The Germs is an influential punk rock band from Los Angeles formed in the late 1970s. Their 1977 single, "Forming/Sexboy (live)", is generally regarded as the first punk record from Los Angeles. Two members went on to join much more famous groups: guitarist Pat Smear joined Nirvana during the band's dramatic last months and has also been a member of the Foo Fighters, and drummer Belinda Carlisle is the lead singer for the Go-Go's (and a successful solo artist.) Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Hardcore Punk is a subgenre of Punk Rock that originated in North America in the late 1970s. ... Present redirects here. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Slash Records is a record label. ... This article is about the band. ... Darby Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) (A.K.A. Bobby Pyn) (September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980)[1][2] was an American[3] punk rock musician who co-founded (with long time friend, Pat Smear) The Germs. ... For the 1960s band, see The Go-Gos (1960s). ... 45 Grave, (also known as . ... Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg on August 5, 1959), is a U.S. rock guitarist who has been a regular member of several well-known bands, albeit of different subgenres: The Germs, Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. ... The Germs are a punk rock band from Los Angeles formed in the late 1970s. ... Shane West (born June 10, 1978) is an American television and film actor. ... Darby Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) (A.K.A. Bobby Pyn) (September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980)[1][2] was an American[3] punk rock musician who co-founded (with long time friend, Pat Smear) The Germs. ... Look up dinky in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Belinda Carlisle on her 1996 single In Too Deep cover Belinda Carlisle (born Belinda Jo Carlisle; also known as Belinda Kurczeski) on August 17, 1958 in Hollywood, California, is the lead vocalist and a founding member of the all-female rock & roll band The Go-Gos and also a... Drummer in L.A. Guns 1988 - ? The Weirdos The Cramps October 1991 - December 1993 ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg on August 5, 1959), is a U.S. rock guitarist who has been a regular member of several well-known bands, albeit of different subgenres: The Germs, Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. ... This article is about the American grunge band. ... This article is about the band. ... Belinda Carlisle (born on August 17, 1958 in Hollywood, California) is the lead vocalist, and a founding member of the all-female new wave band The Go-Gos, as well as a successful solo artist. ... For the 1960s band, see The Go-Gos (1960s). ...

History

The band began when Paul Beahm and Georg Ruthenberg decided they should start a band after being kicked out of University High for antisocial behaviour, allegedly for using 'mind control' on fellow students. The (initially hypothetical) band was named "Sophistifuck & The Revlon Spam Queens," with Beahm (then 'Bobby Pyn,' and later Darby Crash) on vocals, Ruthenberg (then and later called Pat Smear) on guitar, an early member named "Dinky" on bass, and Michelle Baer playing drums. This lineup never played in front of a live audience. Darby Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) (A.K.A. Bobby Pyn) (September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980)[1][2] was an American[3] punk rock musician who co-founded (with long time friend, Pat Smear) The Germs. ... Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg on August 5, 1959), is a U.S. rock guitarist who has been a regular member of several well-known bands, albeit of different subgenres: The Germs, Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. ... Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by an individuals common disregard for social rules, norms, and cultural codes, as well as impulsive behavior, and indifference to the rights and feelings of others. ... Darby Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) (A.K.A. Bobby Pyn) (September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980)[1][2] was an American[3] punk rock musician who co-founded (with long time friend, Pat Smear) The Germs. ... Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg on August 5, 1959), is a U.S. rock guitarist who has been a regular member of several well-known bands, albeit of different subgenres: The Germs, Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. ...

In April '77 the band added a trumpet player, Chia Pet Darna, with transitional member "Dottie Danger" on drums, later famous as Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Go's. Carlisle never actually played with the band, due to her being sidelined by a bout of mononucleosis for an extended period, and she was replaced by her friend Donna Rhia, real name: Becky Barton, who played three gigs and recorded their first single. Carlisle remained a friend and helper of the band throughout (she can be heard introducing the band on the Live At The Whiskey recording), only leaving because her new band, the Go-Go's was becoming popular, and, as she put it, "I was really disturbed by the heroin that was going on."^[1] Nicky Beat, of various noteworthy LA bands, also sat in on drums for a time. Belinda Carlisle (born on August 17, 1958 in Hollywood, California) is the lead vocalist, and a founding member of the all-female new wave band The Go-Gos, as well as a successful solo artist. ... For the 1960s band, see The Go-Gos (1960s). ... Infectious mononucleosis (also known as mono, the kissing disease, Pfeiffers disease, and, in British English, glandular fever) is a disease seen most commonly in adolescents and young adults, characterized by fever, sore throat and fatigue. ...

