SALBA'S 15 BEST
In the beginning. I wasn't into music all that
much. I remember liking the Motown stuff my
mom used to play on the stereo, then listening
to Top 40 radio, then CCR caught my ear. A bit
after that, I began listening to KISS, Alice Cooper.
and then David Bowie in about 7th grade going
into 8th with the Lazone Bros in their bedroom.
I began skating around that time and quickly
realized that the intensity greatly increased
when music was played, especially hard stuff like
Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, Queen and ZZ Top.
Music took on a new meaning for me--a new
level, a new realization--that translated events
and times that somehow related to music. (One
example is hearing a song while walking down
the street that puts me right back to the L-Pool in
the Badlands, Circa 1976-77, where I took the
bus five miles (a long way when you're 13, 14) to
skate with the big boys like Lee Gahimer, Mike
Cantu, Buddy Alred, Charlie Ransom and some-
times Kevin Anderson and Doug Schneider. It's
like a time warp.)
My mom would never let me go to a show
back then--"too many drugs, hippies, weirdos,
bad influences, no, no, no"--so I would always
wonder what it was like. Then, when I first heard
new wave/punk, I knew I found my calling--the
attitude, the clothes, the look, the revolution. I was
so hooked on the music that it altered my life.
My way of looking at things, my appearance, my
everything was shaped and influenced by the
music--the lyrics, the aggression, the beat, the
message. It was, "Get up and do it. Don't talk
about it. Make it happen." So you didn't know
what was cool all the time. You made mistakes
along the way, but that's life. You took shit from
all the kids at school for what you believed. If your
conviction wasn't strong, you were dead, you
were lame, you weren't meant to be there in the
movement. And it was a movement--however
small and minute. You'd see a weirdo walking
down the boulevard with pegged Levi's, a pink
thrift store shirt, black high-top Cons, and a
wacked spiked haircut, and you knew he was on
your side. You knew that he understood somehow,
and even though you didn't know him, he was
your brother--a solidarity. Well, that's when I
realized I had to see it to believe it, so I began
sneaking out to see some real shows, which start-
ed around the age of 15 or 16.
One of the first major shows I saw was in San
Diego with D David Morin, who at that time was
Krypto's team manager. The Dickies and 999 were
playing, and I wore pegged green Levi's, white
buckle shoes that I splattered with pink paint, and
a black and white striped sailor shirt. I was pogo-
ing and spitting and basically having what I
thought was a good time, which apparently was
not the general consensus. By then I knew the eti-
quette of pogo-dancing, because I had already
gone to shows at the Whiskey A Go Go, the
Hideaway, and the Masque just before it closed
down. During that whole era, everybody pretty
much knew or at least acknowledged each other.
so by the time the SD thing happened, I was
already at least a 20-show experienced kind of
guy, which wasn't much at first, but, as time
wore on, you had to change tactics to keep up.
Jakester called one afternoon and asked if I
would write a piece on the best 15 shows, and I
said, "Sure thing." But, because my tastes and era
might be a little different than some of you
younger lads, don't get upset at my picks,
because if it weren't for guys like me setting the
pace for all of you little tykes, you wouldn't be
where you are today.
1. The Clash, The Cramps. Dead Kennedys
The Temple
Probably the best show I ever attended was in
San Francisco during the Wincester Pro in '78. The
bill was The Clash. The Cramps, and Dead
Kennedys, all of which I saw for the first time,
even though I'd heard them on vinyl. Bowman,
Olson, Alva, Craig Rowe, Mofo, Fausto and Gwen
were there also. The Sex Pistols had just broken
up in San Francisco, so that particular show was
by far the biggest thing since then. We were
super amped on lots of brew, and us being
skaters, we had the edge. They started playing
the Pistols over the PA, and we went apeshit.
making a little circle pit of our own, running and
tackling each other and anybody else who got in
our way. It was so crazy that you had to be there
to relate to the chaos. Then DKs started playing.
so we tried to climb over people to get on
stage--our goal of conquest--and the people got
pissed, because they were trying to watch the
music, not feel it. Remember, this was San
Francisco, hippie capital of the world, where
everyone was mellow. So, we devastated the
place and the people. We owned the show that
night--spitting, kicking, punching, slamming,
pogoing. We were the kings, and anybody--1
mean, anybody-who tried to stop us got wasted.
