If the dictionary definition of punk is aggressive songs with furious rhythms, slashing guitars and angry vocals, then LA band The Germs are its very essence.

 

The band formed in 1976 and shone noisily and chaotically before they crashed and burned in 1980 with the death of front man Darby Crash.

 

But that tragic end to their brief career has only enhanced their legendary status after half a century and GI (‘Germs Incognito’ – the name they used to get gigs after most venues had banned them) is now regarded as a classic of the time.

 

Their live shows were punishingly raw and confrontational, with Crash usually drunk and high, staggering around the stage and slurring his words, while audience members slam-danced and hurled rotten food at the singer.

 

Behind him the band made mayhem with their rudimentary grasp of their instruments: guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom and original drummer Dottie Danger – a teenage Belinda Carlisle. 

 

Like the Pistols in England, The Germs’ reputation preceded them and they managed to get banned from even the most punk-friendly venues for fear of their audience causing damage.

 

Of course that only enhanced their reputation further, attracting film maker Penelope Spheeris to feature them in her punk documentary The Decline Of Western Civilisation.

 

Carlisle soon left the band to form The Go-Go’s and was replaced by Donna Rhia (and later by Don Bolles), though Carlisle does appear on a live album, Germicide, recorded at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in 1977.

 

In some quarters The Germs are regarded as the original hardcore band, while others argue that Black Flag have that honour, so let’s just agree they are punk hardcore.

 

Their first single, Forming b/w Sex Boy, was a barely competent thrash released in 1977 that is now no doubt a collector’s item. It was followed by an EP featuring this song, Lexicon Devil, with a lyric apparently written from the point of view of Hitler by Smear (real name: Georg Ruthemberg).

 

It came in at under two minutes, conforming to punk orthodoxy; this is the faster, marginally longer and much better version that appeared on their only album GI, produced by Joan Jett.

 

The band officially ended in December 1981 following a final LA show that Darby, who had briefly left the group and spent time in England, staged to raise money for the heroin dose that killed him (supposedly deliberately). He was 22.

 

Trivia: The band firtst formed after Crash and Smear posted an ad for “two untalented girls” to join their band – Sophistifuck & The Revlon Spam Queens. They changed their name to Germs because it was cheaper to print on T-shirts.