Circle Jerks Live 1981

[@captainpdub]

Used to have a half-pipe on the side of our house...skaters, punkers, & neighborhood riff-raff of all sorts would be standing on the roof of our house and all along the backyard walls...Circle Jerks would come crashing out of the stereo..."Innocent...until I'm proven guilty...deny everything, deny everything"...and I'd drop in on that ramp and a fucked up world never felt so perfect.

[@jpkaneshida242]

On my list of of great YT comments

[@donr9750]

fuck yeah.

[@jackal59]

Based on these clips, Fear had to resort to abusing the audience to create a near riot. Circle Jerks just had to play.

[@AnotherRandomPoser]

I don't think they had to at all they just had a hell of a fun time doing so

[@michaelgraham9774]

These guys are 1000x better than Fear.

[@darbycrash4741]

@@michaelgraham9774 no disrespect on fear though i love both bands equally

[@andyramsey4165]

Just different. Fear is bad ass, too.

[@Dewdrop042]

I cannot believe how young Keith Morris is. I thought he was born with dreadlocks.

[@jezebelproudfoot4976]

you must be young then too, honey. old broads like me remember baby faced Keith. find his old stuff on New Wave Theatre.

[@alvarezgilbert01]

1981 baby 🍼

[@perezburrull]

ha ha ahah a ha haa ha hah ah ah a

[@benjaminacuna7484]

BWAHAHAHAHA

[@willieluncheonette]

A WHILE BACK WE SAW THE FEAR AND THE GERMS SECTION FROM THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION. TODAY LET'S SEE CIRCLE JERKS FROM THAT SAME FILM. Here is one of the very greatest American hardcore bands captured in their prime with excellent sound. A punk's dream come true. And we have Penelope Spheeris, the director of this film, to thank for including some of the top L.A. bands in 1980. Anyone wanting to see two of the best punk bands should watch the Germs and X in this film. Anyone wanting to see three of the best hardcore bands should see Fear, Black Flag and Circle Jerks in this film. Every punk who loves the music knows Circle Jerks debut album, Group Sex (1980) an album that can hardly be bettered in any way. Keith Morris voc Greg Hetson gtr Roger Rogerson b and Lucky Lehrer dr. really laid down one for the ages with Group Sex. Fourteen songs in sixteen minutes--that's the whole album. These short songs threw me for a loop when I first heard them, but of course I've since grown to love this trailblazing style that soon would become a staple in hardcore. Black Flag, Angry Samoans, The Crowd, Red Cross and Circle Jerks were the few bands playing short songs and short sets in those days. Keith Morris had left Black Flag and was now singing with Circle Jerks. Here is what he had to say about singing with his former band. "I was basically a monkey in a cage; they'd open the cage, I'd go out, act like a complete freak. And they loved that to a certain extent, but when it started to go past that line it started to get ridiculous, it started to get ugly." What to say about Keith's singing here? Some of the most intense, manic singing I've ever heard. Just listen to Beverly Hills. All the hatred and disdain directed towards the phony L.A. crowd come spewing out in this extremely bitter song, and you can tell Keith means every word 100%. "Beverly Hills" Beverly Hills, century city everything's so nice and pretty everybody looks the same don't they know they're fuckin' lame there she goes, three piece suit spandex pants and her cowboy boots I don't know what i'm gonna do I don't know what i'm gonna do maybe i'll have to move from Beverly Hills, Century City everything's nice and pretty All the people look the same but they know they're fuckin' lame there she goes, three piece suit cowboy hat, cowboy boots Beverly Hills, Century City! The musicianship in this group is beyond reproach and if I were to show someone who has never heard hardcore what it's all about, I would be proud to choose this clip as a prime example. Red Tape Back Up Against The Wall I just Want Some Skank Beverly Hills Wasted

[@Ori0n1975]

This wasn't in '81. It's from Decline and was filmed in late '79-early '80.

[@brandonhendrix7223]

Ori0n1975 in their defense I think the movie came out in 1981 (very early '81--I think it came out not too long after Darby Crash died) so it's can cause some confusion.

[@nikxenarios4782]

Kevin orr

[@teleportingtoast2402]

Holy shit, Lehrer is really into it.

[@EvanSchatz]

Teleporting Toast 3:19 is one of the great things I've seen in my life

[@ericengland8616]

Animal

[@Nickm32797]

I always revisit this when I forget what punk rock is about. Because this is it, period.

[@aham2903]

I was one year old when they did this show. These videos always make me feel like I was born 15 years too late...

[@AmericanPunxXx]

jared roach that means your mom had you when she was in high school

[@jeegcutty787]

Born in 92, my dream is to hang out with this crew at the church after a show

[@shannonandsheila1403]

I was 2

[@andrewturpel2768]

04:00 better singing than the music on the radio today more meaningful lyrics too

[@romancingtheimpulse8380]

LOL very true

[@revolvermoth]

I agree 100%

[@PunkinRB]

1:59 = awesome moment. Dunno if that dude in the yellow shirt was his friend or just a familiar face in the scene, either way Keith didn't appreciate how the jock bouncers handled him. 3:25 = Greg kicks the bouncer in the knee as he bullys up another dude. While it was a weak kick, he was playing at the same time- multi tasker right there.