It was all-American clean fun, but in a punk rock
sort of way. I don't care what anybody else says,
but slamdancing was invented that night by all of
us skaters. Just look up Moto and ask him!
2. Black Flag and UXA
Races Hall
Another great show in LA, Circa 1979 or '80.
The skater force was once again in control with
Zipperhead, Jim Muir, Alva, Jay Smith, DP, me, and
buddies like George B. James, Apple, and my old
chick. Peggy. The show was sold out, but we man-
aged to sneak in through an open window with
SHOWS
the good ole human ladder (thanks, Muir). I dis-
tinctly remember dropping about twelve feet onto
a wooden table that broke when I landed. We got
into a fight with X-head and his skinhead friends
and wasted 'em good. Fuck you, X-head! The vibe
that night was crazy. DP got up on stage and
sang with Kent Senatore, who was playing bass
for UXA--screaming and yelling and drunker than
hell. The police showed up--"too many people,
you've got to go now!"--and, needless to say.
everyone was pissed. We all filed out, and the
LAPD was in force in full riot gear--them on one
side of the street, us on the other. Fire trucks
were there, ambulances, the works! So, what hap-
pened? The punks started saluting Nazi style say-
ing. "Seig Heil! Seig Heil!" And the shit hit the
fan! Hundreds of LAPD enforcers tried to keep us
down, and probably the biggest musical riot
started, thanks to Chief Gates, who was trying to
suppress the movement. Well, they got their's
that night. I almost got beat down by three cops
with billy clubs, but George grabbed my arm and
dragged me away as I was trying to help a poor,
defenseless punker chick who was down due to
several baton blows to the head. LAPD rules!
3. Stiff Little Fingers
The Whiskey, Circa 1979
If you aren't hip to SLF, then you are clueless.
These guys ruled hard, and their record
Inflammable Material was a big hit among our
crowd. We couldn't wait to hear some inspiration
from those Irish laddies. They rolled into town for
a two-night stand, and in those days there was an
early and late show like 8:00 and 11:00 pm. We
missed the first night to go see The Weirdos, so we
bought tickets for the second show, which was
great! They rocked, reggaed, and played my fave
song, "Barbed Wire Love." They looked very cool
and had on white Docs--the first I'd seen--and
All the bass player looked right at me and smiled;
thus, proving to me that I was doing the right.
thing. At that time, English punk was my mentor,
although LA punk was quickly catching up with
cool bands, clubs, and a very LA-ish look that all
the punkers chose: engineer boots with steel toes,
very short hair, a belt or bracelet with studs or
spikes, and any kind of DIY shirt or pants. Punk
rock ruled the day,
4. The Stains and Mad Society
The Hideaway
The Hideaway was brand spanking remodeled
for a punk show (dumb move guys), and the
show was sold out. We couldn't gain entry, so we
pushed an old car through the roll-away doors and
smashed through with a bang and a boom. Talk
about destruction! We wasted the door and the car,
and about 100-200 people snuck in through the
hole we made with the owners trying to kick peo-
ple in the face and head--some connecting.
some not--and they're just freaking swinging a
sword (not a propl) at people, swashbuckling à la
Errol Flynn. Crazy, crazy, crazy! To make matters
worse, people started kicking holes in the drywall
partitions, while George B and I started tackling
the wall and breaking holes in it big enough to
walk through. Anarchy and chaos was what I
wanted. Mad Society played (remember Lil
Stevie?), and The Stains played during the melee,
then all hell broke loose once again when the
troops were called in. It was like Quadrophenia
with the cops chasing people down the street, tear
gas clouds stinging the eyes, batons and fists a
flyin'-total punk rebellion. I was lucky to make it
out alive. All in a night's work!
