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A collection of 404 flyers and handbills promoting Los Angeles punk venues and bands from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, featuring acts such as Social Distortion, Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion, and Operation Ivy. The flyers are all printed on standard sized sheets, mostly 8½" x 11" or 4" x 6", in various colors with several incorporating rubberstamped elements. Overall near fine or better with only scattered edgewear and light soiling. This collection shows a mix of bands, both known and unknown, responsible for creating the Los Angeles brand of punk rock. Beginning in the early 1980s, Los Angeles was introduced to hardcore and started fashioning the definitive version of the genre with bands like The Mentors, T.S.O.L., and Black Flag. With this new style of punk rock came a new, and more violent, approach to the music often resulting in police raids. This also inspired counter-genres like ska and reggae versions of punk as developed in bands like the Toasters and Bad Brains, both represented here. Numerous venues sprung up during this time including Godzilla s, Anti-Club, and a resurgence of interest in the Whisky-a-Go-Go, thanks to the promotion of former Runaways manager, Kim Fowley. Formed in 1979, Anti-Club was the brain child of Russell Jessum, Jack Marquette, and Jim Van Tyne and was home to many LA bands including many from SST Record, the label of Black Flag s Greg Ginn. Renowned for their violence, SST bands, including Black Flag, were constantly watched by police and because of them, venues banned hardcore at their clubs. After roughly half a decade of angst and tension the scene collapsed on itself but emerged with groups like Hole (one early flyer featured here) with more controlled rage. However, the culture had shifted significantly with "do-it-yourself" sensibilities overriding major labels and promotion falling to the bands themselves and small-scale managers utilizing makeshift flyers and art to promote the music to the masses. A vivid assemblage of 80s punk culture representing LA s burgeoning hardcore scene, including an assortment of obscure bands; a collection that would be difficult to recreate.
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