The DESCENDENTS/ALL - These guys are without a doubt my favorite band, and in my eyes the best pop-punk band out there. EVERYONE must own copies of Milo Goes To College, Somery and Allroy's Revenge!!
The Descendents formed in southern California in 1978 as a power-trio (Frank Navetta on guitar, Tony Lombardo on bass, Bill Stevenson on drums), doing songs about "rejection, food, coffee, girls, fishing, and food". The band has since gone through quite a few changes (hell, it's been over 20 years; see their Family Shrub) and is now more widely known as ALL, owning its own recording studio, The Blasting Room, and its own record label, Owned and Operated, both in the town of Fort Collins, Colorado.
It was listening to the Somery compiliation that first got me hooked on the awesome, "caffinated" brand of music produced by these guys; and it soon led to my undying devotion to the mighty ALL (after which the Descendents renamed themselves), "the 5th primary color, the number between zero and infinity, the total extent when nothing else remains"! My quest for ALL is eternal; I live by the ALL-o-Gistics which are my Bible, and with my Bonus Cup as my Holy Grail, I SHALL ACHIEVE!!
Descendents/ALL Links:
ALL Central - The Official ALL Website
The Descendents/ALL Suburban Home Page
Matt Davis' ALL Page
The MISFITS - The masters of horror rock. The Misfits are definitely one of the most inspiring (and underappreciated) bands in recent rock history. Originally a sort of jazz-rock band from Lodi, New Jersey, their sound evolved and changed in the late 70s/early 80s as much and as often as their lineup changed (well, duh). Recommended albums: the Boxed Set for the hardcore Fiend, and the belated Static Age album, which has been hailed as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.
Starting out in 1977 (Glenn Danzig on vocals and keyboard, Jerry Only [real name Jerry Caifa] on bass, and "Manny" on drums), they've evolved from raw, obnoxious punk rock to their own brand of "ghoul rock" to hardcore punk dealing with blood, gore, murder and even a little bit-o-Satan. Now, after an abscence of many years, they're back; and great as ever, even if many beg to differ with me on that. My recommendations: either the Boxed Set, or Static Age, Walk Among Us and both Collection albums. THE MISFITS ROCK!!
Misfits Links:
The Horror Hotel
Evilive's Misfits Page
Misfits Central
RUSH - Surprised to see these guys mentioned among all the punk bands and what not? Ha ha ha! I don't care, Rush is awesome. It's bands like this that are REALLY deserving of a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, not the likes of Bruce Springsteen. They are without question the most talented, most successful, and not to mention the most famous rock band to come from the Great White North (I'm talking Canada, eh?).
The ultimate power-trio known as Rush began in 1969 (Alex Lifeson on guitars, Geddy Lee on bass and lead vocals, John Rutsey on drums) as a cover band, inspired by greats such as Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, and began working small clubs in the Toronto area. They soon began composing original material and performed it live, and in 1974 they recorded and released their self-titled debut album. Rutsey left the band shortly after, and was replaced by the great percussionist Neil Peart, right before their first tour. They spent the next eight or nine years recording and touring nonstop, leaving quite an impressive mark on the rock world in their wake. In the 80s, their music began to change a little with the times, somewhat influenced by new wave and also employing the use of synthesizers, and they stopped releasing an album or two a year as they had previously done; the music they wrote at this time was still nothing short of amazing. The early 90s saw the return to a more rockin' style of music, with the releases of albums like Roll The Bones and Counterparts. In all, Rush has released 16 studio albums, 3 double live albums and a triple live album; all of which are, quite plainly, GOOD MUSIC.
Personal favorites: Fly By Night, Permanent Waves, Rush (the debut album), Moving Pictures, A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Signals, and especially the sci-fi ballad 2112(often considered to be the masterpiece of Rush).
Rush Links:
The Rush/NMS Home Page
Another Work In Progress - The Ultimate Rush Site
Rush: Between Sun And Web
The POLICE - Ah yes, the Police. Originally inspired by the British punk scene of the mid to late 70s, formed in 1977 by three members of various jazz bands (superman drummer Stewart Copeland, virtuoso guitarist Andy Summers, and melodic bassist/wailing vocalist Gordon Sumner, better known as Sting); the Police, nevertheless a great band, were in the right place in the right time, and became one of the greatest pop music phenomena of their time.
