While their tenure was cut short and attempted to be revived over the years, the early days of the Dead Boys have yet to be recaptured. The fact that we got two studio LPs during their late 70’s run is miraculous and meant to be cherished, not duplicated. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Dead Boys was formed by vocalist Stiv Bator, rhythm guitarist Jimmy Zero, bassist Jeff Magnum, lead guitarist Cheetah Chrome, and drummer Johnny Blitz. The band officially began playing in 1975, but it wasn’t until 1977, when Dead Boys made it to New York, that their career took off.
Dead Boys became a frequent flyer at the legendary CBGB’s in New York City. Shortly after moving to the city, the band released their Genya Ravan-produced debut, Young, Loud, and Snotty, on Sire Records. The tracklist contained “Sonic Reducer,” the band’s most successful single, which has gone on to be crowned an early anthem for NYC’s burgeoning punk scene. Their sophomore effort, We Have Come for Your Children, arrived in 1978, but for this Golden Age Thursday, we will focus on Dead Boys’ arrival in the New York punk scene. Recorded back in ‘77, we have a complete set from Dead Boys at their home club, CBGB’s. The band runs through some highlights from their first two albums, along with “Search and Destroy,” a tune that never made it to a studio LP. The performance is vulgar, frantic, and mesmerizing as the young Dead Boys cement themselves as one of the most underrated live acts to come out of the early days of punk.
