I’ve likened Che Underground: The Blog to one of those God’s eyes many of us made in the groovy ’70s: While the original effort has been focused on a small set of bands playing together in San Diego in the early ’80s, much of the beauty has come from the warp and weft of wider connections.
Along the way, we’ve talked about many local bands that influenced us and some later bands that shared members or aesthetics with the scenes and sub-scenes at the tight core of the site.
A few examples: Ray Brandes has done unprecedented historical research on the Crawdaddys, the Zeros and the Unknowns, and participants themselves have told us tales about Claude Coma and the IVs, the Injections, 5051, the Front, the Frame, Atrocity Exhibition and Structural Fracture, among others.
So, whose story should we tell next? Let’s discuss local bands you’d like to learn more about!
I have records I bought circa 1980 (as a 13 year-old dazzled by the very idea of local bands) by Cardiac Kidz, Wigs, Standbys, Strangers, and Executives, and I’d be happy to know about them now, since I don’t remember much. I think the Standbys had some connection to the Battalion of Saints…
Singer for the Standbys went on to Eleven Sons …
The Wigs! Who were the Wigs? That synapse has dried up …
The Wigs EP = World Records WEP 1003
Side A
Sugar Sugar [Yeah, that Sugar Sugar]
Surf Muscle
Side B
I’ve Got Control
Strange Facts
Produced by Randy Fuelle and the Wigs
The Wigs=Jeffrey C., Keith Dalbey, Chris Lang, Jay Jones, and Cindy Vodo
The photos show 4 pretty generic-looking guys (no offense, fellas) backing-up a much more stylized woman singer in an op-art minidress and fairly severe bob. The wife and kids are still sleeping, so I can’t play it now. What I remember from years ago is something like a cross between B-52s and Devo (hot sluts indeed, sir!), with, of course, San Diego flair. One reason I ask about them is because I don’t remember anything about them AT ALL except for the existence of this record.
More than you wanted to know…
When I was interviewing Mark Neil for the Unknowns piece, he asked me, “Now, who’s going to tell the story of the Tell-Tale Hearts?” It got me thinking that aside from 5051, Everybody Violet, Manual Scan and the Town Criers (all listed in the related bands column) most of the stories of the bands crucial to this blog have yet to be told. The Wallflowers, Morlocks, Tell-Tale Hearts, Noise 292, Gravediggers, Rockin Dogs, Answers--it would be nice to have someone step forward with pen in hand!
>>it would be nice to have someone step forward with pen in hand!
Ray (and Company): Good point!
They’re among the high points of the site, but I hope Mr. Brandes’ exactingly researched histories haven’t intimidated potential contributors who despair of ever matching his scholarship. Not everyone has the historical perspective and the research skills of a Ray Brandes.
If you are feeling shy, listen up! The fun of this blog is we can start simple and let the community flesh things out. I think our understand of Claude Coma and the Injections, to name two, has been enriched that way. (Indeed, Ray has mused about going back and writing a magnum opus on Claude Coma inspired by everyone’s great participation.)
And I’m a really good editor, and I promise to make your submissions sparkle. 🙂
If you’re game to contribute, I promise to tuck in your dangling participles and apply caulk to any split infinitives.
The Trebles, 39 Steps, The Newphews and maybe later bands like The Hoods and It would be cool to read about folks worked in the music scene like Marc Rude, a guy like that should have his own page.
Just off the top of my head, I’d be interested in knowing a bit more about the Cardiac Kidz, Standbys, Xterminators, and the Penetrators. But really I’m more interested in the stories surrounding the bands- not the actual band history. I came into the scene a little late and am always intrigued piecing together what things were like when it was even newer and smaller.
Yes- and Marc Rude. To me I’ve always found those predecessors intriguing- kind of punk before it was the punk I knew later- no “uniforms” like the whole spikes and chains thing- just the raw, unvarnished product. I’m always entertained by Terry’s stories, and Lou’s and SFGs. Other people that I remember from that era (not all still living) are Terry Tall (Salzberg?), Gary and Ruby Vitalis, Jay Bogart, Chris Jarhead. There was a black guy named Wendell that was around a bit- I don’t know where he fit into things but I just remember him dropping in at Terry’s a couple times when I was there.
