The community of hardcore punk is a loud and proud one. Looking at old footage from the genre’s infancy showcases crowds of teenagers slamming into each other to indecipherable music, at least that’s what the uneducated see. A more keen eye views these classic videos as a tribe of like-minded individuals bolstering the singularity of each other, creating a space for both free expression and musical prowess. The ones who paved the way for this community to flourish should be thanked, and next on our list of praise comes China White.
The band formed in Huntington Beach, California, in the late 1970s, just as punk was on the verge of eruption and the socio-political climate of Southern California was reaching a breaking point. The band’s 1981 EP, Danger Zone, has become essential listening for this new wave of hardcore fanatics, which brings us to this Golden Age Thursday. This week, we have a rare live performance of the title track from China White’s seminal release. The footage is taken from a documentary made by Dutch filmmaker Frans Bromet called SurfPunks, which was released as a TV special in 1981. The captivating footage highlights exactly how China White became one of the more influential bands of the hardcore movement through a fiery performance of a timeless classic.
