Photo by Morticia Graves
On Saturday February 22nd it was raining -- raining because the day was preparing a pot of goths and punks for the night brought to you by Lethal Amounts and Release the Bats. This night musical legends walked on the streets of Downtown Los Angeles to a special ceremony. A book written about them by Mikey Bean with notes from Don Bolles(The Germs, 45 Grave, Nervous Gender ect). Phantoms:The Rise of Deathrock from the LA Punk Scene. The event was packed with goths, punks, models, business owners, and so many different people from different walks of life. It was a special night for sure, one for the books. A great story you get to tell your grandkids if you were there!
Deejays Ralphie Nigma and Edward Transylvania - Photo by Edward Stapleton (Nervous Gender)
Don Bolles candidly taking a photo while pointing at his own photo on the "Phantoms: Rise of Deathrock in the LA Punk Scene" book. Photo by Morticia Graves
Photo by Gorg Katz
Photo by Morticia Graves
Photo by Gorg Katz
Taquila Mockinbird hanging out with some cool old flyers in the Lethal Amounts Gallery Photo by Gorg Katz (Flyers are also Gorg Katz's)
As you can see the night was pretty amazing! The bands that were set to play will be listed below.
Fat and Fucked Up (They have been around since the 80s)
Gitane Demone Quartet - Gitane Demone (Christian Death, Pompeii 99 ect..), Rikk Agnew (The Adolescents, D.I, 45 Grave, Christian Death and more), Paul Roessler ( Nervous Gender, The Screamers, 45 Grave, The Deadbeats, Nina Hagen and more), Deb Venom ( Sacred Spiders, A bleeding sky, Deep Drain, Only Theater of Pain, Spirit Before a Fall, Eether Eel, and more).
The Decadents - Formed and played in 1978- 1982 and came back for this special night! Reunion thirty eight years later. Yes Los Angeles is a spoiled brat!
Nervous Gender (Reloaded) - Edward Stapleton and Matt Comeione
Witness - Ron Athey (Founder of Premature Ejaculation) David Harrow and Micaela Tobin
Only Theater of Pain - Rikk Agnew, Gitane Demone, Steve Skeletal, Killjo Zapata (Eyeliner, Deep Drain and many more), Deb Venom, and Angel Elias.
Snowsnake Orchestra - Don Bolles, Paul Roessler
The Wraith - Davey Bales, Kaz Alvis, Paul Rogers, and Anthony Lovochkin
Fat and Fucked Up Photo by Gorg Katz
Only Theater of Pain Photo by Levan TK
Gitane Demone Quartet Photo by Merianne Gonzales
Witness photo by Edward Stapleton
Nervous Gender Reloaded Photo by Gorg Katz
The Decadents photo by Levan TK
The Wraith photo by Gorg Katz
Mikey Bean (Author of Phantoms: The Rise of Deathrock in the LA Punk Scene) photo by Michael Intriere
Mikey Bean spent years crafting this masterpiece! It is finally here! Los Angeles has been spoiled by Bean with this jem! 630 pages of bliss. Those of you who are wondering how to get your hands on this we have made it easy for you, You can get this beauty here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/mikey-bean/phantoms-the-rise-of-deathrock-from-the-la-punk-scene/paperback/product-24320734.html
Thank you for all your blood, sweat and tears Mister Bean we absolutely adore you!
Jenn and Dave Bats (Release the Bats).
Release the Bats started in 1998 and was the longest consistently running goth club every fourth Friday of every month. After twenty years they ended their monthly club in October 2018 with a big party. They still do events every so often, and will continue to bring Release The Bats back every October for a reunion party at The Que Sera in Long Beach. So keep your eyes out for this October Release The Bats will be celebrating 22 years!
Dinah Cancer (45 Grave), Danny Fuentes (Lethal Amounts), Ron Athey, Micaela Tobin, and Mikey Bean (Author of "Phantoms: The Rise of Deathrock in the LA Punk Scene.
Photo by: Levan TK
Danny Fuentes owner of Lethal Amounts really loves music and art. He has been an advocate for it for years so much that he has dedicated his life to keeping it alive. He is a part of the reason why LA is spoiled, and no not just us goths and punks either! Anyone who likes any form of art. He has done a lot for many people! Fuentes always has something going on for LA, and he has something for everyone. Thank you Danny for spoiling us we love you!
- VFLA & BatzCave events to look out for in March
Don Bolles will be playing a special show sometime in March that is not to be missed! We will be sure to keep you guys updated. Yes, that is how spoiled we are we get to see Don Bolles in person all the time and get to enjoy his music!
Sex Cells (Lethal Amounts) March 6th - Sex Cells celebrates their three year anniversary! Special performance by Azealia Banks.
On Friday March 13th at The Whisky A-Go-Go in Hollywood there will be an amazing lineup of 45 Grave, Frankenstein, Luna 13, Frozen Charlottes, The Noktornals, and Three Rounds.
Make sure to mark your calendars