OK, here’s a history question: How did Marc Rude end up in San Diego?
Sounds like he established himself as a fixture pretty quickly, but ’70s SD does seem like an incongruous spot for a NY punk to pick.
Well, see, this is interesting and keeps coming up … The transplants and the natives. I’m not seeing it as factions, just a really pronounced fudge-ripple-kinda pattern of immigration, assimilation, self-identification …
The SD underground music history I’m seeing starts with some natives like the Brain Police and and the guys who’d go on to the Beat Farmers and the Pens and (a little younger) the Crawdaddys — and then all these imports … FONO, the military punk arrivals, the Unknowns … Would that be 1977 or 1978 when the punk soft-serve machine really started pumping out that blend?
So there should be a page along with the bands about Marc Rude, I would love to know about the guy, because I came into punk late, 83.
Ray say someone should write about TTH and I 2nd that I would love to read it, also the story of how Mike Stax got matched up with Ron Silva is very cool and brings Greg Shaw into the Che mix even more.
And I like I said before The Trebles a band I liked and saw alot, are there computors in the land down under? maybe Jay could pitch in, if he’s not to busy eating veggamite sandwitch’s
Yeah, definitely not factions. We DO have to write this correctly someday MATT.
I think the Zeros and Hitmakers were the first SD “scene” bands, but not punk. Since It’s so hard to define these little sparks of movements within movements it’s quite an academic endeavor to get this all right.
1977 -- Listening to LOU REED and IGGY POP and going to off the record. Some strange “art” bands at SDSU.
1978 -- It all happened.Kind of at once. Skeleton Club, etc…….
We have to remember the Tijuana connection and those derivatives too.
bruce
Aside from Marc’s closest friends and family, Carl Schneider may know more about Marc Rude than anyone, at this point. I don’t know where Carl got off to- but he has the documentary in some stage of production.
>>the Tijuana connection
Bruce: Hell, yeah … The Latino presence overall was an important dimension. (I’m still hoping someone will write that perspective for us, to the extent there was a common Mexican-American experience in the scene, which might be a reductive assumption.)
there is a myspace page for marc rude that I believe is done by his wife. I am sure you could send a message and someoen would get back to you
>>Bruce: Hell, yeah … The Latino presence overall was an important dimension.
Yeah in all SD culture. And the food?? I live in the North East where Taco Bell is the closest I can get to my long forgotten dreams……..
Toby’s got it right, Carl Schneider was making a documentary about Marc Rude at one point. He even called me about six years ago to interview me for this. Someone should contact him to see how it’s going…
A few wishes for the wish list:
I wanna hear from/about the Neutrons, the Roosters and Solucion Mortal.
… I’d still like Guy Goode and the Decentones to represent here — they were one of those weird, enigmatic entities that seemed to arise independent of any scene. (Kind of like Tom Waits; guy came up in San Diego, but we’ve yet to hear from anyone who ever hung out with him.)
I’d like someone to take on the whole early-’80s rockabilly thang in SD … It was a really vibrant happening in its own right that I barely knew about.
Spent Idol? Does anybody know these guys? I only knew the name because Hair Theatre’s original drummer had played with them a bit. But I guess they’re still playing? They could be appalling, for all I know, but the sheer endurance is impressive.
Still plenty of unexplored territory in the Che Underground scene--let’s have some of you regular contributors tell your own stories or get someone else to do it! (Answers, Mirrors, Morlocks, Gravediggers, Personal Conflict, TTH, Wallflowers, Rockin Dogs, Noise 292, Three Guys Called Jesus, etc. etc. )
Ray, I was away for awhile and never got to read your page on The Unknowns, have the day off, just read it, it outstanding, should be in print…on paper……. Bruce is my new hero!
>>>… I’d still like Guy Goode and the Decentones to represent here — they were one of those weird, enigmatic entities that seemed to arise independent of any scene. (Kind of like Tom Waits; guy came up in San Diego, but we’ve yet to hear from anyone who ever hung out with him.)