[@REYREY135461]

I wish I could time travel back to 78 all the way through the 80s just so I can see the all the shows all the good bands smh

[@kabangj]

You're not alone. Someone should start a joke kickstarter or fundraiser for explicitly that.. haha "Need a skilled team to develop a time machine for the disenfranchised musical youth."

[@UgotThemWorms]

Yeah i love my punk in this format. 5 songs, about 5min. I was bummed when he didnt finish "...skank". One them comical bits that originally drew me to them

[@Speedwolf4170]

The soundtrack to my misspent youth.

[@bsx121]

Spent most on booze

[@alain3956]

With my 54years old you are à post punk/HC legend for me.....

[@scottjohnson8316]

I have commented how the pits from the first wave of hardcore were so much more intense and violent than the ‘silly I’m gonna solo dance in the middle of the pit and swing my arms and kick and please no one come near me as I do it’ style of nowadays. This pit here was pure anger and release just what was needed for these people. No rules just all out. I would love to see some of these modern tough hardcore types try to handle the SoCal HB’ers in the pit. They would be demolished

[@KelvinKorner]

I have seen so many fights at hardcore shows because of hardcore dancers going out of their way to punch people who are just standing there. Rarely did I ever see fights at punk and metal shows when there was slam dancing and/or circle pits. Everyone was respectful and picked each other up. Hardcore kids love putting on the tough guy act.

[@206hxcx]

you're real macho man, go jerk yourself off in the corner about it

[@jakewise3742]

Lived it and loved it. Good to see it continues. They are all so f'ng lame. . . . nothing changes.

[@somekid7]

To anyone who never got to experience anything like this: go see a show by OFF! I'm 19 and that was the first time I lost it at a show. It wasn't surreal or any bullshit like "Oh my god it's Keith Morris!" It just felt fucking good to be screaming my head off and shoving people around to a really tight band.

[@MrMarkalynch]

I am 52. I saw FLAG and I did lose my shit. Keith Morris IS punk rock.

[@somekid7]

Mark Lynch Keith Morris is just some guy. Nobody is punk rock. Not trying to pick a fight. Just think it's dumb to plaster Morris' face over the crusts, anarchos, emos and all the hundreds of other things that make up punk. Circle Jerks are just a small part of hardcore.

[@wanderer1031]

ophidianima i'm not saying if yer right or wrong but you shoulda just kept your opinion to yerself.

[@somekid7]

wanderer1031 I'm being sincere when I ask this: why should I have kept my opinion to myself? If you're talking to a stranger, then a request without a reason is usually pointless. Don't assume that people can read your mind.

[@wanderer1031]

ophidianima well at the risk of blatant hyposcrysy, its dangerous to overanalyze punk, punk rock, who's punk, what is punk etc etc. but, its punk to say what you feel and express yourself without fear of social repercussion so, in the end, i mouthed off what i thought right then. you figure out what to make of it all. i'm out!

[@teleportingtoast2402]

Damn, rest in peace. Rodger Dowding.

[@yugster78]

fucking LA in 1981 what a place!

[@aaronscott4984]

This is actually 79 early 80 during "The Decline of Western Civilization"

[@gkooz4life736]

Hell yeah. ^This is punk rock at its best. fuck all this new bullshit. ™

[@EvanSchatz]

Blilililah! Blilililah! Blilililah! Blilililahlalah! (get off!)

[@Evanisovich_]

So crazy to think the director for this film and Suburbia, also directed Wayne’s World as well as introduced a new generation of kids to Little Rascals.

[@jefferysteen1041]

Best part of that whole movie

[@lindawhalen1325]

I might've seen this show if it was at a movie theatre corner Santa Monica and Vermont in 1981. Saw a concert there also was Bad Religion, China White, the band that does a nice cover of Ring of Fire begins w/ an S was there plus more. We slammed danced with all knuckles and elbows.

[@REYREY135461]

This is at the fleetwood

[@feliciamumper5521]

fuckin right!!!

[@jamesgentner1356]

Seen them in 82 philly show they booked a gig in New Hope club zadar Rt 32 empty !

[@Michelle-414]

I saw them about 1984 in Milwaukee.

[@nulledsession]

Brings back some memories. Awesome band.

[@thenobullshtchannel8768]

We j off in a circle as boys, we used to aim at each other,,, whys the door locked boys!!???!!!

[@MacDisel1]

I just want some skank, the best pickup line ever!

[@obstacleillusion8113]

Six years later and still no argument here

[@lolttyl143]

How much did a full stack like that Marshall run back then? I just cant believe that these broke dudes could have the money for anything that big.

[@legomtronfan123]

+lolttyl143 They probably stole it or did something of that nature.

[@RoilNoise]

+lolttyl143 they had money and cocaine...

[@teleportingtoast2402]

+Pat Rubbish plenty of that cocaine lmao

[@feliciamumper5521]

they put their paychecks up for those stacks. people used to put everything they had into hardcore.

