San Francisco’s First and Only Rock’n’Roll Movie: CRIME 1978, a short documentary film about the legendary punk band and Amoeba favorite CRIME, will screen at the Victoria Theatre in SF on Thursday, November 14th at 7pm, followed by everyone's favorite rock & roll alien concert flick, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)! Introducing the event are CRIME 1978 producer Henry S. Rosenthal (aka Hank Rank of CRIME) and filmmaker Jon Bastian. There will also be live music by The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, Ron “The Ripper” Greco (original CRIME bassist), and CRIME WAVE (CRIME tribute band with members of Egrets on Ergot, Cheap Tissue, The Richmond Sluts), plus a Ziggy Stardust lookalike contest!

The “rock verite” footage of CRIME was filmed entirely in 1978 by Larry Larson for his local cable access program In Review, and is newly edited by Bastian. Larson found a unique experience in the burgeoning punk scene taking place at the Mabuhay Gardens, a Filipino restaurant and bar-gone-gritty nightclub on Broadway in North Beach. The booker Dirk Dirksen regularly landed local punk and New Wave acts at the club, including the Avengers, The Nuns, The Dils, Pearl Harbor & the Explosions, and CRIME. CRIME’s 1976 single of “Hot Wire My Heart” (backed with “Baby You're So Repulsive”) is credited as the first single released by a U.S. punk act from the West Coast. Like some of their punk contemporaries, they took on individual personas and built a group image, wearing police uniforms and billing themselves as "San Francisco's First and Only Rock 'n' Roll Band." The members of CRIME in 1978 were Johnny Strike (Gary John Bassett) on vocals and guitar, Frankie Fix (Marc D’Agostino) on vocals and guitar), Ron The Ripper (Ron Greco) on bass, and Hank Rank (Henry S. Rosenthal) on drums.

Tis the season to freak out about what to get our loved ones.

It seems to get harder every year, as -- thanks to the internet -- the world becomes smaller and choice becomes more vast. How can you find that perfect gift for someone that not only has everything, but can get whatever they want online in a matter of minutes?

Here's the answer: outsmart them. Use this guide to scoop them on their own desires. They may not yet know they lust after these amazing items, but with the Amoeblog's help, you will reign victorious as this year's King / Queen of Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa / Festivus /  Winter Solstice.  

For your old school punk:
San Francisco’s seminal punk band Crime was  formed in 1976 and ripped post-hippie San Francisco a metaphorical new one when they released their first (and many say Punk’s first) single“Hot Wire My Heart / Baby You're So Repulsive.” They mixed a rebellious and sexually-charged image (they were most often seen flaunting their vampiric, just-outta-rehab good looks in tight leather, regulation police uniforms, or old-time gangster duds) with their unique blend of intellectual and furious lo-fi rock and roll. Crime found local refuge at the now legendary Mabuhay Gardens, but became nationally notorious after playing a gig at San Quentin Penitentiary in full police uniforms. (Read more about them on the Amoeblog.)

Now, after many years, you can purchase official Crime merch directly from original member Johnny Strike and his business partner Faustino Mendonça. Bootleggers be damned! Get some stunning shirts, posters, and pins from the source!

San Francisco’s legendary early punk band Crime is back and Amoeba is hosting the unveiling of their new LP (vinyl only folks!) Exalted Masters with an in-store performance and signing on Friday, September 21st at 7:00pm. But wait, there’s more! Frontman Johnny Strike will also be signing and his new book A Loud Humming Sound Came From Above, published by Rudos and Rubes.

Crime was formed in 1976 by Johnny Strike, Frankie Fix, Ron "The Ripper" Greco (ex-Chosen Few/Flamin' Groovies), and Ricky James. They ripped post-hippie San Francisco a metaphorical new one when they released their first (and many say Punk’s first) single “Hot Wire My Heart / Baby You're So Repulsive.” There was no mistaking these guys for mere rockers; they mixed a rebellious and sexually-charged image (they were most often seen flaunting their vampiric, just-outta-rehab good looks in tight leather, regulation police uniforms, or old-time gangster duds) with their unique blend of intellectual and furious lo-fi rock and roll. Crime found local refuge at the now legendary Mabuhay Gardens, but became nationally notorious after playing a gig at San Quentin Penitentiary in full police uniforms (of course).

In 1977 Hank Rank joined the ranks, but left in 1979. The band split in 1982 when Strike quit Crime to focus on writing. Frankie Fix attempted a Crime reunion in the early 90’s, but Strike elected not join in. In 1996 Frankie Fix passed away.