Episode 117: Frank the Shank and the Punk Rock Gangs of 1980s Los Angeles

Punk-rock gangbanger Frank the Shank was like something right out of A Clockwork Orange, a sociopathic teenager searching the night for ultraviolence and murder, reigning in a bizarre world of punk gangs with names like something out of the Warriors: Pig Children Tribe, Los Angeles Death Squad, Circle One Family, Suicidal Psychos, Fight For Freedom and LMP.

Today we take a dive into the punk rock gangs of 1980s Los Angeles and the myth and legend of the murdering psychopath Frank the Shank.

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Creepy Amusement Park theme by Brandon Fiechter and Derek Fiechter, used by permission and with many thanks.

FEATURING THE SONGS:

“Every Now and Then” by Skeptic? Used with permission and many thanks. Website: https://www.skepticmusic.com Listen to Skeptic on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/665gxem306dmldd8RxOmmK

“Ripper” and “Bodega Bay” by Kult of Indifference used with permission and many thanks. Follow them on Instagram: Kult of Indifference (K.O.I.) (@kult.of.indifference) • Instagram photos and videos

“Same Shit” and “I Got High and Listened to Sum 41” by Brain Dead Rejects used with permission and many thanks. Listen to Brain Dead Rejects on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Fxp35kOydiA4SVCKAaFO2

“Cannibal Song” by Something Wicked used with permission and many thanks. Listen to Something Wicked on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xbdTMhZ9BXg3hOcVXb9IF

“Cosmic Stardust #2” by Donkey Cock used with permission and many thanks. Listen to Donkey Cock on Spotify: ▶︎ Peace, love & public cunnilingus | Donkey Cock

“Run Hound” by Cellophane Sam courtesy of the Free Music Archive. Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

“Punk” by HoliznaCC0 courtesy of the Free Music Archive. Public Domain.

“This “We” Shit” “When Height Dictates (Mountain Pass)” “Was Raw” and “Extremely Mild Zucchini Squash” by Gagmesharkoff courtesy of the Free Music Archive. Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

“High & Dry” by WellMess courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Listen to WellMess on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0TPPiHEykInmScuqE2HUdz

“Du Hade Din Chans” by Massgrav courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Listen to Massgrav on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5fdUKTokyNQ4ZZeqyUsFGb?si=IGmvaenEQwaDIdYxWe7Z6g

“Eat Bugs” and “Traffic Cone Bandit” by Pipsqueak courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Listen to Pipsqueak on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6nmHf9r6CIM990i41UpA7y

System Overload by Sven Karlsson courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Listen to Sven Karsson on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6I6AN0IaEuakK2KTTNbv6z?si=DgH1WXl8TcGwBqpNtMXJKw

RESOURCES:

We Got the Neutron Bomb: The Untold Story of L.A. Punk as told to Marc Spitz and Brendan Mullen. Crown Publishing, November 13, 2001. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0609807743

American Hardcore: A Tribal History by Steven Blush (Author) and George Petros (Editor).

Feral House, October 19, 2010. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1932595895

Disco's Out...Murder's In!: The True Story of Frank the Shank and L.A.'s Deadliest Punk Rock Gang by Heath Mattioli (Author), David Spacone (Author) Feral House. November 10, 2015. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1627310185

Safety In Numbers: My Journey with L.A. Punk Rock Gangs 1982-1992 by Adam Wilson. Self Published November 27, 2016. ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01MZYIGG4

Penthouse Magazine, 1982. “Slam Dancing in a Fast City” by Robert Keating

Reddit: LA Punk Gangs of the 1980's : r/punk

Vice January 17, 2016 by Patrick Lyons ​Unearthing the Secret History of 'LA's Deadliest Punk Rock Gang'

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