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Youth Brigade is an American punk rock band formed in Hollywood,
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,
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, United States, in 1980 by the brothers Mark, Adam, and Shawn Stern. The band subsequently founded BYO (Better Youth Organization). Many later punk bands cite Youth Brigade as an influence, including
The Nation of Ulysses The Nation of Ulysses was an American punk rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in spring 1988 with four members. Originally known as simply "Ulysses," the first mark of the group consisted of Ian Svenonius on vocals and trumpet, Steve Kron ...
and The Briefs. Youth Brigade has released five studio albums (counting one released as The Brigade), of which the last was released in 1996. Almost each album was recorded with the original lineup of the Stern brothers (Mark, Adam and Shawn); bassist Bob Gnarly replaced Adam in 1985 during the recording of '' The Dividing Line'', which was released as The Brigade. Adam returned in 1991 (when the band reunited) and contributed to the band's 1992 EP '' Come Again'' and their next two albums ('' Happy Hour'' and ''
To Sell the Truth ''To Sell the Truth'' is the latest studio album by the Los Angeles–based hardcore punk band Youth Brigade, released in 1996. This was the band's only album so far recorded as a four-piece, adding future Social Distortion member Jonny "2 Bags" ...
'') before leaving once again in 2007. Youth Brigade continues to tour to this day, although, other than six new tracks on the 1999 split album '' BYO Split Series Volume II'', they have not released a full-length studio album since ''To Sell the Truth'' in 1996.


History


Formation (1979–1981)

The Stern family, consisting of older brothers Shawn (guitar and vocals) and Mark (drums) and younger brother Adam (who would later play bass), moved from
Toronto, Canada Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
to
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
in 1970, because their father worked in the film industry. As teenagers, Shawn and Mark were surfers who would skip school to smoke marijuana and attend rock concerts. At 16 and 17, they played in their first band, called Mess, which would play
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...
and
Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
covers at parties. A year later in 1978, they discovered punk rock, and formed a quirky prog/New Wave band called The Extremes, releasing a four-song EP in which Shawn would sing with a fake English accent. In the fall of 1979, following a visit by touring British
Oi! Oi! is a subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads, and other disaffected working-class youth. The movement was ...
band
Sham 69 Sham 69 are an English punk rock band that formed in Hersham in Surrey in 1975. They were one of the most successful punk bands in the United Kingdom, achieving five top 20 singles, including "If the Kids Are United" and "Hurry Up Harry". The ...
, the oldest two Stern brothers moved into a large house in Hollywood,
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, near
Hollywood High School Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. Histo ...
, and christened "Skinhead Manor." The large punk house became a meeting place which drew participants from as far away as
Huntington Beach Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California, located southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. The city is named after American businessman Henry E. Huntington. The population was 198,711 during the 2020 census, maki ...
and
Oxnard Oxnard () is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. On California's South Coast, it is the most populous city in Ventura County and the 22nd-most-populous city in California. Incorporated in 1903, Oxnard lies approximately west ...
. The site drew upon the creativity and energy of participants, with a small recording studio established, bands such as the Circle Jerks using Skinhead Manor as a practice space, and plans laid for the launch of a
pirate radio Pirate radio or a pirate radio station is a radio station that broadcasts without a valid license. In some cases, radio stations are considered legal where the signal is transmitted, but illegal where the signals are received—especially w ...
station. Skinhead Manor was also a place where people interested in forming punk bands could meet, and it proved the spawning ground for not only Youth Brigade in the summer of 1980, but also
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and other bands. The use of drugs and alcohol were also, not surprisingly, prevalent on the site, with homemade wine being made on the site, a coke machine being installed and stocked with beer, and drugs such as
methamphetamine Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamph ...
used by some visitors. Ultimately, Youth Brigade recalled in a 1982 interview:
... The manor kind of fell apart because we got too many assholes that didn't give a shit. And there wasn't any money to support the ideas. That's the most important thing — you need capital. So we split, the landlady wanted us out, too. Then the place was mysteriously burned down.
A club called Godzilla's, located in a former
bowling alley A bowling alley (also known as a bowling center, bowling lounge, bowling arena, or historically bowling club) is a facility where the sport of bowling is played. It can be a dedicated facility or part of another, such as a Meetinghouse, clubhous ...
in the Sun Valley section of Los Angeles, became the new hub of activity for the Stern brothers, and the venue became a mecca for punk rockers from around Southern California. With everyone working at the club, soon a small nest egg of working capital was accumulated and Better Youth Organization (BYO) was launched in 1982, as an umbrella for the promotion of punk rock shows and the production of music. Shawn and Mark Stern also formed their own label,
Better Youth Organization Better Youth Organization Records (BYO) is a Los Angeles, California based independent punk rock record label created by Shawn and Mark Stern, two of the three brothers of the California punk rock band Youth Brigade (the third being Adam Stern w ...
, as part of the project. Youth Brigade's first year of existence was as a six piece but played their first gig as a three piece on New Year's Eve 1981 at Godzilla's nightclub. They were part of the big BYO extravaganza "Youth Movement '82" at the Hollywood Palladium, where 3500 people showed up for an all Los Angeles bill in early February.