The band's first live performance was at the Orpheum Theater. Pat Smear recalled:

"We made noise. Darby stuck the mic in a jar of peanut butter. It was a dare, we had no songs or anything! Lorna wore her pants inside out, and Darby covered himself in red licorice...we made noise for five minutes until they threw us off."^[1]

The Germs initially drew musical influences from the likes of Iggy Pop, Queen, Suzi Quatro, The Runaways, and New York Dolls. Early on, Smear was the only musically experienced member — Doom survived early performances by sliding a finger up and down the fretboard of her bass while Rhia generally kept a minimal beat on the bass drum, periodically bashing a cymbal. James Newell Osterberg, Jr. ... Queen are an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Brian May, lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, and drummer Roger Taylor, with bass guitarist John Deacon joining the following year. ... This article is about the celebrity Suzi Quatro. ... This article is about the 1970s band. ... The New York Dolls are an American glam punk band formed in New York City, United States in 1971. ...

The Circle : A blue circle on a black background that has been known to symbolize everything from Darby's dilated blue eyes, to "circle one" (the germs contingent), to the eastern philosophy of cycles of death and life. Darby was obsessed with circles; everything goes in circles. The circle was on armbands denoting alliance with the germs. The circle was also on the(GI) album cover.

Recordings

The first single, Forming, was recorded on a Sony 2-track in Pat's garage and arrived back from the pressing plant with the note, "Warning: This record causes ear cancer" printed on the sleeve by the plant staff, much to the band's displeasure. It featured a shambolic but serviceable performance on the A-side and a muddy live recording of Sexboy on the B side, recorded at the Roxy for the Cheech and Chong movie, Up In Smoke. The song was not used in the movie, nor was the band, the only band not to receive a call-back to perform live for the film's "Battle of the Bands" sequence, perhaps due to the fact that the Germs' chaotic Roxy performance had featured an unscripted, full-on food fight. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were a comedy duo who found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their stand-up routines, which were based upon the eras hippie, free love and especially drug culture movements. ... Up in Smoke was Cheech and Chongs first feature-length film, released in 1978. ...

The Germs, despite most expectations, developed a sound that was extremely aggressive, hyper-competent, and highly influential -- although throughout their career, they would have a reputation as a chaotic live band. Singer Darby Crash often arrived onstage nearly incoherent from drugs, singing everywhere but into the microphone and taunting the audience between songs. The other band members had similar problems, with many contemporary reviews citing collapses, incoherence, and drunken vomiting onstage.

Smear was revealed as a remarkably talented and fluid player; much later, after Darby's death, fans cited Crash's lyrics as art and poetry. The band, however, was never taken seriously by most first generation Los Angeles punks and was viewed as something of a joke. Crash's vocals had begun to mold themselves around the style of The Screamers' vocalist Tomata DuPlenty (The Screamers, a huge LA live attraction at the time, never released a record, but covered the Germs song, 'Sex Boy,' at live shows, recordings of which are now widely available on bootleg.) Another strong influence on the band's final sound was Zolar X, a theatrical glitter rock band popular in the Los Angeles area circa 1972-1980. Crash and Smear were enthusiastic fans of the band from the pre-Germs days, and the fast tempos and raw guitar tone of (the historically pre-punk) Zolar X [1] are very similar to the sound achieved on later Germs recordings. The Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. ... Zolar X logo Zolar X is an early punk rock band, established in 1973, recently staging a comeback. ...

The Germs recorded two singles (with alternate tracks), an album-length demo session, and one full-length LP, (GI), each more focused and powerful than the last. Crash was, despite his erratic behavior, generally regarded as a brilliant lyricist (a contemporary critic described him as "ransacking the dictionary"), and the final lineup of Smear, Doom, and Bolles had become a world-class rock ensemble by the recording of (GI), turning in a performance that spurred an LA Weekly reviewer to write, "This album leaves exit wounds." It is considered one of the first hardcore punk records, and has a near-mythic status among punk rock fans. L.A. Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized newspaper (a so-called alternative weekly) in Los Angeles, California. ... Hardcore Punk is a subgenre of Punk Rock that originated in North America in the late 1970s. ...

