The Adolescents
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the punk music group The Adolescents. For the stage of life, see Adolescence.
| The Adolescents | ||
|---|---|---|
 Cover of Classic Eponymous Album
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Fullerton, USA | |
| Genre(s) | Skate Punk Hardcore Punk |
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| Years active | 1980—Present | |
| Label(s) | SST Records | |
| Associated acts |
Agent Orange, Dead Kennedys | |
| Members | ||
| Tony Cadena Steve Soto Frank Angew Derek O' Brien Frank Angew Jr. |
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| Former members | ||
| *Alfie Agnew (Guitar 1987) Rikk Agnew (Guitar 1980-89)Jeff Beans (Bass 1982) Dan Colburn (Guitar 1987-89) John O'Donovan (Guitar 1980) Sandy Hansen (Drums 1987-89) Rick Herschbeth (Guitar 1982) Peter Pan (Drums 1980) Paul (Guitar 1988-89) Steve Roberts (Guitar 1981-82) Casey Royer (Drums 1980-87) Pat Smear (Guitar 1981) |
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The Adolescents are a punk music group formed in 1980 in Fullerton, California.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Adolescents were formed by Steve Soto after leaving Agent Orange in December 1979. The original line-up was led by frontman Tony Cadena, with Steve Soto on bass, Frank Agnew on guitar, John O'Donovan on guitar and Peter Pan on drums. Both O'Donovan and Pan left in June and were replaced by Rikk Agnew and Casey Royer formerly of Social Distortion and The Detours and also singer for the OC punk band, D.I.. The band created fast, energetic music that was at the forefront of the Orange County punk music scene.
Later that year, the group released the classic hardcore single "Amoeba" on Posh Boy Records. The track also appeared on the Rodney on the ROQ compilation, assembled by L.A. DJ Rodney Bingenheimer.
The Adolescents signed with Frontier Records in January 1981 and recorded The Adolescents the following month. It quickly became one of the best-selling California hardcore albums behind the Dead Kennedys' Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. Despite this Rikk Agnew left and was replaced by Pat Smear, formerly of The Germs. This line up lasted until the end of June when Smear left (he would later go on to Nirvana and the Foo Fighters).
The Adolescents broke up in August 1981. Cadena formed The Abandoned, Soto and Agnew joined Legal Weapon, Royer formed D.I. and Agnew joined Christian Death after his departure.
Rikk Agnew made his solo album in 1983 then joined D.I. with Alfie Agnew, Frank and Rikk's younger brother.
In 1986 The Adolescents reformed with their original line-up and started to work on a new album. Before recording Casey Royer and Frank Agnew left the band. Royer had wanted to keep D.I. going (until 1995), and Agnew lost interest. Sandy Hansen took Royer's place on drums and Alfie took Frank's place on guitar. They recorded Brats in Battalions in the late summer. The record came out in August 1987 due to the band deciding to produce and release the album themselves with little cash or backing.
At the end of 1986 Alfie went to college and his place was taken by Dan Coburn; by the end of the year Cadena and Coburn left.
In 1988 Rikk Agnew and Steve Soto decided to replace Coburn with Paul Casey and start singing themselves. Casey left after four months and Frank Agnew replaced him on guitar, aftering touring the band recorded Balboa Fun Zone.
The Adolescents broke up in April 1989. Steve Soto, Sandy Hansen and Frank Agnew started Joyride and Rikk Agnew did a couple of solo albums.
The band regrouped to tour for the 20th anniversary of their self-titled album in 2001 and have continued to perform.
The Adolescents have a new release out on Finger Records, O.C. Confidential in 2005. Finger Records is owned and run by Mel Schantz out of Orange County, California.
[edit] Previous Members
- Alfie Agnew (Guitar 1987)
- Rikk Agnew (Guitar 1980-89)
- Jeff Beans (Bass 1982)
- Dan Colburn (Guitar 1987-89)
- John O'Donovan (Guitar 1980)
- Sandy Hansen (Drums 1987-89)
- Rick Herschbeth (Guitar 1982)
- Peter Pan (Drums 1980)
- Paul (Guitar 1988-89)
- Steve Roberts (Guitar 1981-82)
- Casey Royer (Drums 1980-87)
- Pat Smear (Guitar 1981)
[edit] Current Members
- Tony Cadena
- Steve Soto
- Frank Agnew
- Derek O'Brien
- Frank Agnew Jr.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- The Adolescents (1981)
- Brats in Battalions (1987)
- Balboa Fun Zone (1988)
- Complete Demos 1980-1986 (2005)
- O.C. Confidential (2005)
[edit] Live Albums
- Live 1981 and 1986 (1989)
- Return to the Black Hole (1997)
- Live at the House of Blues 10/3/03 (The Show Must Go Off!)CD/DVD Set (2003)
[edit] Trivia
- 'Kids of the Black Hole' was used as the music for Mike Escamillas section in the 'Forward' BMX video produced by Etnies.
- The song 'Amoeba' was featured in the video- and PC game Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3, as well as the Movie SLC Punk!
- 'Creatures' was used in the Creature Skateboards video "Born Dead".
- Dropkick Murphys made a cover of 'Who Is Who?' for video- and PC Game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.
- Drummer Derek O'Brien was the former drummer for Social Distortion's Mommy's Little Monster Album.
- 'Richard Hung Himself,' better known as a D.I. song, was originally an Adolescents song, slated to appear on 'Welcome to Reality.'