''Sound & Fury'' (1982–1983)

In the summer of 1982, after recording three tracks for the first BYO record release ''Someone Got Their Head Kicked In'', Youth Brigade set out in a big yellow school bus on an ambitious 30-city North American tour with fellow punk band
Social Distortion Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness (lead vocals, lead guitar), Jonny Wickersham (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Brent Harding (bass, backing voca ...
. The 1984
film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
, '' Another State of Mind'', chronicled the event. After about 30 shows and several breakdowns they returned home to record their debut LP '' Sound & Fury'' with the record producer,
Thom Wilson Thom Wilson (died February 8, 2015) was an American punk rock record producer and engineer. Career Wilson began his musical career in the mid-1970s, engineering recordings by soft rock artists Burton Cummings and Seals & Crofts. He began working ...
. A premature version of the LP was rushed together before the tour but pressing was stopped at 800 copies, as the band was not satisfied with the quality of the material or production. In 1983, the band returned home and decided to record a second album entitled '' Sound & Fury'', keeping only four tracks from the original version. This was followed by a 50 date tour of North America during the summer.


Final years and Adam's departure (1984–1987)

After having secured a licensing deal for ''Sound & Fury'' in England, plans were made to tour Europe in the fall of 1984. They released a three song EP ''What Price?'' in spring 1984 and then played around 50 dates throughout the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, Poland, and England and were one of the first independent American bands to tour the "underground" of Europe and eastern countries. After this tour, younger brother and band bassist Adam decided to return to art school and finish his degree. The band recorded his last show in June 1985 at Fenders Ballroom in
Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporate ...
and these tracks have been released on Italian and French releases as well as the ''Sink With Kalifornija'' CD collection. Brothers Shawn and Mark continued on as "The Brigade" for about two years after the departure of Adam, giving their first interview under the new moniker in April 1986.


Royal Crown Revue (1989–1991)

Mark, Adam and younger brother Jamie Stern formed half of the original line up of the swing band
Royal Crown Revue Royal Crown Revue was a band formed in 1989 in Los Angeles, California. They have been credited with starting the swing revival movement. Career The band contained Mark and Adam Stern. Other members included Daniel Glass, Scott Steen, James Ac ...
, which started in 1989. All three Stern brothers left the band in 1991, shortly before the Youth Brigade reunion. Royal Crown Revue continued with new members replacing the departing Stern brothers.


Reunion (1991–present)

