The Offs Explained

The Offs
Background:group_or_band
Origin: San Francisco, California, United States
Genre:punk/ska
Past Members:Billy Hawk
Don Vinil
Bob Steeler
Denny Boredom

Formed circa 1978, The Offs were a punk/ska band from San Francisco, started by guitarist Billy Hawk and singer Don Vinil, and later joined by former Hot Tuna drummer Bob Steeler and a rotation of horn players including Bob Roberts, Richard Edson and Roland Young. The Offs were active in the early days of the San Francisco punk rock scene.[1]

History

In 1978, The Offs self-released their first record - a 7" single featuring a cover of the Slickers' Johnny Too Bad with the Billy Hawk-penned 624803 on the B-side. A subsequent release in the same year was Everyone's a Bigot, with Zero Degrees on the B-side, which was the first-ever release on San Francisco's 415 Records.[2] [3] That song later appeared on the Alternative Tentacles hardcore/art punk compilation Let Them Eat Jellybeans.[4] Another early release was "You Fascinate Me." Lead singer Don Vinil was known for his outrageous on-stage behavior.[5] Fellow San Francisco punk group, Dead Kennedys played their first show with the Offs in 1978. They often played at San Francisco's Mabuhay Gardens.

The Offs also went through a number of bassists, including Denny Boredom (Denny DeGorio), Olga de Volga and Fast Floyd. Eric Peterson joined as bassist in 1980, shortly after the group decamped San Francisco for New York where they quickly became a regular fixture at such New York institutions as the Mudd Club, Danceteria and Max's Kansas City.[6] The Offs counted among their fans and friends numerous people in the downtown New York art/music scene, including artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, musician and actor Richard Edson, who played trumpet with the band, and Glenn O'Brien, the peripatetic chronicler of the scene for Andy Warhol's Interview magazine.[7]

In 1984, David Ferguson's label CD Presents released a full-length album for the band called The Offs First Record, with artwork by Basquiat.

Discography

Singles

Albums

Compilations

Film/Video

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Staff . Goldmine . October 20, 2020 . Liberation Hall to launch 415 Records reissue series . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201026185259/https://www.goldminemag.com/news/liberation-hall-to-launch-415-records-reissue-series . October 26, 2020 . May 14, 2024 . Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia . en.
  2. Web site: Discogs: 415 Records (sorted by date) . . 2011-06-26.
  3. Web site: Discogs: Everyone's a Bigot (cat#911-39; 1978). . 2011-06-26.
  4. Web site: Discogs: The Offs Discography. . 2011-06-26.
  5. Web site: Live at the Mabuhay Gardens Review by Jack Rabid. . 2021-12-10.
  6. Web site: The Only Way Is Off. 4 December 2011 . 2021-12-10.
  7. Web site: The Offs First Record . 2021-12-10.
  8. Web site: The Offs - Discography. 2021-12-10. discogs.com.
  9. Web site: I HAIGHT THE RICH - Record Collector Magazine. 2020-07-01. recordcollectormag.com.
  10. Web site: The Offs - Discography. 2021-12-10. discogs.com.
  11. Web site: The Offs - Discography. 2021-12-10. discogs.com.
  12. Web site: The Offs - Discography. 2021-12-10. discogs.com.
  13. Web site: The Offs - Discography. 2021-12-10. discogs.com.
  14. Web site: Various – Can You Hear Me? Music From The Deaf Club. discogs.com.
  15. Web site: Queer Music Reviews from QZE #17. 2020-07-01. www.holytitclamps.com.
  16. Web site: The Offs - Californian Skapunk Pioneers. 2020-07-01. Discogs. en.
  17. Book: Deaf/punk. 2021-12-10. worldcat.org. 427642599 .