In 1979, Penelope Spheeris set out to capture the moments that catapulted the underground West Coast Punk Scene into the mainstream. The director followed bands that would eventually become the legends we know today for two years. The movie The Decline of Western Civilization was released in 1981 and featured the likes of X, Black Flag, Alice Bag Band, and Circle Jerks.
The documentary caught Circle Jerks at a particularly special time in their career. While filming the movie, the band was still a year and some change away from their classic debut, Group Sex, hitting the shelves of record stores. For this Golden Age Thursday, we look at the rowdy Circle Jerks performance Spheeris captured for The Decline of Western Civilization. Along with interviews with the young soon-to-be legends, Circle Jerks performed some select cuts from their debut record. The energy is palpable even all these years later, showcasing exactly why Circle Jerks’ legacy has withstood the test of time.