In 1991, meeting in a bar in
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, Mark and Adam expressed the desire to reform Youth Brigade for a tour and Shawn agreed. When they returned home in January 1992, they started working on new material and did a show at the Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood, late April. They recorded six songs in July at Westbeach Studios for their ''Come Again'' EP. In the middle of September that Youth Brigade once again packed their bags to tour Europe. The tour covered Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, Czechoslovakia and Poland. More than ten years after their debut, the band recorded ''Happy Hour'' at Westbeach Studios and released it March 1994. Soon after they added former Cadillac Tramps, U.S. Bombs, and current
Social Distortion Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness (lead vocals, lead guitar), Jonny Wickersham (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Brent Harding (bass, backing voca ...
guitarist Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham and recorded the next full length ''To Sell the Truth'' in April 1996. Produced by
Steve Kravac Steven B. Kravac (born June 17, 1964), is a Canadian-born RIAA gold-accredited record producer, recording engineer, musician and composer. He is the owner of the music label Porterhouse Records and its sub-labels Porterhouse Prime Vinyl and Porte ...
(
Less Than Jake Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida, formed in 1992. The band consists of Chris DeMakes (guitars, vocals), Roger Lima (bass, vocals), Matt Yonker (drums), Buddy Schaub (trombone), and Peter "JR" Wasilewski (saxoph ...
,
MXPX MxPx () is an American pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington, founded in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera on lead vocals and bass guitar, Yuri Ruley on drums and percussion, Tom Wisniewski on lead gui ...
) and mixed by longtime friend
Thom Wilson Thom Wilson (died February 8, 2015) was an American punk rock record producer and engineer. Career Wilson began his musical career in the mid-1970s, engineering recordings by soft rock artists Burton Cummings and Seals & Crofts. He began working ...
(Offspring, Bouncing Souls). In 1996, the band also contributed to the
AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...
benefit album '' Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin'' produced by the
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along with
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. In 1998 the band went back in the studio to record a 30-second song for the
Fat Wreck Chords Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) in 1990. The label has released mater ...
compilation,
Short Music For Short People ''Short Music for Short People'' is a 1999 compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. It features 101 bands playing songs averaging approximately 30 seconds in length. With a few exceptions, most of the album's tracks wer ...
. The song was recorded in a friend's living room, and brought back all of the raw edged energy that had been missing in previous recordings. The raw sound went over so well, that the band decided to abandon the high production sounds and get back to basics. In mid-1999, they went in to record 6 new tracks for Volume 2 of the BYO Records Split series. The flip side of the album was recorded by Northern Californian punks Swingin Utters. The album received rave reviews, stating that this was Youth Brigade's best recording ever. In October 2013, Brian Hanover (
Hanover Saints Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany a ...
, Union Hearts) replaced Mike Carter on guitar.


Members


Discography


Studio albums

*'' Sound & Fury'' (1982) *'' Sound & Fury'' (1983) *'' The Dividing Line'' (1986) (as The Brigade) *'' Happy Hour'' (1994) *''
To Sell the Truth ''To Sell the Truth'' is the latest studio album by the Los Angeles–based hardcore punk band Youth Brigade, released in 1996. This was the band's only album so far recorded as a four-piece, adding future Social Distortion member Jonny "2 Bags" ...
'' (1996)


EPs and singles

*''What Price Happiness?'' (1984) *''Come Together'' (1986) (as The Brigade) *''Come Again (EP), Come Again'' (1992) *''All Style No Substance'' (1994)


Split releases

* ''Epitaph'' / '' Care'' (April 1986) – Reactor Records *'' Youth Brigade/Screw 32'' (1995) *'' BYO Split Series Volume II'' (1999)


Compilation albums

*''
Sink With Kalifornija ''Sink with Kalifornija'' is a compilation album by Los Angeles–based hardcore punk band Youth Brigade. It was released in 1994 by the band's own label, BYO Records. It contains recordings from two of the band's earlier works; '' Sound & Fury'' ...
'' (1994) *''Out of Print'' (1998) *'' A Best of Youth Brigade'' (2002)


Compilation appearances

*'' Someone Got Their Head Kicked In!'' (1982) *'' Something To Believe In'' (1984) *'' Someone's Gonna Get Their Head To Believe In Something'' (1994) *'' Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin'' (1996) *'' How To Start A Fight'' (1996) *'' The World Still Won't Listen - A Tribute To The Smiths'' (1996) *''Sample This!'' (1997) *'' Dropping Food on Their Heads Is Not Enough: Benefit for RAWA'' (2002) *''
Sample This, Too Sample or samples may refer to: Base meaning * Sample (statistics), a subset of a population – complete data set * Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal * Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of so ...
'' (2002) *'' Voices in the Wilderness: A Benefit Compilation'' (2005) *'' Let Them Know: The Story of Youth Brigade and BYO Records'' (2009)


References


External links


Full Youth Brigade biographyBYO Records HomepageDecember 2009 InterviewJune 2009 Youth Brigade Interview
* ttps://archive.org/details/GUILLOTINENumber8JacksonHeightsNY/page/n19/mode/2up/ 1984 Interview by Guillotine; Jackson Heights, NYRagged Edge Collection @ Archive.org {{DEFAULTSORT:Youth Brigade (band) Musical groups from Los Angeles Musical groups established in 1980 Hardcore punk groups from California BYO Records artists Sibling musical trios Jews in punk rock