Matthew, there was no “Guy”… that was just the name of the band. The singer’s name was Eric Brasheers. They were from La Mesa.
>>>The Wigs EP = World Records WEP 1003
I remember there were a handful of EPs by San Diego new wave bands on that local label. That would be worth researching.
>>Matthew, there was no “Guy”… that was just the name of the band. The singer’s name was Eric Brasheers. They were from La Mesa.
Dave: Hahaha! I phrased that badly. I know there was no “Guy.” I was referring to Tom Waits as “the guy,” left out the definite article, and sowed some confusion.
Yeah, the Brashier brothers seem like interesting characters, and they don’t appear to have ever needed the fuel of a music scene to drive their creativity. Wish I were that self contained!
By the way- which one’s Pink?
In an odd 6 degrees of San Diego separation underground music moment- if I’m not mistaken I grew up a few doors down from an Eric Brashears in El Cajon- between the time I was like 8 and 11. Totally curious if that is the same guy.
>>I think the Zeros and Hitmakers were the first SD “scene” bands, but not punk.
The Zeros weren’t punk rock? By which metric? They played the first shows in SD and LA.
The Hitmakers, yeah, they were basically a 60’s cover band. Fine group though.
And why haven’t we hard anyone chime in about Carlsbad’s The Dils.
How about NON. Nothing like them at the time.
The Upbeats. Anyone know a thing or two?
>>if I’m not mistaken I grew up a few doors down from an Eric Brashears in El Cajon- between the time I was like 8 and 11. Totally curious if that is the same guy.
Toby: Hard to believe it’s not, even though none of us can even suss out how to spell the man’s name! Brashiers, Brashears, Brasheers?
“Now lemme introduce to you, the one and only Eric Brashears (sic) … ”
We went over a lot of these bands in an earlier thread … Looks like the Guy Goode page I linked to back then is extinct now.
>>NON
Kevin: I forgot Boyd Rice was from Lemon Grove. I associate him more with SF. Yeah, he’s an inspired weirdo, or a weird inspiration.
>>the one who wasn’t Boyd Rice.
Simon: LOL … Burn!!
I think the other NON guy should print up business cards with that on ’em.
Oh crap, I offended a Beat Farmer, and now I’m going to piss off a Non-Boyd NON man. It’s just that I’m at work where my records aren’t, and I can’t remember the guy’s name. Maybe Robert something… Sorry, Non-guy! No offense intended. “Knife Infection” rocks, BTW. Still pals?
>>Oh crap, I offended a Beat Farmer, and now I’m going to piss off a Non-Boyd NON man.
Simon: Can you say something about “John Lennon’s sidekick in the Beatles? You know, the chipmunky one.” You seem to have a certain magnetism! 🙂
(Hey, I have no idea who the other NON guy was. You’re way ahead of me.)
The NON guy was Robert Turman (figured it out online). Lennon’s sidekick was Dirk McChipmunk.
Sorry I’m so magnetic. I love everybody!
Ah Casrlsbad’s Kinmen Brothers. I tend to forget about the Dils as a San Diego band because (if I’m not mistaken) they fled first and then formed a band. But yeah- where were they living for the Rank and File years?
The most interesting things Boyd Rice has done have absolutely nothing to do with music, e.g. presenting a goat’s head to Betty Ford and spray painting the Lemon Grove lemon.
Simon,
Just for laughs, Google “jumping the shark” and “Beat Farmers.”
The Dils were definitely a SD band. I vote for an article on them. Loved those guys. I wonder if anyone could get in touch with them now?
Eric Brashiers (however he spells it) was in the Downs Family for awhile. Apparently he’s a motherf**ker on banjo. http://www.myspace.com/thedownsfamily
Eventually I want to write a history on Hair Theatre. They played into the late nineties, I believe, and went through at least one name change (Joy Bomb), at least five lead guitarists, and at least three drummers. Later they morphed into Helvis and the Helvettes, a humorous punk Elvis cover band, I think.
re: Dils--Both Kinman brothers have Myspace pages for their current bands (Tony’s in Los Trendy; Chip’s in PCH). I think somebody who knows/knew them could get in contact pretty easily.