Drummer Stewart Copeland stated that they "started out a lot punkier than [they] turned out to be", and their music soon blended in reggae, pop and a little jazz that quickly caught on after the release of their first single, "Roxanne". They released an album once a year (roughly) from 1978 to 1983, and toured the U.S. and the world often in their turbulent rise to fame, but the band soon became known not only for its sense of humor, but especially for the stormy relationships that the band members began to form with each other (i.e. fistfights breaking out during interviews, Sting refusing to play Stewart's songs during the Synchronicity tour, etc).
Even after the highly successful release of their fifth album and the equally successful tour that followed in 1984, bassist and lead songwriter Sting decided to pursue a solo career, and thus breaking up the Police. Though it is hoped by many that they will form once again, it's doubtful that it will ever happen, as not only Sting but Andy and Stewart have successul solo careers, performing on each other's albums at times, but never all together at once!
It's hard to say which Police album is my favorite; they're all really good (it's kinda sad to listen to the music that Sting wrote back in those days and compare it to the tepid crap he does now! And let us not forget that Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland wrote great stuff as well. But I digress), so I'd just say, buy 'em all. You'll thank me for it. If you don't, I will saw off your head with barbed wire. Maybe.
The Police Links:
Swedish Police Page
StingChronicity
The Police FAQ
The DEAD KENNEDYS - Probably the most infamous political punk rock band of the late 1970s and the 80s. I also think they were the only band of their genre who knew what the hell they were talking about, instead of flaunting the simple and weak "fuck the government" mentality, like the punk bands of today do. Once you've heard a few of their songs, you will likely begin to question the way you see the world around you.
The DKs formed in San Francisco in 1978 when Jello Biafra (real name Eric Boucher; a UC Santa Cruz student originally from Boulder, Colorado, who became interested in the Bay Area punk scene) and "East Bay" Ray Glasser (a local guitarist who was also looking to start a band) got together with guitarist 6025, bassist Klaus Floride and drummer Ted (real name Bruce Slesinger), and soon after formed their own record label, Alternative Tentacles, to release their own music on their own terms. Soon they began attracting the attention of many, becoming known for their obnoxious music, Biafra's sarcastic and uncompromisingly scathing lyrics, distinct voice and goofy stage antics, as well as their public pranks; the most infamous of which was Biafra's run for mayor of San Francisco in 1979 (he came in fourth out of ten candidates, forcing Diane Feinstein and Quentin Kopp into a runoff). 6025 left early in the band's career, and D.H. Peligro became their drummer after Ted left in 1981. The band went on to tour the U.S., Europe and other places across the globe in the few years that followed.
Dead Kennedys broke up in 1986, as a result (mostly) of the "Frankenchrist" trial that happened after a horrified parent discovered the poster artwork inside their third album Frankenchrist, and the aftermath of the trial took its toll on the band, especially Biafra, as well. But even though the songs are mostly outdated (they attack then President Ronald Reagan and such), there is still much to be learned from the words, just as the music can definitely still be enjoyed.
I recommend getting the DK's Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death compilation; Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables and Frankenchrist are other good ones.
Dead Kennedys Links:
Alternative Tentacles Records - Dead Kennedys
The Dead Kennedys Place
Dead Kennedys Index
BLACK FLAG - This was one of the pioneer bands of the early punk scene in southern California. Notorious throughout the band's career for the riots that broke out at their shows when visited by police, Black Flag has been dubbed by former singer Henry Rollins as "the heaviest band in the land" during the 1980s.
Formed in late 1977 (Greg Ginn on guitar, Chuck Dukowski on bass, Brian Migdol on drums, and Keith Morris on vocals), Black Flag founded the record label SST, and recorded and released the Nervous Breakdown single and began getting gigs at small local clubs. Migdol left soon afterwards, and drummer Robo joined, but that wasn't the end of the lineup changes for the band. By the time bandleader Greg Ginn broke them up in 1986 (after a wild 9 year ride), they had gone through 3 bassists, 6 drummers, and 4 singers. Nonetheless, the intensity and raw power of Black Flag has earned them a place in rock history. If you ask me, their finest releases are the Damaged and My War albums.
Black Flag Links:
Greg Ginn's Black Flag Page
The Black Flag Page
The Mighty Black Flag
By all means, CHECK THESE BANDS OUT if you haven't already!
(last updated 7.2.2001)
