Look for updates on new books, films, etc. on LA Punk here soon, until then

Go to My Myspace page to access current links to other peoples cool new projects.

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Books on LA Punk

Make the Music Go Bang

This 1997 book edited by Don Snowdon with tons of photos by Gary Leonard, send you right back to LA circa 1980. Almost encyclopedic with essay by many of the most important and influential characters of the LA scene is a true insight into what, where, who, why and how of the unique scene and even more important, behind the scene.

St. Martin's Griffin Press

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We got the Neutron Bomb-

A long overdo and very complete narrative of the LA Punk scene by Marc Spitz & Brendan Mullen is overflowing with insightful narratives from a very impressive cast of charters. This 2001 book includes the very important roots of LA music scene that evolved into what was a very vibrant, original, creative, artistic, eclectic, fun and sadly too short lived music scene.

Three Rivers Press-Random house

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Lexicon Devil

Very complete and disturbing this 2002 book is critical to fully understand LA punk "poster boy" Darby Crash, the Germ's and the LA scene in he was both a driver and a victim at the same time. Despite the unraveling of this sad and tragic tale, ironically it is the very last entry by a surprising contributor that finally make sense of the whole story and pulls it into clarity. Brendan Mullen with Don Bolles and Adam Parfrey have complied an impressive oral history from dozens of different sources from Darby's childhood to the Germs and ultimately to Darby's death. Complete with rare photos, lyrics, discography, cast of characters and key events it's a book that is hard to put down once you dare to pick it up.

Feral House Press

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Forming- the early days of LA Punk

Truly the most artistic and beautiful approach to the early years of LA Punk, by those who were there. Assembled for a 1999 exhibit, includes essays, time line, great photos and flyers.

Smart Art Press

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Other Books, Zines & films on PUNK that include LA Punk art or people

Photocopied & Fucked up

Stylish, beautiful, fun and colorful the 1999 progressive and comprehensive book by Bryan Raymond Turcotte & Chris Miller takes an impressive and detailed look at the flyers and posters of the 70s & 80s, amazing what a copier, scissors and lot of creativity can do. Nice big section on SoCal with great art, photos and essays from dozens of private collections. This "Instant Art" is the roots of graphic design for the next two decades.

Gingko Press

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Punk '77

Stark's 1992 book is an interesting and fairly comprehensive look at the Bay Area Punk scene from the mid 70's to the Pistols last 1978 Winterland told by the people who were there. SF commingling and cross pollinated with its Southern California neighbors as seen in the stories & photos. Just reissued with some new stuff!

Stark Grafix

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X-capees

1980 book from San Francisco is a great collection of photos that features SF bands but also shows those who passed through and left there impression including several familiar LA faces.

X-Capees Press

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Search & Destroy reprint vol.1 &2

Thank You V. Vale. San Francisco's 1976-1979 Zine brilliantly reissued in two complete volumes.

V/Search Publications

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Slash Magazine

LA's own Punk Zine, hopefully someday it will be reissued as S&D was in all its original glory.

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The Decline of Western Civilization Part 1

Yes, the definitive LA Punk film, (Hell, I'm even in it for 2 seconds) it's still great to watch. If only Spheeris had made the film 2 years earlier it would have been called "the RISE of Western Civilization" and would have been 500 times better. The earlier LA scene that I recall in 78 & 79 was an even more creative, more diverse, more innocent and more exciting explosion of bands, clubs, styles scenes and scene stealers. At least, Thank God she did make this film when she did and caught the flavor of LA and especially Darby, Claude and others before they were gone.

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LA PUNK Links