China White (band)
| China White | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Huntington Beach, California, USA |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Years active | 1978–1985, 1993–1995, 2002–present |
| Labels | Malt Soda Recordings |
| Associated acts | Shattered Faith, Social Task, The Vandals |
| Members |
Marc Martin Frank Ruffino James Rodriguez Joey Ruffino |
| Past members |
Scott Sisunik Jeff Porter Corey Stretz Spanky James Lugo Vince Mesa Sandy Hancock |
China White is a punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, famous for their EP Dangerzone and their violent gigs. They were, along with T.S.O.L., the most preeminent figures of Orange County punk.
Biography
The band started in 1978 with Scott Sisunik on vocals, Marc Martin and Frank Ruffino on guitars, James Rodriguez on bass and Richard Katchadoorian was later replaced by Vince Mesa on drums. They chose the name China White, which was the name of the heroin that killed Darby Crash and inspired by Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers song Chinese Rocks. China White's logo was selected based upon a Twilight Zone armband that appeared in a 1950s episode.
Marc, who sang backups, and played guitar with Sisunik on vocals, switched to lead vocals and left guitar duties to Frank after Sisunik quit to join Social Task in 1979. Vince Mesa also quit in 1980 and was replaced by Frank's older brother, Joey Ruffino.
After making their mark on the O.C. and L.A. club circuit, China White signed to Frontier Records and released their first E.P., Dangerzone, with its famous front cover of a murder scene, in 1981.
They also had tracks on New Underground Records's Life is Ugly-So Why Not Kill Yourself? compilation LP in 1982 and Life Is Beautiful-So Why Not Eat Health Foods? compilation LP in 1983.
After that, Marc, James and Joey quit the band and Sisunik was brought back to sing in 1984 while Corey Stretz took over on bass and Spanky became the drummer. After a show at the Olympic Auditorium in 1985, they disbanded to resurface in 1993, when Frank Ruffino recorded China White's first full-length album, Addiction with Stretz and new singer Jeff Porter and new drummer James Lugo. The album was released on Lethal Records in 1995.
The "new" China White played some gigs on the West Coast but disbanded a few months after the release of Addiction only to resurface again, this time for a reunion tour with the classic line-up of Marc Martin, James Rodriguez and the Ruffino brothers in 2002. They released both the limited edition Live Cheap CD with extracts from this tour, but also old tours, and Addiction.2 a re-release of their Addiction stuff with two new 1997 studio tracks as well as ten live songs from a 2003 show on Malt Soda Recordings in 2004.
China White played a set at the Frank Ruffino benefit show 3/30/13. Frank was present but too ill to play. Mike Drake from the Outsiders played guitar.
Frank Ruffino died June 4, 2013
Trivia
- The name of Frank and Joey Ruffino was misspelled Raffino on the Dangerzone LP while Marc Martin was incorrectly referred to as Mark Martin.
- Scott Sisunik also sang for Slashers, Non-Fascists, Social Task, Shattered Faith and the Vandals
- In Zack Snyder's 2009 adaptation of Watchmen, China White can be seen as graffiti on the wall behind Rorschach in his prison cell during the scene(s) where he is confronted by Big Figure and his cronies.
Discography
- Dangerzone (Frontier Records) 1981
- Addiction (Lethal Records) 1995
- Live Cheap (Malt Soda Recordings) 2004
- Addiction.2 (Malt Soda Recordings) 2004
Compilations
- Criminal and Solid State on Life is Ugly-So Why Not Kill Yourself? (New Underground records) 1982
- Dangerzone on Life Is Beautiful-So Why Not Eat Health Foods? (New Underground records) 1983
Members
- Marc Martin - Vocals
- Frank Ruffino - Guitar
- James Rodriguez - Bass
- Joey Ruffino - Drums
Former members
- Scott Sisunik - Vocals
- Jeff Porter - Vocals
- Corey Stretz - Bass
- Spanky - Drums
- James Lugo - Drums
- Vince Mesa - Drums
- Sandy Hancock - Drums
- Steve Mohr - Bass