SOUNDTRACK: GERMS-GI (1979).
In the middle of this graphic novel, the main character Bina says she is listening to the Germs. Her friend Darcy says “classic.”
Germs were a seminal LA punk band. They released one album before their singer Darby Crash killed himself. Their guitarist Pat Smear has since played with Niravana, Foo Fighters and many other bands. Belinda Carlisle (yes of the Go-Gos) was briefly their drummer (she went by Dottie Danger). She was replaced by Don Bolles. And their bassist Lorna Doom, was one of the first women in the punk scene.
This album is 38 minutes long but that’s with a 9 minute live improvised song tacked on at the end. Otherwise these songs are short and fast.
“What We Do Is Secret” opens the album with a statement of purpose. It’s less than a minute of fast drumming roared vocals and the title repeated twice. “Communist Eyes” plays a standard punk melody in the verses and an even faster chorus. Pat Smear plays around with some scratchy noises but it’s mostly just fast fast fast. “Land Of Treason” also has a simple catchy melody in the verses. Even though Crash’s vocals aren’t always clear, they are mixed very well so if you listened, you could probably make out most of the words.
“Richie Dagger’s Crime” is the first song where Smear’s guitars really stand out. He plays lead riff and then in the middle of the song, it’s only Lorna Doom’s bass holding the melody together while Smear plays some leads through the verses.
“Strange Notes” has some ringing guitars notes and quick little improv solos that keep this pummeling song nicely off kilter. “American Leather” is just over a minute and Don Bolles’ galloping drums pretty much never stop.
“Lexicon Devil” was the name of their first EP. The verses have a fun Ramonesy beat verse that feels especially punk. “Manimal” is a slower more menacing song with a nasty lead guitar line. This song even takes a breath before launching into the faster part full of Darby Crash’s snarls.
“Our Way” is another slower, more mancing song with a the bass sounding more prominent over smears chords. “We Must Bleed” has a really fast descending guitar melody that introduces the song and serves as the chorus. It also hangs around at the end of the song. The song is 2 and a half minutes in total but the end is one minute of the band racing through that four note melody, sometimes falling apart a little but plugging on.
“Media Blitz” starts side two abruptly has an abrupt opening with vocals and a brief pause before the song takes off nonstop for a minute and a half. There’s some samples from TV in the song
“The Other Newest One” This chorus features a four notes and a pause as Darby’s voice rings out over the brief silence: “you’re not the first / you’re not the last”
“Let’s Pretend” is a bit more staccato in the bassline in and reminds me of a conga from the cartoons. Five notes and a thump. Once again darby stops singing early to let he band jam out the riffs for another 40 seconds to the end.
“Dragon Lady” has a short drum solo from Bolles as the intro. It leads to one of the poppier melodies on the album. Then “The Slave” ends the disc (sort of) with a one-minute rumbling that’s all bass and jagged chords on top. When Darby stops singing briefly, Smear’s guitar bursts forth as if Crash was in the way. Then it abruptly ends.
The disc ends properly with “Shut Down” a 9-minute live song that I have read was typical of how they ended their shows. Lorna Doom plays a simple, slow bluesy riff on the bass. The drums follow along and Pat Smear makes all kinds of lead noises –solos, feedback, crashing chords while Darby mumbles, screams and rants about wanting your soul and wanting control and being an Annihilation Man.
Who knows what the Germs would have done next, but with one album, their legacy is secure..
[READ: October 21, 2020] All Together Now
This is a follow up to Larson’s book All Summer Long. That book was a fun story about friendship, distance and guitar playing.
As this story opens, Bina and Darcy have been practicing with their band Fast Fashion [which is basically what Depeche Mode means], but they decide they need a drummer. They meet up with a boy in their calls called Enzo. He’s a drummer and very robotic. He’s very good and he likes their songs, so they agree to be a band. But he hates the name Fast Fashion, so they change it to The Candids.
After a few practices, Darcy and Enzo start dating. Then Enzo starts making some suggestions for changing Bina’s songs. And Darcy agrees with him. Now Bina’s losing her best friend to a boy, just like she lost her previous best friend Austin to a girl.
Then Darcy texts her that the band is moving on without her (even though it was her band!). This new band gets the best band name yet: AC/Darcy. But that means that Darcy and Bina have basically broken up and are not speaking to each other. (more…)
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I was excited to take my daughter to see The Linda Lindas since she is the same age as they are. She didn’t really know their music (I heard about them when they played at a library in LA), but I thought she’d enjoy the show and the venue.
It’s been strange that some bands are scheduling shows for the summer while others are cancelling them. Here’s one that was cancelled and yet even more confusingly, new dates are to be forthcoming. Why not just wait? Now I have to buy tickets again?
