The Mad

THE MAD

The Hell 7"

1979

I have read all sorts of interesting information about this band of lunatics but apparently I am too impaired to dig it up at the moment? So I guess I'll have to give you what I know.

This is the second 7" by The Mad, who's first record included one of the most revered of original punk anthems, "I Hate Music," made familiar to most on the first volume of 'Killed by Death.'

The poster sleeves were all created by Screaming Mad George, the Mad's multi-talented frontman who parlayed his on stage penchant for blood and guts into a position as a well respected Director of Special Effects for motion pictures in Hollywood.

The Rattlers

THE RATTLERS

On The Beach / Livin' Alone 7"

1979

"Brothers Mickey Leigh and Joey Ramone teamed up to record one album as Sibling Rivalry which featured the classic punk rock surf song “On the Beach” - a tale of radioactive monsters, beach parties, and lost love. "I loved the early 1960's science fiction movies like Dr. Strangelove, and grew up watching movies that combined science fiction with teenagers on beaches and, of course, rock & roll; so to write a song combining all those elements came easily - it was a natural," Leigh said. Leigh first wrote “On the Beach” in 1979, performing it with his band, The Rattlers. Inspired by the 1960's B-movie “Horror at Party Beach” and the PUNK Magazine spread “Mutant Monster Beach Party”, “On the Beach” combines Coney Island, CBGB, and Three Mile Island." [staythirstymedia.com]

Try as you might to escape the catchiness of this pop number from the younger brother of Joey Ramone, but I would venture to gain that after a few listens you'll find it difficult not to sing along with this one.

Jimi LaLumia & The Psychotic Frogs

JIMI LALUMIA & THE PSYCHOTIC FROGS

Typically Tasteless 7" EP

1979

"Jimi Lalumia's ever mutating backing band included, at one time or another, such punk luminaries as Johnny Thunders, Cherry Vanilla, and Jayne County. The group only managed two singles and an EP during its chaotic existence.

Growing up in Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island, LaLumia became more and more interested in the New York City music scene of the late '60s, finally moving to the city in the early '70s and becoming a freelance music writer and a scene staple at the legendary Max's Kansas City, befriending Thunders and County in the process. In 1977, LaLumia formed Jimi LaLumia and the Psychotic Frogs, self-releasing the manic "Death to Disco (Disco Sucks)" later that year. The aptly titled EP Typically Tasteless appeared the following year, featuring the originals "Mangle Me" and "You'll Never Walk Again" on the A-side and hilariously vulgar renditions of "Eleanor Rigby" and County's "I Got Fucked By the Devil Last Night" on the flip." [Answers.com]

Testors

TESTORS

Together / Time Is Mine 7"

1980

"The Testors were formed by Sonny Vincent in New York City 1975 at the heart of what became punk rock as we know it today. They were loud, raw as fuck, and didn’t give a shit about anyone but themselves. While contemporaries The Ramones, Blondie and The Heartbreakers were making history, the Testors were lighting clubs on fire, going to jail, and Sonny was eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Along the way they were regulars at CBGB’s, Max’s Kansas City and shared stages with the likes of Suicide, The Cramps and The Dead Boys. With only one legitimate release spanning their career (a highly sought after 7"), the band continued to turn their noses at major label offers."

Had this one all lined up to post, but per my usual modus operandi, I took too long. My mother always says I'll be late to my own funeral. Oh well. So this time around, a click on the record title will take you to the almighty Killed By Death site for their coverage of the same record.

The above quoted text comes from Swami Records who put out a killer collection of Testors material available here.

Corpsicles

CORPSICLES

Big Doings / Now You're Gonna Leave Me 7"

1982

"The band was started by Phil "Freeze" Falcone and his cousin Luke "Warm" Palladino sometime around 1977 maybe even as far back as 1976. They lived around the corner from each other in Brooklyn and they were inseparable. Phil wrote and sang all the songs and played guitar, Luke played bass and sang a few verses (he is the guy singing on the second verse of "Big Doings"). He is also the creator of the pissed tombstone popsicle logo we used. I answered an ad in the Voice (maybe it was the Aquarian) looking for a drummer influenced by the Ramones and the New York Dolls... We talked for a few hours that first phone conversation and that seemed to be an omen that we would make a good fit. Phil most definitely had the gift for gab, always had. He could make friends and talk for hours with anyone! Even a dead guy!" Corpsicles history as related to MXV of The Punk Vault by Corpsicles drummer, Mike Leary.

Nasty Facts

NASTY FACTS

Drive My Car 7" EP

1981

"Formed in Brooklyn, New York 79/80. They were previously called Pandemonium but soon changed to the catchier Nasty Facts when Cherl Boyze joined. Miss Boyze (a/k/a Boyce) was the tom-boy bass-guitarist and vocalist/songwriter in this highly underated outfit. In 1981 they released their only vinyl output, the catchy 3 track 45 'Drive my Car' b/w 'Gotta Get To You' / 'Crazy Bout You' out on Jimboco Records of New York City. It's quality didn't gain 'em much attention outside the big apple but it wasn't long before it travelled across the ocean where it got licensed and turned up on the tiny Dudley based 5th Column Record label in the UK. John Peel on Radio One often played them on his radio show too, but sadly that was the last we heard from 'em as the Nasty Facts." [Women In Punk.]

