In the 1980s, the New Jersey hardcore scene was represented by bands like Adrenalin OD and Bedlam who wrote songs about fast food and foul-smelling old people while kicking out an extremely suburban weisenheimer vibe.
Memorable AHC shows include early April 1983 opening at the Rollerworks for Minor Threat, Suicidal Tendencies and others. This is our show that is seen on the Flipside video.Huge place, big crowd with people stage diving during our set, even though we were the first band on.
Thanks to Tony Rettman for doing this interview with Danny Slam, singer for California pioneers America’s Hardcore. We hope to have Tony aboard with us more in the future, and this piece kicks off his contributions with a bang. Be sure to check back for the second half of this interview real soon.
This interview with Insight vocalist Mark Starr was conducted in the summer of 2016 for my third book,Straight Edge - A Clear-Headed Hardcore Punk History.Be sure to pick up a copy of the Salt Lake City based-band’s retrospective collectionReflection.
"Usually, growing up in a suburban American high school environment, if you’re in a band, you’re in a cover band; at least back when I was growing up. Kids were playing the best of AC/DC, the best of Rush, the best of Journey."
