Very few bands get to cherish the success of an acclaimed debut, and back in the heyday of punk, even fewer made it into a studio to record. For a genre hellbent on crafting the most crude and awe-inspiring live performances, there are stories of hopeful bands simply being unable to capture their live sets in a controlled studio, deciding not to release the recordings rather than put their name on something that felt inauthentic. That is why classic punk albums are not only a proper documentation of a colorful era in music, but they are hectic testaments to the bands that created them. Black Flag’s Damaged, Bad Brains’s self-titled debut, and Gorilla Biscuits’s Start Today are just a few LPs that come to mind when brainstorming punk albums that have withstood the test of time.
One classic album captures the ferocity and angst of the early West Coast punk movement. While it was the band’s lone studio outing, it is one of the most authentic representations of punk’s golden age. In 1979, Germs released their only studio album (GI) on Slash Records. It is considered the first full-length hardcore punk album, and even decades after its initial release, the original line-up’s energy is palpable. Initially, it was composed of vocalist Darby Crash, bassist Lorna Doom, guitarist/vocalist Pat Smear, and drummer Don Bolles. Crash formed the band in 1976 with their first single, “Forming,” released in ‘77. Although the band underwent many lineup changes throughout their far-too-short tenure, their impact on hardcore punk is undeniable. Thankfully, we have their iconic debut album and a selection of YouTube videos to keep the Germs army growing.
That brings us to this week’s Golden Age Thursday, where we take a look at Germs tearing down the iconic punk venue the Whisky during a 1979 performance, with Crash’s throat-burning vocals cutting through the dense, unpredictable rhythms of Bolles. Even though few of us were most likely in attendance for this show, the grainy footage transports you right into the middle of the slam-dancing audience and gives us a look at the undeniable Germs. You can watch the full performance below.
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GERMS RULE!