Nardcore
Encyclopedia
Nardcore is a hardcore punk
movement that came out of Southern California
in the early 1980s, originating in Silver Strand Beach
, Oxnard and Port Hueneme. Early bands in the Nardcore scene included Agression
, Dr. Know
, False Confession, Ill Repute
, Habeas Corpus
, RKL
, Stalag 13 and Scared Straight
. The first venues to regularly host punk shows in the Oxnard area were Casa Tropical (a quonset hut at the Oxnard Airport), Town and Country (Port Hueneme), Skate Palace (Port Hueneme), and Casa de la Raza (Santa Barbara).
Much of the early promotion of Nardcore came from Mystic Records
, in Hollywood, California, its Founder Doug Moody and Mystic Promotion Director Mark Wilkins. Mystic not only launched many bands onto vinyl
, but also promoted the Nardcore scene as a whole.
, California hardcore punk scene. This suburban
community, sixty miles north of Los Angeles, California
, was the spawning ground for many hardcore punk bands of the early '80s and became a hotbed for punk and skate
bands; collectively, their sound became known as "Nardcore." Nardcore tends to have a lot of the same characteristics as skate punk, but has a sound closer to traditional hardcore punk than skate punk. The nardcore symbol (a common design feature in logos on record covers and tattoos) was scribbled in a notebook years ago by Ismael Hernandez of Dr. Know
.
After a short tour of Hawaii
with the Oahu
band 8mm Overdose
, Ill Repute disbanded in July 2004 and briefly reformed again (minus founding guitarist Tony Cortez) to tour Hawaii
in 2006 with 8mm Overdose
. Several original Scared Straight members are still performing under the re-formed band name Ten Foot Pole
. One prominent member of False Confession
, Scott Morris, went on to form Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
. Another False Confession
member, Harry Meisenheimer, played for Stalag 13, Ill Repute and then became known as Harry Drumdini and became the drummer for The Cramps
. He now drums for tHE kILLDEVILS©. A member of Stäläg 13, Dave Casillas, had a stint as guitarist with NOFX
and currently plays with GG Elvis. Oxnard locals Gilbert
and Jaime Hernandez
(who drew album covers for Dr. Know and other Nardcore bands) and Mario Hernandez went on to create the long-running comic book series Love and Rockets
. Many of Jaime Hernandez's stories revolve around the 1970s/1980s California punk scene, and the Nardcore symbol is occasionally seen as graffiti in his comics.
In summer 2004, a Nardcore 20th Anniversary Show featured new and old acts such as Ill Repute, Dr. Know, A.F.U., Stäläg 13 Sing Along, Youth Brigade
, The Last Priority, California Redemption
, Chritchen, Caught Off Guard, In Control, The Missing 23rd, The Arsonics, Vengeance, False Confession, R.K.L., Rat Pack, Burning Dog, Habeas Corpus, and Total Resistance.
Dr. Know
broke up in may of 2010. Kyle Toucher is reportedly reforming the metal era line up who recorded Wreckage In Flesh. Singer Brandon Cruz
has a new band called MDCN+MN (Medicine Man).
In April 2005 there was a CD Released by Let Them Eat Records entitled Welcome to the Neighborhood. The CD features Nardcore bands such as Dr. Know and Ill Repute, but also featured Ventura County's newer bands such as The Last Priority, and California Redemption
.
It continues to thrive today with new bands.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
movement that came out of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in the early 1980s, originating in Silver Strand Beach
Silver Strand Beach
Silver Strand Beach is a beach neighborhood within the city of Oxnard, California, United States, that separates Channel Islands Harbor to the north from the Port of Hueneme to the south. The eastern side of the beach is entirely composed of the Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme...
, Oxnard and Port Hueneme. Early bands in the Nardcore scene included Agression
Agression (band)
Agression was an American rock band from Silver Strand Beach, Oxnard, California. Agression was one of the founding bands of the Nardcore scene, and an early proponent of the "skate punk" genre. The band fused skate culture with the punk scene- featuring a song about skateboarding and a Glen E...
