wow drinkin boones, thunderbird and natural light at a squat house in 88'. That was the life.

Dandy Annie

August 1983 commercial for KFSR's newsletter, the Dead Air Diary. Background music is an instrumental by Pete Townshend called "Brr." And the backwards masking: a woman's voice saying "Dead Air Diary."

KFSR Commercial - Dead Air Diary (Yraid Ria Daed)

KFSR Commercial attacking the "other stations" (i.e., KKDJ) for being alternative-music poseurs.  Music: Jim Connelly, Vocals: Kirk Biglione

KFSR - The Real Spirit of Radio

This is a Dean & Don Breakfast Club show intro done for us by Don Pardo.

DON PARDO D&D INTRO

1983 KFSR Commercial for official station newsletter, the Dead Air Diary. Music: Tuxedomoon - "Crash"

KFSR Commercial - Dead Air Diary (Hyperbole)

Gregg Mitchell-vocals
Mike Waldhart-guitar
Matt Dunlap-drums
Bobby Arias-bass

The Mitchell twins were separated, MANIAX ended and THINK
TANK was born in 1983. They stayed together for quite a while
with the same intelligent lyrics Gregg was known for in the
previous band. TT were featured on the Fresno Compilation
Hardcore '84. The songs were, 'Don't Pose', 'Jane Fonda
Genocide' and 'Homophobia'. Gregg was also involved with Blitz,
a local fanzine and wrote articles for the Fresno Bee as well. I've
got a few of them.

The original THINK TANK line-up was brief. Guitarist Mike Waldhart and
bassist Bobby Arias from Madera's DEATH CAMP came in to replace
Gary and Scott. Mike recorded the band and several labels were
interested in signing them, including SST Records.  They struck a deal
with Mind Matter Records in San Francisco, known for putting out
political punk such as CHUMBAWAMBA and CHRIST ON PARADE.  They
released to rave reviews, a 6-song 7-inch EP called, "What Now?" in
early 1986. THINK TANK had a good run playing gigs, writing and
recording but broke up later that year.
http://www.facebook.com/greggwmitchell?ref=ts&fref=ts

http://stagedive-records.com/thinktank.html


Think Tank - Sacred Cows 1986

Steve "Mojo" Madrigal-vocals
John Sargentini-guitar
Steve Garcia-guitar
Rick Struhar-bass
Steve Daniels-drums

One of the coolest and baddest-assed bands to erupt from the Fresno area,the SAD BOYZ came to prominence and popularity through hard work and bristling talent. Led by frontman Mojo, everyone felt the integrity of this hardcore punk band. There was nothing disengenuous about the SAD BOYZ. When they sang "Shut up and drink" it had a fierce ring of sincerity that was undeniable to the Fresno punks.  True street punks with a major Fresno following they played many great shows in town and out of town.

In 1991 SAD BOYZ put out a 7-inch EP on Ragin Records. A limited edition of 500 on beer colored vinyl. Recorded by Gray Gregson at Audio Image Recording ( a lot of Fresno punk bands late 80's to mid 90's recorded there ) the four songs were: Mama's boy, Don't deserve to live, World tied in knots and Better way out.

In 1989, for the Shredder comp, SAD BOYZ recorded 7 songs. I like these earlier recordings a
little more. The songs were, Shut up and Drink, Better way out, Trying to fit in, Miserable
Monster, New Breed,  No ID No Beer(a CP/HARSH REALITY song) and Black Sunrise.

It was great to see Mojo back on stage several months ago singing some of those signature
songs like 'Mama's boy', 'Better way out' and the Fresno punk theme song 'Shut up and drink'.

http://www.facebook.com/john.sargentini?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/rick.struhar?fref=ts

http://stagedive-records.com/sadboyz.html

Sad Boyz - Shut up and Drink 1989

Gary Bufkin-vocals
Dan Carter-vocals
Gary Louie-guitar
Teby Segal-bass
Grant Bruegman-drums

Formed in 1980 and played key early shows in the development of the Fresno punk
scene. Most notably Roeding park, Woodward park and the Fresno Night at the
Mabuhay Gardens in SF in '82. Early on TS played some cool covers. In 1981 they
played a gig at Roosevelt High.  Some of the songs were: Wild Thing, Blitzkrieg Bop,
DDT/Toxic Shock, Something to do, and Walking Home.

Gary Louie, axeman extraordinaire contributed much needed texture and character
to the guitar-sound landscape of the early fresno punk scene. Drawing on elements
of psychedelia, surf and garage he extended the palette of the local punk musicians
to include these influences.
Gary L. has played in several happening Fresno rock and garage bands over the years.
TOWN CRYERS, MACHINE DREAMS, the TOMB STONES and the VULTURES to name a
few.

TOXIC SHOCK reformed in '99 after disbanding way back in the mid-eighties and has
been out and about gigging and have released a new CD called Re-Living our Youth.

The two Garys, Louie and Bufkin are still in the band and the novel, two-vocalists
approach of the original line-up with Dan Carter is back, too. It's a double-barrel,
punk rock blast. Teby Segal is still playing bass and Phill Rhoads has stepped in to
handle drumming duties.

It's nice to see the torch of punk rock still carried by these veterans of the early
Fresno punk scene. I love their cover of the SONICS' Strychnine.

I recently hooked up with lead vocalist, Gary Bufkin at Livingstone's for some
saturday night sinning and he got me caught up on what's been happening. Besides
planning an upcoming Toxic Shock reunion show he's been working on his acting
career. He was in the stage play, Beyond Therapy , a romantic comedy which played
at the Million Elephant Club on Olive and Fulton in late September through early
October, 2007.

Gary also fleshed out some of his story in the early Fresno punk scene. I learned that
he stepped in as lead singer for The Frigidettes for a couple of gigs in the early 80's.
Gary remembers opening for the Dead Kennedys in Stockton when he asked the
audience, "Where's those Robber-Baron's, the Barclay's?", referring to the Big Valley
tv show, which took place in Stockton.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toxic-Shock-Fresno-CA/273191782373?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/gary.louie.52?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/gary.bufkin?ref=ts&fref=ts

Toxic Shock - Bobby Sands 1982

Sounds associated with the 1980s Fresno Punk Scene History website: http://stagedive-records.com/fresnopunkhistoryhome.html

Contact Dale Stewart: dalstart@sbcglobal.net

Like a big, fat egg sitting on top of our music scene, the selfish agenda of the major record labels and their payola-empowered henchmen have drained the resources from our very creative bloodstream. Stiffling inspiration, they have done everything they can to keep people like you and me out of game. We've been suffocating under the sheer weight of the mass, but now a new day dawns and I see light at the end of the tunnel. with the new day dawning, cryptic glyphs encoded on my once dark cave come into view. Throw off the yokes of your slave masters and rise up, speak your mind and tell your unique story, whatever that story may be. There is now a place to publish your heart-songs. You don't need a record label, you are a record label. As long as you have internet access you can compete with the biggest and best. No one can stop you. Keep writing, keep creating, keep publishing, your day will come. If Andy Warhola would have known about the internet and computers he would have said your ten minutes of fame are now 10MB of fame. I am so thankful for the little bit of good that rises to the top in certain moments of clarity. The slate is washed clean and now it's time to start over. A fresh, new day dawns. Godspeed my brothers and sisters who are on the outside looking in.
  

Sad Boyz - Shut up and Drink 1989

Fresno Punk Scene History

Recent comments

craykorie

Related tracks