The Weirdos

As integral to SoCal's rock heritage as the Beach Boys or the Doors was the incestuous Hollywood punk class of 1977: the Screamers, the Weirdos, the Zeros and especially the Germs, whose legendary valedictorian, Darby Crash, ushered in the end of a brief but historical West Coast scene after overdosing...

By John La Briola

February 17, 2005

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As integral to SoCal's rock heritage as the Beach Boys or the Doors was the incestuous Hollywood punk class of 1977: the Screamers, the Weirdos, the Zeros and especially the Germs, whose legendary valedictorian, Darby Crash, ushered in the end of a brief but historical West Coast scene after overdosing on heroin in 1980. Soon engulfed by hardcore themselves, the Weirdos became little more than a footnote to the Germs, a band that they gave their first opener to back when Crash, then called Bobby Pyn, whipped himself with red licorice and smeared peanut butter on everyone within reach. Still, Cliff Roman and his fellow Weirdos -- an ever-changing, once-drummerless lineup featuring brothers John and Dix Denney, who disbanded in 1981 -- left behind a pair of raw EPs and an inflammatory collection called We Got the Neutron Bomb. Known for their battle cry, "Destroy all music," the surf-influenced art-school castaways never achieved the popularity of X or the Dickies. But they still manage to thrash down memory lane every decade or so -- whether to celebrate their first full-length (1990's Condor, which features Flea) or another volume of Weird World rarities. Feeling nostalgic?

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