, Dr. Know
Dr. Know (band)
Dr. Know is a punk band which began as a Nardcore band and now has roots in Los Angeles, CA.They are one of the founding figures of the "Nardcore" punk movement from Oxnard, CA. The band was started by Kyle Toucher, Ismael Hernandez, and Robin Cartwright in early 1981, and after auditioning a few...
, False Confession, Ill Repute
Ill Repute
Ill Repute is an American hardcore punk band from Oxnard, California, formed in 1981. They are noted for popularizing the "Nardcore" sound in the mid-1980s hardcore punk scene, and recorded for Mystic Records....
, Habeas Corpus
Habeas Corpus (band)
Habeas Corpus was a hardcore punk band that emerged from the Nardcore scene in the early 1980s. One of the region's first straight edge bands, Habeas Corpus combined Misfits-style horror punk with the early 80s Southern California surf/skate sound...
, RKL
Rich Kids on LSD
Rich Kids on LSD was a Californian hardcore punk band formed in 1982 in Montecito, California, a suburb of Santa Barbara. They were associated with the "Nardcore" scene that evolved out of nearby Oxnard. Their music expanded over the years from West Coast hardcore to a mix of hardcore with rock...
, Stalag 13 and Scared Straight
Scared Straight (band)
Scared Straight was a Nardcore Punk band from Simi Valley, California.The band was formed in 1983 by a group of friends and was originally called S.O.F, Scott Radinsky, Mike Thompson, Gary Gallanes and Dennis Jagard, who wanted to start a band and enter a "Battle of the Bands" competition at a...
. The first venues to regularly host punk shows in the Oxnard area were Casa Tropical (a quonset hut at the Oxnard Airport), Town and Country (Port Hueneme), Skate Palace (Port Hueneme), and Casa de la Raza (Santa Barbara).
Much of the early promotion of Nardcore came from Mystic Records
Mystic Records
Mystic Records is a record label and music production company that was based in Hollywood CA one block south of Hollywood and Vine and later moved to Oceanside, California...
, in Hollywood, California, its Founder Doug Moody and Mystic Promotion Director Mark Wilkins. Mystic not only launched many bands onto vinyl
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, but also promoted the Nardcore scene as a whole.
Origins
The name is a reference to the OxnardOxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
, California hardcore punk scene. This suburban
SubUrbia
subUrbia is a play by Eric Bogosian chronicling the nighttime activities of a group of aimless 20-somethings still living in their suburban Boston hometown and their reunion with a former high school classmate who has become a successful musician...
community, sixty miles north of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, was the spawning ground for many hardcore punk bands of the early '80s and became a hotbed for punk and skate
Skate punk
Skate punk is a sub genre of punk rock, originally a derivative of the West Coast hardcore punk scene, that is named after its popularity among skateboarders and association with skateboarding culture. Skate punk most commonly describes the sound of melodic hardcore bands from the 1990s with an...
bands; collectively, their sound became known as "Nardcore." Nardcore tends to have a lot of the same characteristics as skate punk, but has a sound closer to traditional hardcore punk than skate punk. The nardcore symbol (a common design feature in logos on record covers and tattoos) was scribbled in a notebook years ago by Ismael Hernandez of Dr. Know
Dr. Know (band)
Dr. Know is a punk band which began as a Nardcore band and now has roots in Los Angeles, CA.They are one of the founding figures of the "Nardcore" punk movement from Oxnard, CA. The band was started by Kyle Toucher, Ismael Hernandez, and Robin Cartwright in early 1981, and after auditioning a few...
.
Nardcore in the 2000s
A few of the original Nardcore bands, such as Dr. Know, were still performing in the 2000s. In summer 2002, a Henry Knowles Memorial Show featuring the "Nardcore All-Stars" took place. Rich Kids on LSD suffered the loss of their original drummer, Richard Anthony Manzullo (also known as "Bomer"), who died on December 12, 2005, and their front man, Jason Sears, who died in January 2006.After a short tour of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
with the Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
band 8mm Overdose
8mm Overdose
- Overview :Corrupt Absolute- originally formed as Machine in 1993, then changed to 8mm Overdose in 2000. With over 10 years of live shows, 4 previous CD releases, an impressive list of corporate sponsors and the distinction of being the only American heavy metal band ever to extensively tour...
