Nardcore
Nardcore is a hardcore punk movement that came out of Southern California in the early 1980s, originating in Silverstrand Beach, Oxnard and Port Hueneme. Most of the early Nardcore shows originated from Casa Tropical, Port Hueneme Skate Palace and other venues in the Oxnard area. Many early shows were at Casa de la Raza in Santa Barbara.
Much of the early promotion of Nardcore came from Mystic Records, from Hollywood, CA and its founder Doug Moody. While questions have been raised about their financial dealings with the artists,[citation needed] this label not only launched many bands onto vinyl, but also promoted the Nardcore scene as a whole.
Origins
The name is a reference to the Oxnard, California hardcore punk scene. This suburban community, sixty miles north of Los Angeles, California, was the spawning ground for many hardcore punk bands of the early '80s and became a hotbed for punk and skate bands; collectively, their sound became known as "Nardcore." The nardcore symbol (a common design feature in logos on record covers and tattoos) was scribbled in a notebook years ago by Ismael Hernandez of Dr. Know.
Nardcore in the 2000s
A few of the original Nardcore bands, such as Dr. Know, were still performing in the 2000s. Agression disbanded after the deaths of two of its original members, Mark Hickey (in 2000) and Henry Knowles (in 2002). In summer 2002, a Henry Knowles Memorial Show featuring the "Nardcore All-Stars" took place. Rich Kids on LSD suffered the loss of their original drummer, Richard Anthony Manzullo (also known as "Bomer"), who died on December 12, 2005, and their front man, Jason Sears, who died in January 2006.
After a short tour of Hawaii with the Oahu band 8mm Overdose, Ill Repute disbanded in July 2004 and briefly reformed again (minus founding guitarist Tony Cortez) to tour Hawaii in 2006 with 8mm Overdose. Several original Scared Straight members are still performing under the re-formed band name Ten Foot Pole. One prominent member of False Confession, Scott Morris, went on to form Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Another False Confession member, Harry Meisenheimer, played for Stalag 13, Ill Repute and then became known as Harry Drumdini and became the drummer for The Cramps. He now drums for tHE kILLDEVILS©. A member of Stäläg 13, Dave Casillas, had a stint as guitarist with NOFX and currently plays with GG Elvis. Oxnard locals Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez (who drew album covers for Dr. Know and other Nardcore bands) and Mario Hernandez went on to create the long-running comic book series Love and Rockets. Many of Jaime Hernandez's stories revolve around the 1970s/1980s California punk scene, and the Nardcore symbol is occasionally seen as graffiti in his comics.
In summer 2004, a Nardcore 20th Anniversary Show featured new and old acts such as: Ill Repute, Dr. Know, Big Bob's Agression Session, A.F.U., Stäläg 13 Sing Along, Youth Brigade, The Last Priority, Keep Fighting, California Redemption, Chritchen, Caught Off Guard, In Control, The Missing 23rd, The Arsonics, Vengeance, False Confession, R.K.L., Rat Pack, Burning Dog, Habeas Corpus, Total Resistance.
Dr. Know has been playing again since 1998 with two original members. They have toured Canada, Hawaii, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas and more. On September 11, 2005, they played a concert in Tompkins Square Park, New York City, with Choking Victim, Millions of Dead Cops, Team Spider and other bands. They performed at CBGB's on September 8, 2005, and donated the money to the Katrina victims. Dr. Know has continued to perform and have shows booked through 2007. Their new album is out, "Killing For God" on Unrest Records.
In April 2005 there was a CD Released by Let Them Eat Records entitled Welcome to the Neighborhood. The CD features Nardcore bands such as Dr. Know and Ill Repute, but also featured Ventura County's newer bands such as Keep Fighting, The Last Priority, and California Redemption. Dr. Know headlined the release party along with Katkiller, an Agression tribute band.
Although Nardcore has its roots with the original bands of the scene, it continues to thrive today with the new bands keeping it strong for the newer generations.
Nardcore bands
Early bands
- A.F.U. (Always Fucked Up)
- Agression
- Burning Dog
- Chritchen
- Dr. Know
- False Confession
- Ground Zero
- Habeas Corpus
- Ill Repute
- M.I.A.
- Rat Pack
- RKL (Rich Kids on L.S.D.)
- The Rotters
- Scared Straight
- Stäläg 13
- Voice Text
Later bands
- Annihilation Time
- Arms of Kirin
- The Arsonics
- Blackout!
- California Redemption
- Caught Off Guard
- Dysfunctional Chaos
- The Fall Of Babylon
- GG Elvis and the TCP Band
- Heavy Artillery
- In Control
- Infantry
- Juvenile Defiance
- Keep Fighting
- Killing Regime
- The Last Priority
- Legacy
- The Missing 23rd
- Mark My Words
- Nardcore Allstars
- No Motiv
- The Original Punk Rawk Elvis
- Oxnard Skate Trash (OST)
- Rejected Society
- Retaliate
- Shot in the Face
- Time To Kill
- Total Resistance
- Toxic Reaction
- Vendetta
- The Warriors
- Whatever It Takes
805/Ventura/Punk Bands
- Cuntastrophy
- Dogends
- No Advisory
- Thresher
- Stand Your Ground
Nardcore-related albums
- We Got Power, Party or Go Home - Compilation LP (Mystic,1983)
- Nardcore, Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
- Party Animal, We got Power II - Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
- Covers, Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
- Mystic Super Seven Sampler #1, Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
- Mystic Sampler #1, Compilation LP (Mystic)
- Mystic Sampler #2, Compilation LP (Mystic)
- Mystic Sampler #3, Compilation LP (Mystic)
- It Came From Slimey Valley, Compilation LP (Mystic, 1983)
- Return to Slimy Valley, Compilation LP (Mystic)
- Welcome to the Neighborhood, Compilation CD (Let Them Eat Records, 2005)
- Break Your Face, Compilation CD (Face First Records,2005)
- Coup D'Etat (Retaliate), CD/LP (Indecision Records, 2006)
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