from him. To me personally he is known as an asshole who should be shot. Jeff Ott liked to preach a sXeis message a lot. He saw Link-80 as an easy target, being that they were already subjected to many rumors. Jeff began printing flyers stating all of the rumors, and accusing them of being " capitalist pigs ", and dubbed them " East Bay rich core ". Some flyers went so far as to accuse Nick and Adam (the bassist) of rape!  Nick seemed to take it all with a grain of salt, even as to poke fun at it by wearing a shirt that said, " IM A SEXIST PIG ". On the downside many bought into Jeff Otts propagana, many loyal fans turned their backs, and 924 Gilman St. even banned them for awhile due to incedents fueled by the propaganda. After a while things were cleared up for the most part, however many still still held a distaste for Link-80. They began another nation wide tour in the summer. When they returned in late July the news had spread, Nick OD'd again and was kicked out of the band. For a while nothing had been heard nor said about Link-80, it was like the phenemenon just dissappeared.  Nick was said to have started a new band called KNOWLEDGE. But not much was known about them.

     No let me give you things from a more personal point of view. I remember the day becuase it was a Sunday show at Gilman St.. The ever so great Neurosis was playing that day. I was sitting on the side walk waitin for the next band to come on, when one of my friends came running up to me frantically. " Did you hear about Nick? " she said to me. "Yeah yeah, he was kicked out, I know, I know. Thats old news." I replied. "No he overdosed." She said to me. "I know, thats why he was kicked out." I answered. What she said next didn't quite register in my head, it just didn't make sense, it just couldn't be true .......... She told me "Nicks dead." Nick overdosed on heroin in mid September.

     This May 16th a memorial show was held at Slims in San Francisco for Nick Traina. The bands included MU330, Bruce Lee Band, Link-80, Powerhouse, the Hoods, All Bets Off, Subincision, and the Blast Bandits. It was a terrific show. There was free food, and drinks, even free Nick Traina memorial show shirts. While there, I had the oppurtunity to hear some songs recorded by Nicks band after Link-80, KNOWLEDGE. It was the best music I have heard in the longest time. If you like Link-80, you will love Knowledge. They played pure SKA and Reggae, and the music was absolutely beautiful, it brought me close to tears. I dont know if the songs are being released, but if they are I strongly urge anyone who likes ska and reggae, and even punk to check them out. And for those of you who dont know Link-80, they have 2 releases on ASIAN MAN RECORDS. "17 Reasons", a full length album, and "Killin Katie" (kill link 80) which contains tracks for an upcomming ablum that was never finished due to obvious reasons . Both are equally great.  I'd just like to say farewell and thank you to Nick. Nick would have been 20 this May 1st had he not passed away.

"This is not a phase. This wont be outgrown. Weve got things to say, I am not alone"

- Nick Traina

Sing on and dance harder nick

Thank you - Nate V