, Ill Repute disbanded in July 2004 and briefly reformed again (minus founding guitarist Tony Cortez) to tour Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in 2006 with 8mm Overdose
8mm Overdose
- Overview :Corrupt Absolute- originally formed as Machine in 1993, then changed to 8mm Overdose in 2000. With over 10 years of live shows, 4 previous CD releases, an impressive list of corporate sponsors and the distinction of being the only American heavy metal band ever to extensively tour...
. Several original Scared Straight members are still performing under the re-formed band name Ten Foot Pole
Ten Foot Pole
Ten Foot Pole is an American punk rock band, formerly on Epitaph Records.-History:Ten Foot Pole was founded in 1983 as Scared Straight.Scared Straight was a Nardcore Punk band from Simi Valley, California...
. One prominent member of False Confession
False Confession
False Confession was a hardcore punk band in the early 1980s that emerged in the Oxnard, California area. They were one of the founding members of the "Nardcore" punk movement.Their first 7" EP Left to Burn was released by Mystic Records in 1984...
, Scott Morris, went on to form Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a contemporary swing revival band from southern California. Their notable singles include "Go Daddy-O", "You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight ", and "Mr. Pinstripe Suit". The band played the Super Bowl XXXIII half-time show in 1999.The band was originally formed in Ventura,...
. Another False Confession
False Confession
False Confession was a hardcore punk band in the early 1980s that emerged in the Oxnard, California area. They were one of the founding members of the "Nardcore" punk movement.Their first 7" EP Left to Burn was released by Mystic Records in 1984...
member, Harry Meisenheimer, played for Stalag 13, Ill Repute and then became known as Harry Drumdini and became the drummer for The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
. He now drums for tHE kILLDEVILS©. A member of Stäläg 13, Dave Casillas, had a stint as guitarist with NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
and currently plays with GG Elvis. Oxnard locals Gilbert
Gilbert Hernandez
Gilberto Hernández, born February 1, 1957, in Oxnard, California, usually credited as Gilbert Hernandez and also known by the nickname Beto , is an American comics writer/artist...
and Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez is the co-creator of the black & white independent comic book Love and Rockets .-Early life:...
(who drew album covers for Dr. Know and other Nardcore bands) and Mario Hernandez went on to create the long-running comic book series Love and Rockets
Love and Rockets (comics)
Love and Rockets is a black and white comic book series by Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez, sometimes cited jointly as Los Bros Hernandez. Their brother Mario Hernandez is an occasional contributor...
. Many of Jaime Hernandez's stories revolve around the 1970s/1980s California punk scene, and the Nardcore symbol is occasionally seen as graffiti in his comics.
In summer 2004, a Nardcore 20th Anniversary Show featured new and old acts such as Ill Repute, Dr. Know, A.F.U., Stäläg 13 Sing Along, Youth Brigade
Youth Brigade
Youth Brigade can refer to two different punk music groups:*Youth Brigade , from Los Angeles, California*Youth Brigade , from Washington, DCYouth Brigade can refer to members of the*National Youth Service ....
, The Last Priority, California Redemption
California Redemption
California Redemption is a hardcore punk band from Thousand Oaks, California, a part of the Nardcore community, and a "major player" in the Ventura County Music scene....
, Chritchen, Caught Off Guard, In Control, The Missing 23rd, The Arsonics, Vengeance, False Confession, R.K.L., Rat Pack, Burning Dog, Habeas Corpus, and Total Resistance.
Dr. Know
Dr. Know
Dr. Know may refer to :*Dr. Know , a punk band from Oxnard, California*Dr. Know , stage name of guitar player Gary Miller from the band Bad Brains*Dr. Know , a TV program on the Discovery Health Channel...
broke up in may of 2010. Kyle Toucher is reportedly reforming the metal era line up who recorded Wreckage In Flesh. Singer Brandon Cruz
Brandon Cruz
Brandon Edwin Cruz is an American former child actor and currently a punk rock musician, and also works in drug and alcohol rehabilitation. In the late 1960s, the freckled-faced Cruz came to prominence by playing Tom Corbett's charming and conniving son, Eddie Corbett, in the comedy-drama The...
has a new band called MDCN+MN (Medicine Man).
