JFA (band)

JFA
Origin Phoenix, Arizona;
Southern California
Genres Skate punk, hardcore punk
Years active 1981–present
Labels DC-Jam Records
Associated acts Black Flag, D.O.A.
Website jfamusic.com
Members Carter Blitch
Brian Brannon
Don Redondo
Corey Stretz
Past members Todd Barnes (deceased)
Alan Bishop
Scott "Sketch" Chasen
Michael Cornelius
Bob Cox
Brian Damage
Trace Element
Matt Etheridge
Jim Moore
Don "dred" Pendelton
Al Penzone
Jaime Reidling
Mike "Bam-Bam" Sversvold
Bruce Taylor
Mike Tracy

JFA (Jodie Foster's Army) is a hardcore punk band formed in 1981, with roots in Arizona and in Southern California skateboard culture. The original members include Brian Brannon (vocals), Don Redondo (guitar), Michael Cornelius (bass), and Mike "Bam-Bam" Sversvold (drums). Alan Bishop of Sun City Girls also played bass for a while. The band was pivotal in the development of the skate punk and Skate Rock scenes. Over the years, the lineup has included many bass players and drummers but the core of Brannon and Redondo has remained constant.

History

Establishment

JFA was formed in April 1981, 19 days after the failed attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley, Jr.[1] Hinckley, an obsessed fan of Jodie Foster and her portrayal of a teen prostitute in the 1976 Martin Scorsese film Taxi Driver, reportedly attempted to kill the President as a means of impressing the actress.[2] The band's name was thus a dark play on Hinckley's attempt at murdering Reagan — a hated figure in the early 1980s punk rock scene.

Don Pendleton, then in the band The Deez and Cornelius, then in the band Jr. Chemists, knew each other from shows around Phoenix, Arizona and from skateboarding. They began playing together after a D.O.A. concert during the band's Hardcore 81 tour. Bam-Bam later joined after meeting Pendleton at an "Industrial Dance" in Phoenix. Brian Brannon was pulled into the band by Cornelius who met him skateboarding and at punk shows.

The band's first show was opening for Black Flag at an Industrial Dance which was one of a series of early Phoenix punk shows. Their first song of the night was Pipetruck.

Recording history

Placebo Records released their debut EP "Blatant Localism" in late 1981. The band toured the west extensively and played many local shows. Their first national tour was in the summer of 1983 following the release of their first album "Valley of the Yakes".

The original bassist, Michael Cornelius, left the band in the summer of 1984 prior to the nine-week summer '84 tour. Alan Bishop of labelmates Sun City Girls played bass until Cornelius returned for the 1986 release Nowhere Blossoms.

Brian Brannon also currently serves as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy Reserve.

The band received continuing coverage in the influential skateboard magazine Thrasher during the 1980s. Brannon eventually worked on the editorial staff full-time and Pendelton and Cornelius were contributors of articles and photographs.

Current lineup

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "JFA," Flip Side Fanzine, whole no. 31 (April 1982), pg. 28.
  2. ↑ Douglas O. Linder, "The Trial of John Hinckley: Taxi Driver," University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 2002.

Discography

UK releases

Music Videos

Compilations

Soundtracks

Video games

Skateboards

External links