5. Public Image Ltd
The Olympic Auditorium
It was Johnny Rotten's first major outing since
The Pistols, and everyone in LA was waiting to see
the hero, the demigod, Mr Rotten, who changed
his name back to Lydon. A great show if you like
the dub-like PIL. The Plugz opened and got booed
(poor guys, because they were really good), then
some wacky weirdo Kipling brother act, circus like
shit. They also got booed and shit thrown at them
like tomatoes and beer cans. Finally PIL came on,
and the whole place went bananas. Again the
skater contingent was in force, and, if I remember
correctly, Jim Muir's little brother Mike got a
cigarette put out in his eye. Remember, this was
before Suicidal, Venice, Santa Monica, and all the
crazy, violent, punk gang shit.
6. Urgh, A Music War
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
The biggest punk shows yet with a lot of IRS
bands participating like Magazine, The Cramps,
Pere Ubu and The Go-Go's. I went both nights, and
it was a killer time. IRS recorded an album and
video for prosperity's sake, so check it if you can.
After the second show let out, another riot ensued,
because Jay Adams and I threw full quarts of beer
through a police cruiser's windshield. So, needless
to say, all hell broke loose once more, making the
news on Channel 7. Boring summer?
7. The Clash and Bo Didley
The Hollywood Palladium
Next tour I think was "Give 'Em Enough
Rope in "79 or '80. I was a sophomore, and for
some reason there wasn't a riot, but there were a
lot of police and helicopters on full alert status.
The Clash were and still are my favorite band of
all time, and that show they just ruled, playing all
the hits like "White Riot" and "Janie Jones," and
newer stuff like "Guns on the Roof," "Julie's Been
Working in the Drug Squad," "Safe European
Home," and even "I Fought the Law." Throw in
some "Bankrobber" dub, "Armagideon Time,"
and seeing Bo Didley was a very cool culture-like
thing. I went with some friends and got shitfaced,
but loved it all!
8. The Germs
The Starwood
After Darby Crash went to England to hang
with Adam Ant, he came back sporting a huge
mohawk and bondage pants and feathers, but he
was still Darby, King of LA punk. The Germs
achieved super martyr status after Darby commit-
ted suicide a couple weeks later. Anyway, it was
The Germs farewell show, and they sucked, as
usual, but we overlooked the facts, because The
Germs had the attitude, the look, and the balls to
play in front of hundreds of people and just didn't
care. Darby was drunk as a skunk and probably
smacked out of his gourd, but, oh well. He want-
ed to give me and George a "Germs burn," but we
weren't into it. So, fuck you, Darby. You were cool.
but you're dead now.
9. The Cramps and Dead Kennedys
The Whiskey
It was the second time seeing The Cramps and
DKs for me since San Francisco, and we were up
close. The Cramps still had Bryan Gregory, who
was a complete freak. The lights went out, and
Bryan G had a cig in his mouth, which he made
disappear, then flicked back out (wacky!). Then
Lux came out and popped open a switchblade and
carved an X on his chest. Everybody was scream-
ing and yelling encouragement. Then he took off
his leather blazer, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and
on his arm was carved in big letters "Kill
Hippies. That was too cool in my opinion due to
the fact that not only did punk want to destroy all
other aspects of music and society, but because Lux
did that at the Whiskey, home of the 60s
psychedelic scene. He was saying. "Fuck hippies,
their places, their clubs, their everything!" The
Cramps ruled and didn't have a bass player, and
DKs shredded hard with Jello in his silver cowboy
boots.
10. Black Flag and Adolescents
The Whiskey
This show was anticipated by the police, who
by that time went to every show they could find
where Black Flag was playing. If I remember cor-
rectly, the gig didn't even happen, and Sunset
Strip was cruise heaven. Some mods showed up
on their cute little scooters, and, as usual, shit hap-
pened. First the punks thrashed everything in
sight-kicking in car doors, jumping on car roots,
breaking windows--then DP did the DP shuffle
over car hoods as the drivers waited for the light to
change. Shit was flying--bottles, beer cans, 2 x
4s, whatever could be found--and Craig Rowe
assaulted a mod guy riding his scooter with a 2 x 4
to the chest. It was just like the movies: the guy
went flying off and slammed onto the asphalt. One
down, ten to go was the battle cry. LA's finest shut
down the whole strip. We hid underneath cars in
the parking lot behind Licorice Pizza as the cops
swept the area. Another victory for us. Hurrah!
