Agent Orange (band)

Agent Orange

Agent Orange in 2011. Left to right: Palm, Klein, and Giordano.
Background information
Origin Orange County, California, United States
Genres Punk rock, skate punk, alternative rock, surf rock, hardcore punk (early)
Years active 1979–present
Labels Posh Boy Records, Enigma Records, Restless Records, Invisible Records, Gunka Disc, Anarchy Music
Associated acts The Adolescents, Social Distortion, D.I., Legal Weapon, The Plugz, Dick Dale, The Bomboras, Ghastly Ones
Website agentorange.net
Members Mike Palm
Perry Giordano
Dave Klein
Past members Scott Miller
Steve Soto
James Levesque
Brent Liles
Derek O'Brien
Tim Riley
Sam Bolle
Scotty Lund
Charlie Quintana

Agent Orange are an American surf/punk rock/skate punk band formed in Orange County, California in 1979. The band were one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music.

History

The power trio's original lineup was Mike Palm on guitar and vocals, Steve Soto on bass, and Scott Miller on drums.

They first gained attention for their song "Bloodstains," originally appearing on their self-released debut 7" EP in 1980. A demo version of the song was given to Rodney Bingenheimer, a DJ at Pasadena radio station KROQ-FM, who placed it on his seminal 1980 compilation album, Rodney on the ROQ, on Posh Boy Records.

With James Levesque on bass (replacing Soto, who left to form The Adolescents), the group recorded their debut Living In Darkness album with Brian Elliot, best known for composing Madonna’s hit "Papa Don’t Preach." The record was released by Posh Boy in November 1981 and included another, newer version of "Bloodstains" (later used in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4). A 12" EP, Bitchin' Summer, followed in 1982 on Posh Boy.

Signing to Enigma Records, the band released another 12" EP, 1983's When You Least Expect It..., followed by a second album, This Is the Voice, released in 1986.[1]

In 1988, former Social Distortion bassist Brent Liles replaced Levesque, and the following year, Derek O'Brien (also a former member of Social Distortion as well as D.I.) replaced Miller on drums. In 1991, Restless Records released the Real Live Sound live album, recorded at The Roxy in Hollywood on July 21, 1990.[2] It was the only Agent Orange recording to feature the Palm/Liles/O'Brien lineup.

Sam Bolle replaced Liles in January 1992, remaining with the band until May 2003, when he left to join surf guitar legend Dick Dale's band.

A third studio album, Virtually Indestructible, was released in 1996 on the Gunka Disc label. The album featured drummer Charlie Quintana, formerly of The Plugz and later of Social Distortion.

In 2003, the band added drummer Dave Klein, who had previously recorded with numerous bands including The Bomboras, Ghastly Ones and The Seeds/Sky Saxon.

Former bassist Liles died January 18, 2007,[3] and former bassist Levesque died October 19, 2014.[4]

Band members

Current members
Former members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Live albums

Compilation albums

Selected compilation appearances

References

  1. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Agent-Orange-This-Is-The-Voice/release/1422029
  2. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Agent-Orange-Real-Live-Sound/release/4687484
  3. ↑ http://www.ocregister.com/news/band-54743-liles-social.html
  4. ↑ http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2014/10/rip_agent_orange_bassist_james_levesque.php

External links

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