THE GERMS are one of the earliest pioneers of L.A. punk rock, and the accidental inventors of hardcore. They developed a sound that was extremely aggressive, hyper-competent, and highly influential -- although throughout their career, they would have a reputation as a chaotic live band. Singer Darby Crash often arrived onstage nearly incoherent from drugs, singing everywhere but into the microphone and taunting the audience between songs. The other band members had similar problems, with many contemporary reviews citing collapses, incoherency, and drunken vomiting onstage.

The final drummer - Don Bolles - was, however, extremely technically adept, and the amateurish bass stylings of Lorna Doom became, through rehearsal, an undeniably tight, complex counterpoint. Smear was revealed as a remarkably talented and fluid player, while the songwriting began to be cited as art and poetry. The canonical lineup of the band was often accused of willfully skirting the boundary between genius and disaster.

The Germs recorded two singles (with alternate tracks), an album-length demo session, and one full-length LP, (GI), each more focused and powerful than the last. Crash was, despite his erratic behavior, generally regarded as a brilliant lyricist (a contemporary critic described him as "ransacking the dictionary"), and the final lineup of Smear, Doom, and Bolles had become a world-class rock ensemble by the recording of (GI), turning in a performance that spurred an LA Weekly reviewer to write, "This album leaves exit wounds." It is considered one of the first hardcore punk records, and has a near-mythic status among alternative rock fans.

Crash committed suicide in 1980, at age 22, for reasons unreported at the time. Beahme overdosed on heroin under a sign taped to the wall, reading, 'Here Lies Darby Crash.' His death was largely overshadowed by John Lennon's death the next day.

After the Germs ended Don Bolles played with several other seminal L.A. bands, including Nervous Gender and 45 Grave. Pat Smear went on to play with Nirvana and, after the death of Kurt Cobain, with the Foo Fighters.

The return of The Germs all started when WEST was cast in the role of late and legendary punk icon Darby Crash in the upcoming GERMS biopic What We Do Is Secret. Original GERMS members PAT SMEAR, LORNA DOOM, and DON BOLLES were consultants on the film, and at the wrap party THE GERMS performed with SHANE at the mic. Those in attendance were blown away--not only by the insane punk rock apocalypse that still happens when PAT, DON and LORNA play those songs together 25 years after the ball, but also by SHANE's intense performance and uncanny similarities to original GERMS singer Darby Crash.

These are the first Germs shows in 25 years so now you too can...CATCH THE GERMS!