"Nasty Facts made quite an impact on the NY punk/new wave scene, especially considering that they only released one single, and were just teenagers at the time. They appeared regularly at Max's Kansas City, CBGB, and most of the other hot spots of the time. Their success culminated in the release of a 3 song 7" ep on Jimboco Records, produced by Ramona Jan (Dizzy and the Romilars, Comateens). The single was very well received, and has become a highly sought after collectable."

This one took a minute to grow on me, a bit too pop for my usual tastes. It remains a popular record among collectors which provides me with reason enough to re-examine it.

Man-Ka-Zam

MAN-KA-ZAM

Spank-A-Thon 7" EP

1978

The second incarnation of NYC's Alan Milman Sect, who blessed us with one killer 7" (to be posted later) before morphing into the less fortunately titled "Man-Ka-Zam." Despite the awful name, this record kicks ass, and it remains unclear to me why this isn't a favorite on fellow collector's lists. Still readily available on the cheap.

Snatch

SNATCH

Stanley / I.R.T. 7"

1977

These girls (Patti Palladin & Judy Nylon) put together nothin' but gems during their run together from around 1974 to 1983? Patti, in my opinion, was quite the looker, hence the featured scan coming from her side of the picture sleeve. I believe she dated Mr. Johnny Thunders for a bit and put out a record of mostly covers with said bloke entitled "Copy Cats."

"You and Johnny have similar backgrounds, what was it like growing up in New York?"

" ...to survive in that sort of environment, it's essential to develop your 'attitude' at a very early age. Although I grew up in Brooklyn and Johnny grew up in Queens, the similarity of our backgrounds is strong -- the basic 'neighbourhood mentality'. The neighbourhood was sliced into 'gang-governed territories'; my neighbourhood was more or less shared by The Phantom Lords and The Hell Burners, Jerry [Nolan] was a 'Young Lord'. The letters D.L.A.M.F. (Down Like A Mother Fucker) and D.T.K. (Down To Kill) were a common at one-way signs. Yet, STYLE, not violence was the main motive... your main concern was really your profile. Mind you, there was a fair amount of bloodshed over who had more style -- violence was merely the result of too much style and too much attitude. I can't erase all that, and I'm sure Johnny and Jerry can't either."

Excerpt from an interview with Patti Palladin lifted from the Snatch website. This record was recorded at Judy's flat in 1976 and has most certainly been covered before, but there are still those to count among the uninitiated, which is indeed quite a shame.

The Brats

THE BRATS

Be A Man / Quaalude Queen 7"

1974

"When the proto-punk glitter rock project called The New York Dolls coalesced in the Fall of 1971, Rick Rivets and Arthur Kane turned up the speed and the attitude. Other guys joined: Johnny Thunders, [Billy] Murcia, and after a couple of months, a singer named David Johansen. Rivets was the first one to float out, replaced by Syl Sylvain. The classic New York Dolls lineup then emerged into history, while Rick Rivets formed The Brats to vie for attention. Although the Brats didn’t break through, they didn’t break up, like the Dolls did."

[Goldmine Mag.]

Rave-Up Records reissued some Brats stuff a while back but that too

is now out of print, so enjoy this while you can.

Chain Gang

CHAIN GANG

Son Of Sam / Gary Gilmore & The Island Of Dr. Moreau

1977

"We cut that single before he was caught. Besides the publicity machine that goes with the record, we were real close on his ass. We know the city so well that we knew he lived in Mt. Vernon or Yonkers. And we knew that he had taken a shot at somebody in a certain section of the Bronx and we sorta had a feel for him. We also knew some lowlifes who had broken into Berkowitz's apartment -- we found this out weeks after they caught him. The record was still being pressed, but we were out looking to grab that thirty grand reward. We needed the money. We ran across this woman...We were at this bridge. It's like a no man's land in this part of north Manhattan. Nobody walks over this bridge or this strip. We were just sort of lurking in the shadows, leaning against the car, drinking a few beers, and most people would avoid us if they'd see us. This woman comes running. We hear her coming, like in the movies, right? We hear her heels (makes tapping sounds), running down the stairway and she's panting and crying, "Son of Sam tried to shoot me!" It was unbelievable. We were that close. That thirty grand started to look like ours."

Excerpt from an interview with the band's lead singer, Ricky "Don't Call Me Ricky" Luanda. It was conducted in July of '87 at Brewski's in New York City. Available in it's entireity on the Matador Records website.

More Chain Gang material available on their posthumous release "Perfumed."