In April 2005 there was a CD Released by Let Them Eat Records entitled Welcome to the Neighborhood. The CD features Nardcore bands such as Dr. Know and Ill Repute, but also featured Ventura County's newer bands such as The Last Priority, and California Redemption
California Redemption
California Redemption is a hardcore punk band from Thousand Oaks, California, a part of the Nardcore community, and a "major player" in the Ventura County Music scene....
.
It continues to thrive today with new bands.
Nardcore bands
- AgressionAgression (band)Agression was an American rock band from Silver Strand Beach, Oxnard, California. Agression was one of the founding bands of the Nardcore scene, and an early proponent of the "skate punk" genre. The band fused skate culture with the punk scene- featuring a song about skateboarding and a Glen E...
- Dr. KnowDr. Know (band)Dr. Know is a punk band which began as a Nardcore band and now has roots in Los Angeles, CA.They are one of the founding figures of the "Nardcore" punk movement from Oxnard, CA. The band was started by Kyle Toucher, Ismael Hernandez, and Robin Cartwright in early 1981, and after auditioning a few...
- False Confession
- Habeas CorpusHabeas Corpus (band)Habeas Corpus was a hardcore punk band that emerged from the Nardcore scene in the early 1980s. One of the region's first straight edge bands, Habeas Corpus combined Misfits-style horror punk with the early 80s Southern California surf/skate sound...
- Ill ReputeIll ReputeIll Repute is an American hardcore punk band from Oxnard, California, formed in 1981. They are noted for popularizing the "Nardcore" sound in the mid-1980s hardcore punk scene, and recorded for Mystic Records....
- M.I.A.M.I.A. (band)M.I.A. was a 1980s punk rock band from Orange County, California. The band's sound was generally hardcore and thrasher, though they produced more melodic and progressive sounds in their later albums...
- RKLRich Kids on LSDRich Kids on LSD was a Californian hardcore punk band formed in 1982 in Montecito, California, a suburb of Santa Barbara. They were associated with the "Nardcore" scene that evolved out of nearby Oxnard. Their music expanded over the years from West Coast hardcore to a mix of hardcore with rock...
(Rich Kids on L.S.D.) - Scared StraightScared Straight (band)Scared Straight was a Nardcore Punk band from Simi Valley, California.The band was formed in 1983 by a group of friends and was originally called S.O.F, Scott Radinsky, Mike Thompson, Gary Gallanes and Dennis Jagard, who wanted to start a band and enter a "Battle of the Bands" competition at a...
- Stalag 13
- Shattered Badge
Nardcore-related albums
- It Came From Slimey Valley - compilation LP (Mystic, 1983)
- We Got Power, Party or Go Home - compilation LP (Mystic, 1983)
- Nardcore - compilation LP (Mystic, 1984)
- We Got Power II - compilation LP (Mystic, 1984)
- Localism: A Compilation of Bands From The Oxnard Area (It's Alive Records, 1996)
- Covers, Compilation LP (Mystic, 1984)
- Mystic Super Seven Sampler #1, Compilation LP (Mystic, 1984)
- Mystic Sampler #1 - compilation LP (Mystic)
- Mystic Sampler #2 - compilation LP (Mystic)
- Mystic Sampler #3 - compilation LP (Mystic)
- Return to Slimy Valley - compilation LP (Mystic)
- Party Animal
- Welcome to the Neighborhood - compilation CD (Let Them Eat Records, 2005)
- Break Your Face - compilation CD (Face First Records,2005)
- "Nardcore 30 years later" - Compilation LP (Burning Tree Records 2009)
- Six Feet Under Oxnard: Lost Nardcore from the 1980s (Nardcore Music 2011)