RF7
Encyclopedia
RF7 is a long-lived, southern California
punk rock
band that began in 1979 by Felix Alanis and small time child star of the Sheriff John
show Nick Lamagna. Felix also began the record label Smoke Seven Records and signed his band and many others who were ignored by the big labels then, such as Redd Kross
, Bad Religion
, JFA, Crank Shaft, Circle One, Sin 34, Youth Gone Mad
, etc.
From the beginning, the RF7 sound was not clearly punk but really what would be called today hardcore punk
. Felix Alanis has always mixed middle class virtues with strange religious imagery in his lyrics. Nick Lamagna added guitar and music that had a twist more "rock" than some punks preferred. Walt Phelan added a drummer's drumming, and the bass player seemed to always change, with Robert Armstrong perhaps being the most solid recorded bass man from 1980–83, and again on 1990's classic Traditional Values
album. On 1982's Fall In album, the band brought in super producer Geza X.
The band continues today with their latest release (Addictions and Heartaches) on the Puke and Vomit label, which also re-released Public Service and Sudden Death compilation album
s. Their early releases are available on the Grand Theft Audio label, as well as Bomp
and Alive
records.
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...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band that began in 1979 by Felix Alanis and small time child star of the Sheriff John
Sheriff John
Sheriff John was a long-running children's television character who appeared on KTTV in Los Angeles from July 18, 1952 to July 10, 1970 on two separate series, Sheriff John's Lunch Brigade and Sheriff John's Cartoon Time...
show Nick Lamagna. Felix also began the record label Smoke Seven Records and signed his band and many others who were ignored by the big labels then, such as Redd Kross
Redd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
, Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, JFA, Crank Shaft, Circle One, Sin 34, Youth Gone Mad
Youth Gone Mad
Youth Gone Mad is a punk rock band founded in California in 1980 by Paul "ENA" Kostabi . Youth Gone Mad signed onto the Posh Boy Records roster, scored a minor radio hit with "Oki Dogs" in 1981, and played with bands such as Black Flag, Caustic Cause, The Mentors, The Stains, Fear, and others.The...
, etc.
From the beginning, the RF7 sound was not clearly punk but really what would be called today hardcore punk
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...
. Felix Alanis has always mixed middle class virtues with strange religious imagery in his lyrics. Nick Lamagna added guitar and music that had a twist more "rock" than some punks preferred. Walt Phelan added a drummer's drumming, and the bass player seemed to always change, with Robert Armstrong perhaps being the most solid recorded bass man from 1980–83, and again on 1990's classic Traditional Values
Traditional values
Traditional values refer to those beliefs, moral codes, and mores that are passed down from generation to generation within a culture, subculture or community.-Summary:Since the late 1970s in the U.S., the term "traditional values" has become synonymous...
album. On 1982's Fall In album, the band brought in super producer Geza X.
The band continues today with their latest release (Addictions and Heartaches) on the Puke and Vomit label, which also re-released Public Service and Sudden Death compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s. Their early releases are available on the Grand Theft Audio label, as well as Bomp
Bomp! Records
Bomp! Records is an Los Angeles-based indie label formed in 1974 by fanzine publisher and music historian Greg Shaw.-History:The label has featured punk, pop, powerpop, garage rock, new wave, old school rock, neo-psychedelia among other genres, and its roster has included artists such as The Modern...
and Alive
Alive Records
Alive Naturalsound Records – also known simply as Alive Records – started in 1994 in Los Angeles, California, by Patrick Boissel, is an independent record label specializing in garage rock, punk blues, garage punk, psychedelic rock, power pop and blues-rock music. It grew out of Boissel's...
records.
Studio Albums
- 1979 – Acts of Defiance
- 1981 – Weight of the World
- 1982 – Fall In (EP)
- 1983 – Submit to Them Freely (EP)
- 1987 – RF7 87.
- 1989 – Traditional ValuesTraditional valuesTraditional values refer to those beliefs, moral codes, and mores that are passed down from generation to generation within a culture, subculture or community.-Summary:Since the late 1970s in the U.S., the term "traditional values" has become synonymous...
- 1994 – Satan VS The Working Man
- 1997 – God Forbid
- 2004 – Addictions and Heart Aches
- 2007 – Left for Dead (45)
- 2009 – Hatred on the Rise
Compilation Albums
- 1981 – Public Service
- 1982 – Lung Cookies
- 19?? – Sudden Death
- 1995 – Buried Alive / Smoke 7 Records 81-83 (Bomp Records #BCD 4052)
- 1996 – Buried Alive 2 (Bomp Records #BCD 4058)
Band members 1979 - 2009
- Felix Alanis, Vocals
- Nick Lamagna, Guitars
- Robert Armstrong, Bass,
- Gnat, Bass
- Mike Smith, Bass
- Kyle Asato, Bass
- Xavier Chavez, Bass
- Walt Phelan, Drums
- Big Mike, Drums
- Steve Drojensky (Dorant), Auxiliary Guitar(Fall In/Submit to Them Freely)
- Tony Calderone, Guitar