Make The Music Go Bang!: The Early L.A. Punk Scene (Paperback)

by Don Snowden (Editor), Gary Leonard (Photographer) "During the late seventies and early eighties there were several places in and around Hollywood that catered to what can only be described as the..." (more)
Key Phrases: punk scene, punk rock, punk bands, Los Angeles, Black Flag, Top Jimmy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"So dude what about this L.A. scene? Don't know man, it just happened."--Claude Bessy

"This music sounded as desperate as I felt...I suddenly realized I was a member of a weird, unfriendly, secret club and I sensed the jungle drums beginning to pound."--Kristine McKenna

"We were all extremely powerful (even if that meant a particular, sensitive stupidity that led to jail), we were all young or young at heart, we were all flirting with death and laughing at life."--Exene Cervenkova

"At its finest, L.A. roots rock espoused a spirited authenticity that resisted the music business's marketing strategies."--Chris Morris

"A community of bands and fans were reclaiming music in its raw and primitive form, shaking off all the prefab baloney that dominated the airways and record bins across the map-- no charts, no hits, no easy way around, nada."--Louis Perez
-- Review

Review

"So dude what about this L.A. scene? Don't know man, it just happened."--Claude Bessy

"This music sounded as desperate as I felt...I suddenly realized I was a member of a weird, unfriendly, secret club and I sensed the jungle drums beginning to pound."--Kristine McKenna

"We were all extremely powerful (even if that meant a particular, sensitive stupidity that led to jail), we were all young or young at heart, we were all flirting with death and laughing at life."--Exene Cervenkova

"At its finest, L.A. roots rock espoused a spirited authenticity that resisted the music business's marketing strategies."--Chris Morris

"A community of bands and fans were reclaiming music in its raw and primitive form, shaking off all the prefab baloney that dominated the airways and record bins across the map-- no charts, no hits, no easy way around, nada."--Louis Perez

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (November 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312169124
• ISBN-13: 978-0312169121
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,105,220 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really puts you there, May 31, 2002

By	A. Cooper "possum" (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just finished re-reading this book after a few months, and it's even better than I remembered. This is the only book I've found that has classic L.A. punk (as opposed to band) photos - pics that I remember looking at twenty-five years ago, and being influenced by them. It talks about Baces Hall and the Vex; this really is the book to buy if you want to get a feel of what it was like. I upped this review from four to five stars, because it's even better the second time around. If you were there, in the mid-seventies to early eighties, it'll bring back great memories; if you weren't there - Make The Music Go Bang will give you a glimpse into what was an amazing scene.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The pictures speak, the text kept me reading., August 25, 1998

By A Customer

This book is full of exceptional photos that document the early L.A. punk scene. I remember seeing Gary Leanord (the photographer) at many of these shows. Hidden in these photos are many of those who went on and carried the L.A. punk scene into the the next stage, such as members of Bad Religion. I purchased this book for the photos but I soon found myself deeply involved in the text. I was especially impressed by the section written by Keith Morris of Black Flag and Circle Jerks fame. Although it was exciting to find myself in a picture slamming at the Starwood, I wouldn't just recommend this book to those that were there, I also recommend Make the Music Go Bang to all those who have an interest in punk rock and music history.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!, June 16, 1999

By	"weirdosx" (Southern CA USA) - See all my reviews

This book, to say the most is O.K., the writing, as a 1 on 1 peice is great, but when they put it toghter it's too much, like a "we we're just there to party" kinda thing, no real mentions of bands no real stories, just a kinda what-were-we-thinking kinda book. There was no photos from the 70s since only Gary's photos are in this book and it's too bad because they missed out! I don't think I saw one picture of the Weirdos, the Screamers, the Bags, the Eyes, the Controllers - I can go on..