Customer Reviews

Germicide: Live at the Whiskey 77

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

...five for pure atmosphere. This is not the band that would later record "Germs(GI)"; this is four kids screwing around, having fun. There are hints of talent in songs like 'Forming' and 'Let's Pretend', but most of the set is a mess. Still, the importance of the moment that "Germicide" documents--the infancy of America's most influential punk scene--cannot be diminished. For a frightening contrast(and I'm not using "frightening" in a hyperbolic way), listen to this CD and then watch the documentary "The Decline of Western Civilization" in which the late-period Germs appear. It will give you an idea of the dark depths plumbed on the L.A. punk scene in the space of two and a half years.

This is only the second Germs release I've ever heard. How many 'actual' albums did they put out? Was very impressed with the sincerity of the Germs. They're a true-to-the-roots all out American punk band. They're dirty, rude, mean, offensive and have a totally violent additude. Perfect! Tracks I found myself looking forward to on this CD were "Sex Boy", "Sweet Dream", the slamming "Suicide Machine" and "Teenage Clone". Line-up: Darby Crash (R.I.P.)-vocals, Pat Smear-guitar, Lorna Doom-bass and Belinda Carlisle (Go-Go's) believe or not on drums. Should draw in old school followers of Dead Kennedys, Social Distortion, Black Flag and Circle Jerks to name just a few. A should have.

As one reviewer noted, this album about sums up the punk 'philosophy' that anyone can put together a band. And indeed, this sounds like anyone did put together a band and got booked at the Whiskey.

The value here is basically historical--early Germs, early punk, lots of attitude, absolutely unlistenable at times, etc. The band is not, er, polished, and the audience is rowdy. The result is an album you won't be popping in regularly.

As a punk 'document', it's of mild interest. The MIA collection is the set to get for this brief band, whose singer had the misfortune of dying right before John Lennon, thus losing all chances of 'fame'.

If you give this less than 5 stars and if you don't think the Germs were one of the most influential punk bands of all time then you have no right to listen to punk. Darby Crash and The Germs show what punk should be like...raw...not steril and precise like today's "punk" bands. So what is you don't have talent that's not what punk is about! MIA is an essential album for any punker's collection if you don't already have it. If your really into the Germs get the book Lexicon Devil, then try to find a living Circle One member to give you a Germs burn. THE GERMS WILL NEVER DIE

This is one of the Germs' first gigs, and it shows. Although they later became rather good (conventionally speaking), this is the band in their rawest form. Miserably, mindlessly simple drums and sparsely plucked bass in the background and painfully, brazenly sloppy guitars and drunkenly slurred vocals in the foreground abound on this record. The lyrics are poetic and profound (when you can hear and/or understand them.) This is perhaps THE most shiningly beautiful piece of punk rock available, quintessential to anyone who really cares about the spirit of rock and roll, not necessarily the sound. So imperfect, it's flawless. Listen without pretensions, and you will be blown away.

This album is a very early portrayal of the Germs. However, it is also incredibly powerful in capturing the obliviousness of the band. They had no idea that this one, unexpected show at the Whisky would lead to so much more. Darby's comments are more than amusing, the story of what happened afterwards is hilarious, and the whole feel of it makes you think you were there (and if you were, you are lucky, unless you were the one cleaning up afterwards). Musically, well, I listened to it on cassette, and it is not as good as the CD, but I still find it to be one of my favorites. I have this recording on cassette, and I listen to it very often. While the music is not fully developed in some people's points of view, it is certainly an excellent live album to me. A wonderful buy for any Germs fan.

Okay, the reviews are either 1 or 5. I give it a four because I bought it, ignored it on my iPod for almost a year, and have listened to it three times all the way through in the last 24 hours.

It is loud, sloppy, bratty and at times great. It is the definition of the whole DIY punk thing, like The Mekons first album (different for sure but with the same attitude). You can hear bits of pieces of trashy metal, Bowie, etc. Suicide Machine is my favorite track, but the insults, hurled bottles and trash are all there as well.

If you're complaining about the poor sound quality and poor musicianship on this 27 year old recording of the Germs' first ever live show then you're really, really missing the point.
Would you complain about the smell at a meat market?

You've gotta be kidding me! From a historical standpoint, this recording is interesting because it captures The Germs in their infancy. From a musical standpoint, however, it blows. If you are curious about The Germs, avoid this CD like the plague and instead seek out the GI LP or MIA CD. Only then will you be rewarded with some of the finest punk rock ever recorded. The Germs actually learned how play their instruments and the addition of Don Boles on drums was, in my opinion, what really made them great.

the germs are the greatest punk band of all time, they were essential in the formation of the entire punk scene