The Stains (Los Angeles)
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The Stains were an underground band started in 1976 by Jesus Fixx (aka Jesus Amezquita) and Robert Becerra. The band went through many personnel changes and two noteworthy genre changes during its existence. The Stains began as a heavy metal band, then shifted to jazzcore, then regressed to fast and furious rock'n'roll with improvised passages à la Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream or The Who, inspired by members' first encounter with a Ramones album. Robert Becerra was heavily influenced by Carlos Montoya, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix, and Andrés Segovia.
The Stains had their start in Boyle Heights. They were soon hated by many in East Los Angeles for their nihilist attitude, but became very popular among street punks in South Bay and Hollywood. Later in their career, they gained some notoriety in Latin America and Europe. Theirs was a violent and unpredictable stage show with excellent musicianship.
Their off-stage behavior was infamous, as the would show up at Brat, Los Illegals gigs, or other shows, and break them up with their Stormtroopers and Stainettes. They flaunted Nazi symbols, even performing as the "Young Nazis" in quasi-paramilitary gear. Other times they would dress like Pachucos, or Revolution-era Mexican bandit costumes, like Pancho Villa. Jesus Fixx even would even go as far as dressing as a Federal officer or Nazi officer, and was almost killed on First and Soto Streets in East Los Angeles
They recorded one EP album on SST Records, The Stains, which is now out of print. One song, "Pretty Girls", appeared on the compilation cassette The Future Looks Bright alongside tracks by Black Flag, The Minutemen, T.S.O.L., and other mainstays of the Los Angeles punk scene. The record was released at least two years after The Future Looks Bright had been released; band members later accused SST of not paying them royalties on the album. In the late 90's a short but brief line up for the group included Mike Vallejo (circle one), Jesse Fixx (founding member Stains), Rudy Navarro (founding member), and John Alvarado (Founding Member of Fish Head).
In 2007 Jesus Fixx Joined a band in Boyle Heights named The Shag Rats, a 77 rock and roll style group. Fixx plays guitar with three young aspiring teens, Rex Rock on bass, JTBoots on vocals, and Skitz on drums.
