The Descendents
Los Angeles, US, punk band whose first stage of development was as a three-piece; Frank Navetta (vocals/guitar), Tony Lombardo (vocals/bass) and Bill Stevenson (drums), playing power pop along the lines of the Buzzcocks. It was this formation who were intact for the debut Ride The Wild single. They hooked up with singer Cecilia for some six months before the near legendary Milo Auckerman became the first regular vocalist. The resulting period was characterised by songs about fishing and food. Titles like Weinerschnitzel and the self-parodying Fat hail from these merry times. There was also a prediliction for loading up on caffeine and measuring the results in song velocity on tour. Shortly after things got more serious, as they recorded their debut album for posterity. Again the title was self explanatory, with Milo indeed being college-bound. There was something of a hiatus in the band's fortunes following this traumatic experience, with Ray Cooper replacing Navetta on guitar in 1985 (he originally tried out as vocalist). Doug Carrion (bass; ex-Anti, Incest Cattle) came in around 1986. He would later serve in Dag Nasty. Stevenson joined up with Black Flag. Milo remembers his choice of career as being a question of priorities: ‘I went to El Camino College for my first year, then I went to UC San Diego. I have a problem. I like to immerse myself in things. I'm obsessed with music and I'm obsesssed with biology—so what can I do?’. When the band got back together three years later, I DON'T WANT TO GROW UP followed swiftly on the heels of the reunion. This time the production values were more polished: ‘On Grow Up I was more melancholy. We're singing about the same things, just approaching it a different way. To bring out the feeling behind it rather than just punking it out’. The Descendents were hugely popular because they addressed the burning issues facing their audience; relationships and the hassles of being young. Milo's eventual replacement in the band was Dave Smalley (ex-DYS, Dag Nasty). Stevenson also played guitar in the unspeakable Nig Heist. After the Descendents finished the members formed All, who continued in much the same vein, but without Lombardo or Carrion. Their influence on UK pop punk outfits like Mega City Four and particularly Senseless Things (who covered Marriage) should not be underestimated.