Here is a classic line: I used to tell girls that dated me.. that in order to understand me, you have to understand THE GERMS. Ha Ha Ha.

Great "Stupid " memory of mine was when I gave myself my first "Germ Burn ". A Germ Burn is when you take your cigarette while lit and push it down onto your skin to leave a marking of a red bubble or in the case legacy of the Germs (Circle One)- a circle hence the gang symbol of The Germ Burn (...and it was said only a Germs Circle One memeber could give you the honor of a Germ Burn...but seeing as how I haven't the hook-up I give myself one). Now of course I wasn't alive (as I am now) when the Germs were polluting clubs and crowds with their certain infections of hard punk rock massacre- and chaos.. but I am most certainly alive when I listen to the Germs.

So yeah, The Germs mean a lot to me.

"M.I.A. " (aka: The Complete Anthology.. yeah I'm not too cool) the first album I got (the one that everyone has the complete) is timeless.. a chaotic masterpiece of punk rock energy that will p*ss off anyone whom has some sort of music credit. I know that album by heart, and if you stole it from me I would certainly end you... ha ha ha.



But a good find is tackling The Germs when they are in their finest of forms... Live- uncensored motherf*cking punk rock antagonism- loud and disgustingly disturbing. "Germicide " is the album that captures their first "actual " live performance and it's probably the greatest live album I own.. and I got a slew of great live albums that get me off. But to me none touch The Germs at the Whisky... none.

On the cover you get that picture of Darby all in white with some sh*t on the top of his head all in Black and White. The Booklet has a brief history written by Kim Fowley (the guy responsible for the Whisky booking... actually he really didn't do a whole lot of booking.. just a basic "Hey you're a garage band.. come here and play " type deal).
* Note: If you want a real history on the Germs and Darby Crash read "LEXICON DEVIL " by Brendan Mullen.

Also the booklet includes a "Germs Remembered " piece of writing written by ex/ drummer Don Bolles. Bolles ends his writing with some most bold words.. some most bold TRUE words:

(exert from "Germicide " Booklet, "The Germs Remembered " by Don Bolles- July 1998 )

"...the next time some one asks you what PUNK is all about, all you have to do is play him/her this CD ("Germicide "). That'll shut 'em up. In fact, if my experience is any indicator, they will never speak to you again as long as they live. YEAH!!! Now that's PUNK. "

ha ha ha.
Now picture this:

The Germs all have white T-Shirts (homemade) with the words "Germs " on the front and on the back "Commin' at you " with a band member's name to add. Darby at this time was at the beginning of his stage persona and did a mock of Iggy Pop theatrics to food fight tactics, peanut butter flicking, and to quote Darby at the aftermath (whom was Bobby Pyn at the Time): "I smelled like a Restaurant. "

"Germicide " starts with one time drummer Belinda (soon to be Go-Go Girl) explaining why she isn't with the band anymore provided she only explains that they are "sluts ".

Off of Belinda's most flattering introduction The Germs kick it with their big single "Forming " a song about breaking down the government and Forming a new one, a very instrumental mundane song (Germs to add weren't a musical genius band, but Pat Smear could play licks from Queen to Yes and- Did I say the Germs weren't genius? I meant they were GENIUS). "Sex Boy " follows up and has some of the best lyrics to boot, they were so good that at the time one of LA's other big punk rock bands THE SCREAMERS would go and cover it.. must of been interesting.

In-between sets you hear a lot of "Ah F*ck you.. come up here ya big p*ssy." Pure Antagonism! I can only imagine Darby up there on the stage calling out the toughest punk in the building.. you know the one dressed in biker leather head to toe, spikes here, spikes there, and has a tattoo on his forehead reading," Ya Can't F*ck wit this, So Y try? " (Or maybe not... I don't think that many words can fit on any one person's head.. or unless they were the Elephant Man?)

The antagonist approach is very much done in the way Iggy Pop used to do and make it famous. Adds a flavor to the album makes you feel like you are in the middle of this spectacular food fight- and Darby is provoking you to do something about it.

The Start of "Victim " starts with "Ah F*ck you! Ya Big P*ssy.." and Pat says,"We aren't playing unless you throw more stuff.. Could you please throw more stuff..?" "F*ck You " someone would scream. "Victim " picks up the tempo- more fast paced and you can hear Donna just bang-bang those drums.. and before you know it Darby screams out,"Stop...STOP!! " and the music stops, so off-cue so great.

"Street Drums " more of intoxicated Crash(ing) vocals- "I got Street Dreams.. " At the end its, " Ah.. F*ck you.. you're a real big man, come on up here. "

"Let's Pretend " is a Germs classic... drone work, people can't stand this kind of thing- personally I love it blah blah.. Pat Smear really works on the continuous riffs and kind of messes up towards the end.. but that was the Germs.. a mess. An example their first show they hadn't even rehearsed and made huge fools out of themselves but maintained a show of theater with antics of spitting on each other and a peanut butter assualt until they were told to leave... and then banned for life.

"Get a Grip " and then a "F*ck You! " it's totally messy and just doesn't seem to end... "Suicide Machine " is as the band puts it dedicated to and ex- Runaway (Jackie) (an LA band that Pat & Bobby/Darby/Paul were "male " groupies of)... As the song ends Darby asks if anyone from the crowd would like to come up to the stage and replace him.. ha ha ha... classic.

Perhaps the highlights of highlights is the cover of "Sugar, Sugar" Can you just imagine Darby Crash and Company just butchering away at this 60's pop to pieces of rumble in under 4 minutes.. While on cue Darby and Pat are Dumping 20 lb sugar sacks onto the people bellow... Chaotic fun for everyone! Spread some of that Sugar around, baby!

"I just can't believe the loveliness of loving you
(I just can't believe it's true)
I just can't believe the one to love this feeling to.
(I just can't believe it's true) "

"LA-LA-LA-LA... you're all pricks and you know it too. " Ha Ha Ha! This Cover stands out as a testimony of how threatening Punk Rock can really be.

"Teenage Clone (Wild Baby) " total fast track attack- A verbal rape- and a blast strum blowout of wild intensity only to slow up and then pick it up. At the start of this you can hear some idiot say to Darby "Why don't you get your teeth fixed? " until Crash comes back with "Why don't you get your brain fixed... " ha ha ha not a great retort but funny none-the-less.. "Teenage Clone (Wild Baby) " is a Great Live song to play and you can hear the women get into this one... another highlight among highlights.

To end a wild evening with LA's most favorite band in all the land The Germs, they do a sex-job on "The Grand Old Flag " theme... and yeah mom's and pop's wouldn't approve of their good ol' American children getting infected by Germs... So For the sake of living don't wash your hands.

Stay Infected.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Romancing