Not to say either nay or yay to it, but Chip Kinman seems to skirt the answer:
http://www.richieunterberger.com/kinman.html
In regards to Guy Goode and the Decentones, I hung out with them quite a bit. Eric has a basement type room we called “The Pub” , it was his bedroom and rehersal room as well as our after school drinking hole. Wiley Evans played tuba in the band and has been in a band in San Fran called Extra Action Marching Band and has played the Filmore. My buddy Matt Metzgar played drums and lives in the lower east side of NY. I actually have their colored vinyl album. They were once compared to Captain Beefheart in a review. Have not heard from Eric or his brother Bart in ages. Their Father was some sort of professor at SDSU. If I find any more info I’ll add it. I may be able to digitize the album and post a link.
Joe: If you have the time please post tracks from their album, I haven’t heard it in 15 years and never owned a copy (I’ve been looking for one with no luck yet). A sonic blast from that past would be most appreciated…they were an amazing, unique band.
I had heard that they recorded their album (“There Are No Clean People”) in a trailer…?
Here’s a great clip of The Penetrators on local news with Jesse Mascias, that I found out about through Bart Mendoza’s online column in Troubadour magazine:
Hey! Waitaminute!
When I was 16, the Penetrators were really old guys — this band looks like BABIES. How’d they get so young?? 🙂
(Love that Jesse Mascias … Remember his little lisp? Perfect for a TV news guy whose name was mostly sibilants.)
Hey Guys…
We can’t forget Battalion of Saints, Insolents, Social Spit, MAnifest Destiny (Encinitas). Yeah, Doog moody too…even though he ripped everyone off…Oh Yes, Penetrators? Didn’t the Dils live in North County for a while too? Lou from Lou’s told me a story of those guys living in CBAD
I think that Penetrators clip is weird… it really shows how different the culture was back then… it was still pretty much the same the 50s or early 60s in a lot of ways. “They write their OWN LYRICS and feel that they really have something to say.” Wow, really? Imagine a band right here in my own home town doing something like that! Even the way the band members themselves seem so straight forward and earnest about what they’re doing seems strange to me today… the fake rehearsal and recording session too.
That’s true Dave, but remember that at the time it was rare for a band to write and play its own material. Almost every band playing in a high school dance or bar played covers of top 40 or mainstream rock hits! I think its much more common now for bands to write their own songs, although it may never be like it was in the mid 60s when bands were formed in every neighborhood.
Somewhere out there is a clip of us being interviewed at the Spirit by most likely Jesse Macias. I remember it well, it was shot early in the morning after a long day prior (we had a gig and I stayed out all night…).
Dave you are so right, the Pens interview is pretty archaic. The whole thing cracked me up! And the footage in Western Audio! Brings back nightmares of that damn place!
And Dean you are correct as well, we used to boast x number of original songs (40 or so I think), and granted not all of them were truly worth their weight but hey we had ’em!
As for some previously mentioned items, The Wigs, World Records and Non -- here is what I know:
The info on the Wigs is right. From what I recall they started out as The Lipps and then received a cease and desist letter from Lipps Inc so they changed their name to The Wigs.
To be polite, they not only emulated the B-52’s but Chris Lang wanted to be Mark Neill something bad. He followed Mark’s gear trends as a fashion statement. We played a number of gigs with them, they were pretty cool all in all I guess, their keyboard player, Jeffery was a hoot!
Cindy I remember came on to me once when we hung out at their place in San Pedro but she was supposed to be Chris’ girlfriend or so I thought so I played ignorant. I saw her on TV about 7-8 years ago on a show about alien abduction, claiming such an event. Chris makes fabulous money now playing guitar for commercials and such I am told.
World Records was Randy Fuell and Rick Gord with Jim McGuinness as a silent partner. Before the studio at College Grove, they had a smallish place I forget where, but I think it was in a house. We went to a party at Randy’s place once and I all I recall was a discussion about Altec 604’s.
Rick was the engineer and Randy the head honcho. We signed to them before they had the College Grove place finished and before we met Liam Sternberg. Since the passage of time indemnifies me of anything, let’s just say that when we later signed to Bomp/Sire, World Records made some good natch for having done nothing on their side of the contract other than having a demo tape from a dubious source. Oh well, so it goes…
Other than that Rick Gord was the nicest and most capable engineer you’d ever want on the other side of the glass in San Diego.
