the band’s inception in 1985
In 1985 Stevenson left Black Flag and he, Aukerman, Cooper, and Lombardo reconvened as the Descendents for I Don’t Want to Grow Up , recorded that April at Music Lab studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California , with producer and engineer David Tarling and published by New Alliance Records .
In 1985 the first TV film about the band was made, but it was never broadcast because communist TV leaders labelled it as “unsuitable for socialist youth.” In 1986, the secret police seized the band’s passports to prohibit them from performing at the Polish music festival Jarocin. At the beginning…
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During their North American tour, the band met James Hetfield and Scott Ian at their CBGB show in New York. Upon their return to Britain, singer Nick Dobson had decided to remain in the US and Hoddy took over vocal duties, reducing the band to a trio. With this line-up…
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The band’s “Mighty and Superior” was voted number 53 best song of the year by the John Peel Festive Fifty radio show audience in 1985, a year that show played a top 70.
Davidson (who had previously recorded with the Sage-produced Rancid Vat in 1985) played bass on The Jesus and Mary Chain ‘s 1993 EP Sound of Speed .
The band played gigs in Montreal, Ottawa , Kingston and Toronto , opening for touring Canadian and American punk bands before releasing their first EP, Featuring: The Asexuals on Og Music in 1984. They quickly released their second EP, B.F.D. and, the same year, contributed the song “Contra Rebels” to…
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In 1981, old Cock Sparrer songs were included on several Oi! compilation albums, and interest in the band began to rise again. They reformed in 1982 – with Chris Skepis replacing Gary Lammin as second guitarist – and signed to Carrere Records, which released the “England Belongs to Me” single.…
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In early 1984, June-Bleed joins as guitarist. But on March 17, 1984, he leaves and is eventually replaced by Masahiro. Also in March, Jun rejoins the band on drums and Teruya joins as bassist. In May, their song “Chicken Farm” appeared on MRR’s international Welcome to 1984 compilation. The concert…
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The band had also incurred heavy legal expenses for the Penis Envy prosecution; this, combined with exhaustion and the pressures of living and operating together, finally took its toll. On 7 July 1984, the band played a benefit-gig at Aberdare , Wales for striking miners , and on the return…
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