The Dead Boys
One of the first wave punk bands in the USA, the Dead Boys formed in Cleveland in 1976 but relocated to New York the following year. They often played the infamous Bowery club CBGB's, the starting place for other bands such as the Ramones, Television, Blondie and Talking Heads. The band consisted of Stiv Bators (vocals), Jimmy Zero (rhythm guitar), Cheetah Chrome (b. Gene Connor; lead guitar), Jeff Magnum (bass) and Johnny Blitz (drums). The group took its cue from the Sex Pistols and the Damned by being as menacing, snarling and violently aggressive as possible. Signed to Sire Records in 1977, the group released two albums, the appropriately titled YOUNG, LOUD AND SNOTTY and WE HAVE COME FOR YOUR CHILDREN, the latter being produced by Felix Pappalardi. The band split in 1980, with Bators recording a pair of solo albums before forming Lords Of The New Church with former Damned and Sham 69 member Brian James. Bators was killed in an automobile accident in France in June 1990. The other original Dead Boys made no further impact after the group's dissolution.