Crime (band)

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Crime was an early US punk band from San Francisco. The band was formed in 1976 by Johnny Strike (voc., guit.), Frankie Fix (guit.), Ron "The Ripper" Greco (bass; ex-Chosen Few/Flamin' Groovies) and Brittley Black (drums). Their debut, the self-financed double A-side, Hot Wire My Heart and Baby You're So Repulsive, appeared at the end of 1976, and is possibly the first single released by a U.S. punk act from outside New York. In the following years Crime changed their line-up twice: Brittley Black left the band (later appearing in groups such as Flipper and Toiling Midgets; he is now deceased) and was replaced by Ricky James in 1977. James was replaced by Hank Rank in 1978, but was back for Crime's last release Maserati in 1980, the year the band split. Frankie Fix died in 1996. San Francisco's Doomed was re-released in 2004 by Swami Records.

Sonic Youth featured a cover of "Hotwire My Heart" on their 1987 release "Sister". This has reraised interest in the band, allowing them to reform for shows in USA and Europe in 2005.

An album of new material called Exalted Masters was released on vinyl in 2007.

[edit] Discography

1976 (7") Hot Wire My Heart / Baby You're So Repulsive
1977 (7") Murder by Guitar / Frustration
1980 (7") Maserati / Gangster funk
1991 (LP) San Francisco's Doomed
1993 (LP) Terminal Boredom (live bootleg)
1994 (LP) Hate Us Or Love Us, We Don't Give a Fuck (legitimate reissue of live bootleg)
2003 (CD) Cadillac Faggot (legtimate release of live bootleg) 100 numbered copies
2004 (CD) San Francisco's Still Doomed (reissue with bonus, alternate takes of both songs from the 1976 single)
2007 (LP) Exalted Masters