The album was produced by Joan Jett of The Runaways. Some European copies of the album also credit Donny Rose on keyboards (the song, "Shut Down," was recorded live in the studio, and features a melodic, two-fisted piano). Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1958 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania) is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress. ...

The Germs are featured in Penelope Spheeris's documentary film The Decline of Western Civilization along with X, Black Flag, Fear, Circle Jerks, Alice Bag Band, and Catholic Discipline. Penelope Spheeris (born December 2, 1945) is an American director, producer, and screenwriter. ... The Decline of Western Civilization is a rockumentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles punk rock scene in 1979 and 1980. ... For other bands named X, see X (band). ... Black Flag was a hardcore punk band formed in 1976 in southern California, largely as the brainchild of Greg Ginn: the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes. ... Fear is a punk rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 1977 and still performs. ... The Circle Jerks are a hardcore punk band formed circa 1979 in Hermosa Beach, California. ... The Alice Bag Band was a punk band which appeared in the Penelope Spheeris film, The Decline of Western Civilization, filmed in 1979. ... Catholic Discipline was a short lived Los Angeles Punk Rock band headed by Slash Fanzine editor Claude Bessy, nicknamed Kickboy Face on vocals. ...

Following the release of their only studio album, (GI), The Germs recorded six original songs with legendary producer Jack Nitzsche for the soundtrack to the film, Cruising, starring Al Pacino. Lorna wrote one of the songs. Only the song, "Lion's Share," ended up on the Columbia soundtrack LP -- it was featured for about a minute in the movie, during a video-booth murder scene in an S&M club. Other songs from this session did not appear until the 1988 bootleg Lion's Share, along with four tracks from their infamous last show at the Starwood. The Cruising sessions were finally released officially on the CD "(MIA): The Complete Recordings." Bernard Alfred (Jack) Nitzsche (Chicago, April 22, 1937 – Hollywood, August 25, 2000) was an integral presence in the history of popular music in the 20th century. ... Cruising is the name of a film released in 1980, directed by William Friedkin and starring Al Pacino. ... Alfredo James Pacino (born April 25, 1940) is an Academy, Golden Globe, Tony, BAFTA, Emmy, and SAG award winning American actor who is best known for playing the roles of Tony Montana in the 1983 film Scarface and Michael Corleone in The Godfather Trilogy . ... S&M can be an abbreviation for: Slave and Master, a form of Sexual roleplaying. ...

The End and Suicide

The end of the band came when Darby replaced Don Bolles with his friend Rob Henley on drums. Crash became increasingly impatient with Don Bolles' antics and fired him.

Shortly after the Germs split, Darby and Pat went on to form the short-lived Darby Crash Band. Circle Jerks drummer Lucky Lehrer joined the band on the eve of their first (sold-out) live performance, when during soundcheck, Darby kicked out the drummer they'd rehearsed with. The band, described by Smear as "like the Germs, but with worse players", played only a few gigs to lukewarm reaction before splitting up. The Darby Crash Band was a music project started by Darby Crash and Pat Smear, founding members of the Los Angeles punk rock band, The Germs, formed after the band split in 1980. ... The Circle Jerks are a hardcore punk band formed circa 1979 in Hermosa Beach, California. ... Drummer from Los Angeles, California, voted the best punk drummer of all-time by US-magazine, Flipside. ...

Shortly after that, Crash contacted Smear about a Germs "reunion" show, claiming it was necessary to "put punk into perspective" for the punks on the scene. However, Smear has said Crash told him privately he wanted to earn money for heroin with which to commit suicide. Since Darby had described this scenario many times in the past, Pat did not take him seriously.^[1]

On December 3, 1980, an over-sold Starwood hosted a final live show of the reunited band, including drummer Don Bolles. In spite of Crash's favorite LA band X not showing up for their opening gig, the Germs played what was, by all accounts, one of their best shows ever.^{[citation needed]} At one point, Darby told the amazed kids in the audience, "We did this show so you new people could see what it was like when we were around. You're not going to see it again".^[1] For other bands named X, see X (band). ...

Crash committed suicide 7 December 1980, at age 22. Unreported at the time, Crash had overdosed on heroin in a suicide pact with close friend Casey Cola, who ended up surviving. She insists that he did not intend for her to live, nor did he change his mind at the last minute and intend for himself to live. As he lay dying, he attempted to write "Here lies Darby Crash" on the wall, but did not finish. Outside the world of Germs' fans, news of Darby's death was largely overshadowed by the murder of John Lennon the next day. A local news station mistakenly reported that Darby had died from playing a game of chicken with sleeping pills; he took too many sleeping pills. is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Heroin (disambiguation). ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ...

