The Screamers: Demos 1977-1978- Basura’s Pick of the Week

screamers The Screamers: Demos 1977-1978- Basuras Pick of the WeekPhoto credit: James Stark

Not intended to feature the latest music out there, my ‘Pick of the Week’ is to simply share & highlight music I personally enjoy regardless of timeframe. This weeks pick is pioneering L.A. punk band The Screamers.

Having influenced bands like Devo, Adult., and The Dead Kennedys, The Screamers we’re one of the earliest-known purveyors of ’synthpunk’. Replacing guitars with synths and electric piano while maintaining the abrasive L.A. punk sound at the time is what made The Screamers stand out amongst their guitar-strumming counterparts like The Germs & The Weirdos.

Though substantially successful as a band, a rather interesting fact about The Screamers is that other than some live demos and bootlegs, they never released an official album…

Here are two highlights from the ‘Demos 1977-1978′ collection.


MP3: The Screamers- Thru The Flames


MP3: The Screamers- Sex Boy

You can pick up an excellent collection of Screamers songs from Amazon. Some bands within the same vein/aesthetic (though not entirely synth-reliant) include Suicide, The Sixteens, and the now-defunct Les Georges Leningrad, Numbers, and The Units.

More Units in the Missingtoof archives.
More Les Georges Leningrad in the Missingtoof archives.

Check out more Synth Punk gems in the Missingtoof New Wave archive.



8 Responses to “The Screamers: Demos 1977-1978- Basura’s Pick of the Week”


  1. 1 daecosomoxi Identicon Icon daecosomoxi

    i’ve been a huge fan of the the screamers for years upon years! i’m intensely happy with your pick! thank you for helping to share some great synth punk with ppl. and dude…its a violent world and we’re all living in it. you like the group “suicide”?

  2. 2 basura Identicon Icon basura

    @ daecosomoxi:
    yes i love suicide! i actually linked them in this feature. also, please check out my ‘Live in Le Hot Room’ Mixes in our archive, which includes a suicide track. I’m going to get started on the third volume of that mix…

    best,
    basura!

  3. 3 rob deluxe Identicon Icon rob deluxe

    you better shut up and listen!

    she said…

    good choice.

  4. 4 Dain Identicon Icon Dain

    Diggin thru da crates on this one. Keep it up you scholar!

  5. 5 christsmasher Identicon Icon christsmasher

    Screamers…oh fukka yeah!!!!!
    Apparently singer Tomata du Plenty was a mime.
    Also highly recommended: Their tune “Vertigo”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0-w0hUnhpI

  6. 6 Basura Identicon Icon Basura

    Yes! Vertigo is definitely a standout!!!

  7. 7 flinch Identicon Icon flinch

    hmm never heard of these guys…..cool stuff thanks for the dig!

  8. 8 basura Identicon Icon basura

    @ flinch: awesome! that’s what we here @ missingtoof strive for! enjoy bud =)

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