“The ever-mysterious Culturcide started the same way as a lot of other D.I.Y.-era bands: by having their minds blown by Throbbing Gristle. Houston's Perry Webb and Jim Crane (who knew how to put out records) did the first single with later Culturcide regular Dan Workman, then Really Red's C.I.A. label released their classic? Year One LP (a completely re-mastered reissue is still in-the-works…). They moved to New Orleans where they started working on the (completely different) material that became their hit Tacky Souvenirs LP. And somehow most of Year One came out in Australia on a split LP with Hiroshima Chair (Tom Ellard's band pre-Severed Heads).” Chuck Warner (Hyped to Death)
Culturcide poster
The first time I heard about Culturcide was thanks to Idle Time, a great website focused on the Austin old punk scene. It was created by Dixon Coulbourn – who passed away few years ago.
Culturcide – Death Speaks (Gut Level One: A Compilation V/A Cassette)
Today I received the Local Anesthetic CD compilation by Smooch Records, and it is simply amazing! It contains the complete story of this Denver label – based around the Wax Trax Records store – that helped to put out discs by now legendary bands like Defex, Bum Kon, White Trash, and (my personal favourites) Your Funeral and Frantix.
Frantix
As for these lads, there was also a CD released in 2003 by Afterburn Records. Remember going nuts when I noticed about it, because at that time I was very curious for all bands with Flipper-esque references and noisy garage sounds. The songs compiled on the CD were from demo tapes and a live set recorded in 1983. By the way, anyone got their complete demo…
or were there only four songs on it?
Catalan is a short film/music collaboration between Derek Jarman, Genesis P-Orridge and Jordi Valls. The film was commissioned by a Spanish TV station in response to the Psychic TV track of the same name.
It happened ten years ago but I still remember it clearly. Back then, I was discovering the whole UK punk 77 scene, and was avid to get stuff from all the bands of that era. One afternoon, after leaving school, I went to a now defunct record shop from my home town to see if I could buy a punk record that had been reviewed in a fanzine. Unfortunately, it was not available and I got really frustrated. But, instead of going back home with empty hands I decided to look for some other records and then, I discovered an album with an amazing cover that instantly got my attention. It was Live At The Palladium 1979 by the now legendary Texan weirdos Huns.
Huns: They weren't punks, they were assholes.
Never heard of them before, but it looked really great so I bought it. To tell you it opened my ears to a new whole sound is not enough. It was a new attitude as well, where you could REALLY sound BAD and AWFUL and not caring at all. And of course, it was the band who opened my ears to the amazing Texas scene as well – with incredible acts like Really Red, AK47, Next, Legionaire's Disease and my all time favourites Vast Majority. But gosh, the Huns were the first ones… and I'll never forget that.
Five years ago I was lucky to get Banned In DC. Thanks to this book, I knew about many amazing DC bands I'd never heard before. Almost at the same time I noticed about the existence of Mixed Nuts Don't Crack album, a great compilation by not-so-well-known DC bands. Each one deserves attention and recognition: Nuclear Crayons, Chalk Circle, Hate From Ignorance (Monica Richard's first band), Social Suicide, United Mutation and… Media Disease. As for these guys, their sound was great but it seems there is no info about them anywhere. And the saddest thing is they didn't release any record back then.
Media Disease: Dan Cobbett, John Cobbett, Davis White, John Lorenz. Pic by Mary Diaz
“Very fast, simple and noisy, but also angry, honest and furious; early DC rage coupled with NY simplicity.”Burkhard Järisch
“Jerk Ward were four hyper teen agents hell-bent on igniting the most
fleshstripping, bonebreaking early-80s style hardcore possible." Randy Long & Kev Smith (Jerk Ward)
Jerk Ward
“After watching the really crappy pogo-punk Sidney BC band 'the
Commodes', Randy, Steve, and John started practicing in John's basement
in downtown Sidney, because they knew they could do better! They played
their first live show at the ages of 12-13 years old at the OAP Hall in
September 1983 with Dischord recording artists Scream. Shortly after the
first show Julian from East Sooke joined the band and played bass. With
the help of the NEOS they learned how to tune their instruments and
accelerate into the turbo Porsche of local hardcore.” KFTH
