There are plenty of ties between punk rock and Hip-hop. The anti-authoritarian aggression, the raw energy, thought-provoking, fearless lyrics, but above all, skateboarding continues as a connective tissue between these two worlds. The connection between skate culture and punk rock dates back to the start of the genre itself, with the California punk movement being heavily influenced by the West Coast skate culture. Although skating and punk rock tie together through several lanes, one of the earliest adopters of the cultural marriage is California’s Nardcore movement, and Ill Repute is just one of the shining examples of this.
Ill Repute began in 1981 with the original lineup containing John Phaneuf on vocals, guitarist Tony Cortez, bassist Jimmy Callahan, and drummer Carl Valdez. They are alumnus of Mystic Records, but their breakthrough came with the Poshboy Records release of “Clean Cut American Kid,” a single which skyrocketed Ill Repute onto college radio stations.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we take you back to a night where skating and punk were celebrated equally, as Ill Repute and fellow skating punks came together for a rowdy night at Hollywood’s Stardust Ballroom. At the beginning of the footage, a poster for the night is shown with a stellar lineup containing Big Boys, Aggression, and The Faction. The poster boasts that it is “LA’s first all skate gig,” and the footage shows a night of celebration. Ill Repute tears about their set with the raw energy that made them the hardcore mainstays they are today. You can watch the complete set below.