After the End

After the Germs ended Don Bolles played with several other seminal L.A. bands, including Steaming Coils, Celebrity Skin, Nervous Gender and 45 Grave. Music samples: Miscarriage Sample of Nervous Gender Miscarriage, from Live at Target compilation (1980). ... 45 Grave, (also known as . ...

In 1993, Slash Records released The Germs: Complete Anthology (MIA), with liner notes by Pleasant Gehman. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Slash Records is a record label. ... Germs (MIA) - The Complete Anthology is a reissue of everything of The Germs from the very first recordings to the last efforts of the classic lineup, namely six songs done for the film Cruising. ...

Pat Smear went on to play with Nirvana in their last year and, after the death of Kurt Cobain, with the Foo Fighters. Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg on August 5, 1959), is a U.S. rock guitarist who has been a regular member of several well-known bands, albeit of different subgenres: The Germs, Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. ... This article is about the American grunge band. ... Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – c. ... This article is about the band. ...

In 1996 a tribute album titled A Small Circle of Friends appeared that featured tracks by Mike Watt, Free Kitten, The Melvins, Meat Puppets, that dog., L7, The Posies, NOFX, Flea, Gumball, and others along with a version of "Circle One" performed by Pat Smear with Hole under the name, "The Holez". Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... A Small Circle of Friends: A Germs Tribute was a tribute album for the band The Germs released in 1996. ... Michael David Watt (born December 20, 1957 in Portsmouth, Virginia) is a bass guitarist, singer and songwriter, best-known for co-founding the punk rock bands The Minutemen and fIREHOSE; as of 2003, he is also the bassist for the reunited Iggy Pop & The Stooges. ... Free Kitten was a 1990s collaboration between Sonic Youths Kim Gordon and Pussy Galores Julie Cafritz. ... The Melvins are an American rock band/ metal band that usually perform as a trio. ... The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. ... that dog. ... L7 was an all-female grunge band that was active between 1985 and 2000. ... -1... NOFX is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California (now based in San Francisco), in 1983. ... Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16, 1962 in Melbourne, Australia), better known by his stage name Flea, is the bassist for the alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. ... Gumball were the highest-profile occupation of indie gadabout and Don Fleming, already a veteran of several bands, a guest collaborator for many more, and a significant producer who -- ironically -- helped shepherd alternative rock into its major-label boom years. ...

A remastered CD of the Darby Crash Band playing live at The Starwood, 1980, is due for release sometime in 2008; the setlist features many well-known Germs songs, as well as newly written material by Darby and Pat.

The Germs film and reformation

A movie about The Germs, What We Do Is Secret was in production for several years, and premiered June 23, 2007 at the Los Angeles Film Festival.^[2] The film stars Shane West in the role of Darby Crash. What We Do Is Secret is a film based on the life of Germs singer Darby Crash starring Shane West and Bijou Phillips, its scheduled for release in July 2007. ... Shane West (born June 10, 1978) is an American television and film actor. ...

Smear, Doom, and Bolles reactivated the Germs with West taking over the vocal spot. They played on the 2006 Vans Warped Tour and toured club shows in the US later that summer, and again in 2007. Some prominent members of the punk rock community such as Fat Mike and Jello Biafra have been critical of the band's decision to replace Darby Crash with an actor. For other persons named Michael Burkett, see Michael Burkett (disambiguation). ... Eric Reed Boucher (born June 17, 1958) is more widely known by the stage name Jello Biafra. ...

Bolles' arrest

After a long, troubled history of drug addiction and run-ins with the law, Don Bolles, the Germs' drummer, was arrested April 4th, 2007, for possession of GHB, when an 8 oz. bottle of peppermint Dr. Bronner's Magical Soap in his possession tested positive for the banned chemical. Both the internet community and the manufacturer came to his aid for a brief time before distancing themselves from Bolles. It should be noted that the bottle did not contain any GHB, and that the test they used is known to be grossly inaccurate when used on certain substances such as soap.^{[3] [4]} Emanuel H. Bronner (February 1, 1908 - March 7, 1997) was the eccentric maker of Dr. Bronners castile soap, a concentrated liquid notable for the vast amount of lather produced from a few drops and the vast amount of tiny text on its packaging. ...