As for Non, I saw them once and the roto guitar inspired Fleminger and I to install a Hamilton Beach blender into a trashed guitar body we named the Mixo-guitar. It was very, very short lived…
Robert Turman hails from El Cajon, his father Tommy Turman was an excellent guitarist in his own right and played country music in and around town with dozens of bands as well as having been on the Bostonia Ballroom staff band iirc. Robert last I heard was in Ohio working as a clockmaker/repairman. He was always a really cool guy.
No one has mentioned the DFX2 have they? They had a tune on MTV for god’s sake!
Dave,
You are being very diplomatic about the World Records story--the way Mark explained it to me, it was a pretty sleazy maneuver . . .
For those who liked their “underground” a lot less subversive:
DFX2: “Where Are They Now?” http://www.myspace.com/dfx2
The Puppies were another band that was around the scene of the Wigs, Four Eyes and Fingers.
Ray, you are correct. I figured I would be as I made a public statement but the maneuver was pretty cheap and tawdry but it paid off for them *cough*…
Ahhh The Puppies! Here is their MySpace page
We did a gig with them at Madame Wongs West I recall, they were cool guys (and gal). Nino was a truly hilarious always up to something.
I remember auditioning for Dan McLain at Bodies at like 11am on a Friday. He was a nice guy. There were hardly any lights on in the bar, and he really liked us. I remember a couple of fun shows at Bodies.
Dan McLain R.I.P. --died on the bandstand at his drum kit. Amazing!
Are you serious about Dan McLAin?…holy hell that is amazing.
>>Are you serious about Dan McLAin?…holy hell that is amazing.
Sho’ nuff … Died behind his kit in Whistler, British Columbia.
Shit! He was only 40?? I’m so damn old.
Isn’t it strange that most of us have now lived longer than John Lennon, too?
.. and Jesus, and Elvis, and Hitler………..
>>.. and Jesus, and Elvis, and Hitler………..
Hitler made it to 56 …
…and Jesus, and Elvis, and Jimi, and Janis, and Jim Morrison, and Sandy Denny, ….. Hitler outlived all these cats??
You believe in God??
Hell !!its in wikipeddddddddddddddddia. I hope the injections make it into wikipeddddddddddddddddddddddddddddia.
That is horrible. However, if I was going to go that woud be the way to go.
>>”I think that Penetrators clip is weird… it really shows how different the culture was back then… it was still pretty much the same the 50s or early 60s in a lot of ways.”
In the past thirty years or so, irony has become the dominant form of humor in America, especially amongst young people. In the late seventies, much of what we laughed at was absurdity, such as Monty Python or Steve Martin. This clip is from a more naive, less jaded time and place in our lives. The band members answer the questions honestly and earnestly, with the exception of the band joker, McClain, whose innocent irony seems really hip by comparison. Those of us in our little circle which included the Che Underground folks were very verbally ironic, and we considered ourselves to be smarter and cooler in that respect than most of the “straights” we knew.
Sorry if anybody minds my dragging this one to the top, but I’ve found another thing to be curious about--way before all our time. Perusing that San Diego Concert History site that somebody around here referenced, I found that all kinds of righteous honkytonk and Bakersfield-sound and otherwise interesting country western was going down at a spot called the Bostonia Ballroom in El Cajon during the late 50s and early 60s. Cursory investigation reveals that “Bostonia” designates a particular area of EC and that the Ballroom is now a restaurant.
Anybody know any stories on this? Thanks!
This is an interesting article on the Brain Police.
I’m only 24 so this whole thread is before my time, but y’all have mentioned the Lipps and the Wigs, my dad Keith was their drummer. When I was younger he used to tell me about when he played with the band and the plaid pants he wore and the red sneakers and just being goofy and not caring. He loves telling stories, in the Corps we call them sea stories. If y’all have any sea stories with my dad or just want to say something to him, I’ll happily relay the message. I’m sure it would make his day just like y’all just made mine. 🙂