8 years Stig Stench of Stench Radio
Sig Stench The Hell Doc has been raising the punk dead for 8 years. What a strange necromancy it has been. He really did catch the nostalgia of the original punk scene. It started for me around 2004. I felt it in my bones and punk rock soul. Many clubs and people felt it too I assume. This a major span of about ten years. That did get the punk dead up and moving. The first show that got it going for me was the Mau Maus playing the Redwood with opening band A Pretty Mess. All ages of punks came together 70s, 80s, 90s punks. It was a tight bunch. I was hanging with Joe singer of Jughead’s Revenge that night. Tequila Mockingbird was there before her Punk Museum started up. Bob Canto 90s Flipside shit worker was there. In time we went to the Redwood I saw Diana Cancer before the reforming of 45 Grave, I saw Steve Human hanging outside staying away from the alcohol and Cake Flipside 90s staff too. It was the first time I felt the punk revival happen.
Mike Atta (RIP) Middle Class
Before this was Mr. T’s in Highland Park. (Now a hip bowling, food bar) So many bands came through the club. We started seeing bands there around 2006 to 2008 more or less. Seedy and a fun place to be. I hugged the toilet there. Our 16-year-old was old enough to babysit our little one. So, mama and papa had some fun on the weekends. It saved our marriage in many ways. Infusing our life with old and new friends. We saw the Urinals and Mike Watt play there. Master Cylinder and Carnage Asada too.
We were tight with the band The Million Kids and I went on to do Flipside Fanzine 2010 with Billy and Joe for a few issues before they moved onto Spark Plug fanzine. Yet it really hit me hard when I was at Kaiser Permeate in the San Fernando Valley. Walking by me I saw a mid-aged guy with a GBH shirt. I said to him, “I know those guys, Jock. Colin and Ross.” (at the time I had not met the new drummer Scott)
Bass player of Love Canal, Bob Gnarly punk rock history galore..
He said, “Great they are playing Ventura Theater this month.” A spark of tenacity filled me. I looked up GBH and found Colin Abrahll’s email. Their second tour in some time. My oldest son and I saw them. That was another turning point for me. My spine found joy and friendship in that old sound of bass and guitar and beyond.
Then there was locally in the San Fernando Valley, where I live. Cobalt Cafe, The Scotland Yard and Weber’s had all sort of bands come through in 10-year time. The Krum Bums, The Weirdos, Symbol Six. Also, at Weber’s I got to see a sacred evening with the Adolescents and the Middle Class. My old-time punk buds from the original Los Angeles punk scene.
Martin Atkins Punk Museum Event
While all this was happening around 2010 I met Stig Stench of Stench Radio . He interviewed me on his show and I did and an interview with him for the 2010 Flipside. It was fun. All those good old feeling game back of belonging to the punk scene. I think we all jumped into it all too fast and all at once. Some got splashed on and others got quick sand. It was a bit of a nightmare at times.
The Weirdos at the Cobalt Cafe… the mighty Dix Denney
At around this time, I lost both of my parents and went through menopause. I would ride around in my dark blue Chrysler M playing my car radio “Mike Conley” loud, smoking too many cigarettes and acting like a spoiled teenage child. Yes, my kids would hide my cigarettes from me. I got some stupid tattoos as well.
At Mr T’s Bowl with Shane (RIP), Hudley and Falling James a few years ago. Picture by Bob Cantu https://www.facebook.com/bob.cantu1
Since then the festivals have taken over and the local clubs closed or are further away. I don’t like driving or do not feel the need to make the long drives. The Cobalt closed, The Scotland Yard has a new owner (I am grieving the loss right now) and Weber’s was demolished due to asshole mosh punk pricks. (Like the Canoga Park Punk Rock Swap Meet Scene. They say it’s for charity. . what a line of bull)
The ascending bell curve of punk nostalgia was a fun ride and celebrating that is Hell Doc, my pet name for Stig! Never jumping off the nostalgia ride means a hell of a lot to me. He has tenacity and my friendship. We wrestled a few times too.
Lots of original punk bands have been playing the last ten years. Decry, Love Canal, Doggy Style, and many to the 10th degree more. Old friends that I still chat with now and then. Some of us are are not talking.
Opening night at The Punk Museum…
I guess over the last ten years there is a singular motif that many new and old friends tell me. Guys that are anywhere from 30 to 50 years old. They say this…
“When I was a young kid, I was all alone and the only thing I had was Flipside. I made connections with other punks and bands.” Or “You published my first record review, or I wrote my first this or that in Flipside!”
DJ Joe D at the ‘Yard
I am happy because that is what the scene was all about then. We got to face it now that the punk scene has made changes with modern times like technology. . What matters most to me is the 10 % punk rock experience. Also the friends made in the scene. One of my long-time friends Steve Hart from the (Order of the) White Rose punk band said he met band members though the classified section of Flipside. He invited me to write some stuff for his current publication New Wave Chicken. A long time friendship and it has only been through correspondence.
Jordan Schwartz having Fun at the Punk Museum
Any way a lot of good things happened along the path of the last ten years. Stig Stench is one of them. He can tell you all the punkers he has interviewed on his radio show and all the bands he does support and helped out. And that is what punk is all about also. Making friends, listening to music, and giving a voice to the voiceless. And to all the new punk bands … it is so groovy.
Fun times at the Scotland Yard with Dancing John and the Tender of the Brew.. Mr Funk
Hey, the punk scene gave me a voice and something I bet you wished I would shut the funk up about. I love you all.
– fin-
Us Against the World If you’re hungry for nostalgia Make sure it’s your own Seeking inspiration origin unknown You’re happy stealing thunder When metal starts to rust Memories still linger Monochrome and dust. Year zero has returned last Respect is to be earned / The lesion To be learned It’s us against the world. The years are mounting up now For them plagiarists It’s really makes you wonder Why they still exist Not sold like a good thing We were built to last Take the easy option Reinvent your past. Just a bad facsimile Without the vital spark Running with the big dogs But you ain't got the bark Far beyond a tribute You wanna take the credit If I got to explain it You ain’t never gonna get it.