Members

Current lineup

• Shane West "Shane Wreck" – vocals (2005-present)
• Pat Smear – guitar (1977-1980, 2005-present)
• Lorna Doom – bass (1977-1980, 2005-present)
• Don Bolles – drums (1978-1980, 2005-present)

Shane West (born June 10, 1978) is an American television and film actor. ... Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg on August 5, 1959), is a U.S. rock guitarist who has been a regular member of several well-known bands, albeit of different subgenres: The Germs, Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. ...

Former members

• Darby Crash – vocals (1977-1980)
• Dottie Danger a.k.a. Belinda Carlisle – drums (1977)
• Donna Rhia – drums (1977)
• David Winogrond – drums (1977)
• Cliff Hanger – drums (1977-1978)
• D. J. Bonebrake – drums (1978)
• Nickey Beat – drums (1978)
• Rob Henley – drums (1978)
• Jimmy J. Sellars - bass (1978)

Darby Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) (A.K.A. Bobby Pyn) (September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980)[1][2] was an American[3] punk rock musician who co-founded (with long time friend, Pat Smear) The Germs. ... Belinda Carlisle on her 1996 single In Too Deep cover Belinda Carlisle (born Belinda Jo Carlisle; also known as Belinda Kurczeski) on August 17, 1958 in Hollywood, California, is the lead vocalist and a founding member of the all-female rock & roll band The Go-Gos and also a... Belinda Carlisle (born on August 17, 1958 in Hollywood, California) is the lead vocalist, and a founding member of the all-female new wave band The Go-Gos, as well as a successful solo artist. ... X on the cover of their 1997 collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, with DJ on the right Donald J. DJ Bonebrake first surfaced as the drummer of the Eyes (also featuring Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Gos) is best known as drummer and original member of punk rock... Drummer in L.A. Guns 1988 - ? The Weirdos The Cramps October 1991 - December 1993 ...

Discography

• Forming/Sexboy (live) 7", 1977, What? Records
• Lexicon Devil 7" EP, 1978, Slash Records
• (GI) LP, 1979, Slash Records
• The Decline of Western Civilization Soundtrack (live tracks) LP, 1980, Slash Records
• What We Do Is Secret EP, 1981, Slash Records
• Live At The Whisky, First Show Ever LP, 1981, Mohawk/Bomp Records
• Germicide cassette, 1981, ROIR
• Germs (MIA) - The Complete Anthology CD, 1993, Slash/Rhino Records
• Germs Rock 'N' Rule--Recorded Live At The Masque Christmas Party--Whisky A-Go-Go, December 1979, Hollywood (1986 Xes Records)

What? Records was a short-lived record label started by Word Records and A&M Records, intended to focus on creative and unusual rock n roll records with spiritual messages. ... Lexicon Devil is a three-song, seven-inch EP by The Germs, released strictly through mail-order by Slash Records in 1978. ... Slash Records is a record label. ... (GI) is the lone studio album from influential American punk band The Germs. ... The Decline of Western Civilization is a rockumentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles punk rock scene in 1979 and 1980. ... Bomp! Records is the first indepdent record label in the U.S., founded by Greg Shaw in the mid-1980s that released many punk, garage, powerpop, and surf revival records since its inception, on Bomp! and its sublabels Voxx AIP, Moxie. Iggy & The Stooges singles and archival material, such... An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline for Music. ... Germs (MIA) - The Complete Anthology is a reissue of everything of The Germs from the very first recordings to the last efforts of the classic lineup, namely six songs done for the film Cruising. ... Rhino Entertainment is a specialty record label originally known for releasing retrospectives of famous comedy performers, including Stan Freberg, Tom Lehrer, and Spike Jones. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} watt and mascis on germs tribute
2. ^ http://filmguide.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2007/filmguide/eventnote.php?notepg=1&EventNumber=5036&
3. ^ Punknews.org | Don Bolles freed after police discover soap contained in soap
4. ^ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County - Punk rocker's soap didn't have GHB, tests show

External links

• Official site
• The Germs at MySpace
• What We Do Is Secret at MySpace
• Rekindling the Punk Flame, article
• What We Do Is Secret at the Internet Movie Database
• Darby Crash Band CD Release page at MySpace
• Interview with the Germs at Swindle Magazine