Led by one of the most powerful frontwomen of all time, The Avengers are one of the more interesting punk bands to emerge from the West Coast. Outside of the fact that Marvel made it difficult to find footage of this band, and that they were the opening band for the Sex Pistols on the final show of their infamous 1978 U.S. tour, The Avengers maintain a strong presence in the punk history books. Vocalist Penelope Houston would prove to be the driving factor of the band’s longevity.
The Avengers were formed when drummer Danny Furious and guitarist Greg Ingraham approached Huston to be the vocalist for their new band. The lineup was completed with the addition of bassist Jonathon Wilsey, who Jimmy Wilsey quickly replaced. Given that this initial lineup lasted only two years, it is impressive to reflect on the band’s impact. Their sole release in their early days, the three-song We Are the One, is an essential listen for any punk fanatic, which brings us to this Golden Age Thursday. We have the complete footage from The Avengers’ opening slot during the famous Sex Pistols’ iconic tour, which rolled through the band’s hometown of San Francisco in January of 1978. You can watch the electrifying performance below.
