80s Punk/HC Trivia Quiz

Answer: Corrosion of Conformity

You used to see pictures in the metal mags of people like James Hetfield wearing COC t-shirts. These guys from Raleigh, NC were the masters of punk/metal crossover--they came up with brutal metallic riffs that still had a punk edge, and, at least during the 80s, didn't give in to macho metal posturing. Their lyrics ruled too!

Answer: Flag of Democracy

These Philly thrashers are still at it, some 20 years later. Super-fast, fun HC--something you don't see much of anymore (no thanks to emo).

Answer: Ugly Americans

Simon Bob Sinister joined up with Corrosion of Conformity to sing lead vocals on the Technocracy LP after leaving Durham, NC's Ugly Americans. They were a great band of the punk/metal crossover era.

Answer: SS Decontrol

To paraphrase the title of a major 1982 compilation LP, SSD were from Boston, not LA like the other bands listed (even though they weren't on that comp). A little piece of Straightedge history.

Answer: Cro-Mags

These guys may have single-handedly brought Hare Krishna into the hardcore scene, but we'll forgive them because this record totally rips. Remember when they were in that weird New York high school movie "The Beat", playing under the name the Iron Skulls? Except for the Cro-Mags/"Iron Skulls" scenes, that movie sucked.

Answer: Adrenaline OD

Oh THAT NJ punk band. AOD were to New Jersey what FOD were to Philly. Fast, thrashy, on the melodic side, and fun.

Answer: Reagan Youth

People often thought that New York's Reagan Youth were a right-wing band. I guess it was the name that threw people off, because if you listened to the lyrics, you knew they were in the proud tradition of anarcho-lefty anti-fascist punk. Supposedly the Beastie Boys covered the song "Reagan Youth" in memory of singer Dave Insurgent in a concert in NYC a few years back.

Answer: Ruin

Yes, they were from Philly. They had some weird art-psychology thing going on. How many punk bands can you name that covered Leonard Cohen songs?

Answer: State of Alert

The only DC band in this quiz, SOA featured Henry Garfield (who grew up to host a show on the Sci-Fi Channel as Henry Rollins) and Wendel Blow, who was also in Iron Cross.

Answer: They were all from the east coast of the US

Even though it seemed like every band was called by its initials back in the day, and some of these bands went metal, and a couple were into the straightedge thing, the one thing they ALL had in common is that they were all from the East Coast.

COC--from Raleigh, NC; FOD--Philadelphia; Ugly Americans--Durham, NC; SSD (or Society System Decontrol)--Boston; Cro-Mags--NYC; Adrenaline OD--somewhere in New Jersey; Reagan Youth--NYC; Ruin--Philadelphia; SOA--DC harDCore. Thanks for playing! Hope you enjoyed it!