11. The Exploited
South Central Los Angeles
Another show with another riot right in the
heart of the ghetto with punkers pillaging drug
stores, breaking shop windows, stealing, vandaliz-
ing, and just good ole punker fun on a Saturday
night. The police went crazy trying to find every-
one and round 'em up. Rawhide.
12. Stevie Ray Vaughn
The Hollywood Palladium, 1984
I began to get out of punk somewhat because it
was so violent with punker gangs from all
over--Suicidal guys, Venice guys, SF Valley guys,
skinhead guys--fighting for no reason, just pure
jocko homo mentality. When we first started,
punkers didn't beat up each other that much; we
all stuck together and beat up the enemy. I
attempted to play guitar in some bands with blues
and rockabilly being a step in the right direction.
The scene was how punk used to be: have fun.
drink beer, pick up chicks, etc. In my desire to play
guitar better, I discovered the roots of rock--the
stepping stone to success: blues, folk, zydeco, R&B,
stax, Motown, and surf instrumentals. All of this led
to Stevie Ray, who just blew the doors off of every-
one in pure guitar talent/genius, and I felt part of
the new movement once again. Stevie was raging.
and Craig Johnson was visiting from Dallas. John
Stone got all of his rolled-up joints confiscated by
security, but we saw the show, raged, and got
blown away by Stevie's guitar antics: over his
head, behind his back, through his legs--pure
blues power. His spirit will live foreverl
13. TSOL and Poison 13
Al's Bar, Circa 1984
I was at DP's house during one of TSOL's first
practices. I watched them grow and change
from Vicious Circle to TSOL. Plus, Ron Emory and
Todd Barnes skated at Lakewood a lot, so I kept
up with them whenever I could. Mofo came
down, and together we went to Al's Bar to hang.
and drink and do whatever. Poison 13 was total-
ly Texas tweaked, balls to the wall, grunge
soaked punk/blues/hellbilly rock, and Tim Kerr
was an ex-Big Boy (Texas skate rock!). So, as
usual, Tim and the boys didn't let us down with
their wild, manic, musical set. TSOL was killer
with Emory just making his guitar wizardry look
so simple yet sound so fat. Emory was the pre-
mier punk player in So Cal at the time, and TSOL's
set reflected the changing musical landscape that
OC punk had put on the map. The things that
have stuck in my mind is Mofo autographing
Poison 13's tour van with an amazing colossal
head butt autograph (headbanger, anyone?) to
the side of the van, and the after party that
everybody went to.
14. Rock For Choice Benefit
The Hollywood Palladium
After skating fell again (as far as vert goes),
I had to find some means of money, so I started
working production for KLPS/Goldenvoice. I've
worked at most of the major shows in LA since
about 1990-91 and have seen them all: The
Seattle scene-Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in
Chains, Nirvana--Metallica, Green Day, Rancid,
Pennywise, NOFX... The benefit was something
the L7 gals set up, and Fugazi just brought down.
the house with their dissonant/swirling version
of rock. If you were into Minor Threat, I'm sure
you'd dig Fugazi. Their energy and reckless
abandon blew everyone away that night, and if
you've never caught them live, do yourself a
favor and check them out. That night while talk-
ing to lan, he told me how he and Henry Rollins
took a bus to the West Coast to skate and actual-
ly saw the contest at Big O that I won. What a
trip, right? Anyhow. Fugazi records don't do
them justice, so if you ever get a chance to see
them, don't blow it.
15. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lords of the
New Church, The Flamethrowers
Pomona Valley Auditorium, Circa 1984
The show was cool because our band. The
Flamethrowers, opened for the Lords (Stiv Bators,
Brian James). It was a dream come true. The
Peppers were just breaking through (before hero-
in destroyed them), and we were happy as pigs
in shit to be part of this bill. And, in my opinion,
we rocked! -Steve Alba-