The Flyboys
Crayon World 7”
Label: Flyguy Records
Released: 1979
Produced: L. F. Gutenberg/Flyboys

Jon Boy – guitar, vocals
Scott Towels – bass, vocals
Dennis Rackett – drums
David Way – keyboards, vocals

Heads: Crayon World (Rackett/Boy)
Tails: Square City (Way)

When I listen to punk or L.A. punk from this time period there is a certain cadence in the voices that you can’t mistake.  A sort of singsong thing, or a type of urban yodeling, I can’t put my finger on.  Kind of like listening to Grandmaster Melle Mel rap, “Sometimes I wonder how I keep from going under,” then listening to DMX rap, “You all gonna make me lose my mind, up in here, up in here.”  The singsong voices are gone.  And only the yelling remains.

Anyway, Lisa Fancher from Frontier re-released this 45, and I was lucky enough to nab a copy.  Everything is the same except the color of vinyl; it was blue, now it’s pink.

Flyboys were a punk rock group from Los Angeles formed by Jon Boy guitar/vocals, David Way Bass/Vocals and Denny Drummond on Drums. Scott Towels joined on Bass soon thereafter, with Way to switching to Keyboards.

This was the line up that started to play Hollywood clubs in 1977 but was derailed by Way’s death in an auto accident in 1978 shortly after a show at Baces Hall with the Go-Go’s, and The Avengers.

The group had recently released their single Crayon Word b/w Square City; it was one of the first self-released singles in the growing LA punk rock scene, and quickly sold out the 1,000 copies pressing.

So go over to www.frontier.com and get yourself a copy of this new pressing.

Rating: ** * two out of three stars

On to the review . . .

I wrote about going to lunch with Lisa Fancher a while back.  And while having lunch we, sort of, went down the line and discussed all of her artists, Adolescents (Tony was a brat, Rikk is more talented than people realize), TSOL (They were wild-men, had to stay in the studio to watch them).  For whatever reason I never think about Circle Jerks, I have nothing against them, but I just don’t think of them, so here I am with a chance to pick Lisa’s brain for tasty punk tid-bits, and they don’t cross my mind.  It didn’t help that Jenna Elfman sat at the table next to me.  Another person I never thought about, but damn what a striking woman in real life.

Anyway, I asked her what she was up to, she asked me what I had last written about so I told her about the article I did about how guys fall into one of three categories of dress as punks these days, the Greg Hetson (see how I came back to the Circle Jerks reference, clever, yeah?), or the Mike Ness school of dress.

To prove I’m not alone here Ms. Fancher agreed with me, and then threw me one.  From a female perspective she tells me that all the “punk” girls are now carbon copies of Bettie Page.  This throws me for a minute, because I don’t pay attention to these chicks, as I am married, but I started remembering every other Hollywood record shop I’ve been in over the last decade, and she’s right.  Then she adds – of course you need to add Mike Ness’ tattoos on them, then you’re complete.

So, consider this part two of your required fashion reading.  While poking around online for images of punk chicks I found this site, it caters to the female Bettie Page fans: http://www.theatomicboutique.com/.  I don’t mind the look, but like the guys, it has become all encompassing.  Not much deviation with the guys or girls.

The look of punk rock has changed so much from when I was into it in the ‘80’s.  You had your basic skate-kid, your Oi boys, death rockers, psychedelic punks, HB’s and so many sub-sets, now two or three variations.

LAST ONE TO DIE is officially out, order at: https://www.createspace.com/3669330.