For this Golden Age Thursday, we have a special treat for fans of the early hardcore scene. Today, we look at arguably one of the most influential and inarguably one of the most memorable bands from the 80s California hardcore explosion, a band that set trends only to later find them corny and create something entirely new. In 1977, Frank Navetta, Tony Lombardo, and Bill Stevenson began work on a little band they called Descendents, and punk was altered. With the addition of iconic frontman Milo Aukerman in 1979, the jovial punk provocateurs set off on what would become a turbulent, memorable, and unmistakable career.
With lineup changes, infectiously passionate live shows, and restless creativity, Descendants have positioned themselves as heroes of the ’80s hardcore scene. On this lovely Spring Thursday, sun shining down on freshly grown grass and blooming flowers, we head into a damp St. Louis basement. We have some freshly surfaced and digitally remastered VHS footage of a Descendents show from 1987, recorded somewhere between Enjoy and All. The electrifying performance highlights the band’s penchant for pop-leaning melodies and how they blend them with their hardcore tendencies. You can watch the full concert below.