[@johnnyssik]

Good chance they weren't theirs. It was quite common to use other bands equipment. The only LA punk band that could afford it was X. Ha Ha! The 4 bands I've seen the most was The Gears The Plugs, X and Motley Crue. Ha!

[@gilbertayala6694]

I was the guy who got the mike from Kieth.

[@thereagauze]

this is 1980 not 81 for the record, the latest concert footage from Decline was shot by April 1980.

[@rimshot2952]

Real Punk Music.

[@Ernesto_Da_Faneda]

So I guess Keith Morris is the only member of the band who was there from the beginning. Great video, I enjoyed it.

[@marcolima6589]

Live at the Fletwood in Redondo Beach, CA!!!!!

[@patrickcarney1331]

decline of western civilization clip..shit now I want to watch it again for the 1000000th time lol suburbia repoman

[@tobygibson3806]

Lou Skum from the Injections- san Diego at 4:00

[@REYREY135461]

Good eye

[@grantjohnson697]

Great band

[@ehdiaz]

Is he actually singing something?

[@joachimpeiper8076]

Real hardcore punk

[@errikartazuri5651]

Hardcore punk is full of RAC.

[@pozzytraction]

Morris & Hetson are the Lennon & McCartney of Hardcore!

[@georgepresley7116]

Always had that beer in his hand lol!

[@Druffmaul]

When me and friends were like 13 and had never seen them play live, we used to think the drums on Red Tape (on Group Sex) had to have been faked some how. "Nobody could play that fast, it's not possible."

[@GoldandAppel]

SOMEBODY GOT THEIR JAW BROKE!😮

[@duko1965]

thought i saw darby out there slaming cause there some guy out wearing the same shirt as him in alice bag set prowler in the night

[@huntertredway]

Greg Hetson is the man.

[@chuy8356]

Hunter Tredway Pride of the San Fernando Valley. The Valley has a lot of hardcore punk heritage.

[@pulledtrigger]

@@chuy8356 The skapunk scene is the closest to it here in sfv but it's nowhere near the energy these guys from the 80s. Everyone is a pussy standing around nozzed out. Punk is dead as hell in the valley, and almost to none can replicate that 80s anger and energy.

[@shapirodeadking5012]

ONE OF THE GREATEST PERFORMANCES!!

[@aqechuu]

lo mas increible es que en 4 minutos tocaron app 6 canciones en 4 minutos banda culia buena

[@ernestohernandezjj2208]

CIRCLE JERKS YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES

[@seancallahan1312]

Fuck, I was so lucky to have seen them in 81, and seen him singing for Black Flag live when they formed. Fuck was I lucky. I'm fucked up and old now. Whatever. I still surf, skate, and listen to punk.

[@AdamFreeman13]

Keith Morris, still going fucking hard in OFF! check them out.

[@Tapp-Mourningwood]

I dig OFF! "Black Thoughts" is one of my favorite songs. Circle Jerks meet Motorhead.

[@antipatriotmissile]

great vid

[@LlammaGT23]

Amazing

[@arjulaxer]

Keith Morris is my hero

[@tedcantu1]

When asked to be in the film they said.. OK.. and didnt prepare for this shoot.... "We're gonna sing like this whether you show up or not !"... LOL... I love that, they just did it anyway regardless of cameras or no cameras

[@andrewnewton5221]

80 at The Fleetwood

[@yugster78]

A few more years latter there would be Dark fucking angel!

[@smalltownskatecrew4840]

Did Keith leave to beat that guys ass at 2:04?

[@feliciamumper5521]

I think he did beat that dude.

[@smalltownskatecrew4840]

Felicia Mumper Wish there was a second recording

[@feliciamumper5521]

SmallTown Skate Crew I know. Me too.

[@laguna_tuna1579]

he said in an interview that he was never the one to try and cause a fight (due to him being shorter than many) so I think he just tried to get the mic back

[@smalltownskatecrew4840]

Yea that sounds pretty accurate. He was indeed a short dude. Entertaining either way. Great performance

[@codyjackschwartz3044]

wow, that was unbelievable!

[@CheGumby]

love the affect

[@1MadPotato]

This was not in 81. I discovered this footage at age 9 in 1980. Just saying FWIW need to quiet that OCD!!! :>P

[@jamesgentner1356]

Love these Fucking guys !

[@raynercoslop]

so much raw power in one video

[@joeymanson2222]

Ever see part 2 the metal years? Fkn waste of lifes energy. This was the New Testament of real music aftet Darby died for our Sins. Gawd bless all the bamds from this film. Black Flag. X. Germs. Catholic Discipline. Circle Jerks. Fear...anyone else i forgot. (A)

[@johnathanmartino8505]

grew up in SF with CJ Black Flag, Filipper BADASS!!!

[@feliciamumper5521]

whats yo mommas name nigga

[@aaronsaunders6974]

3:00 I want some skank 2 😦

[@malemglez7597]

CIRCLE JERKZ👀

[@raynercoslop]

0:29 killing you killing me RED TAPE!... oh shi-...rwureuweruwerew TAX THIS... xD fucking awesome

[@dylan110896]

4:00 lalalala LA! lalalala LA! lalalala LA! lalalala LA! lalalalala LA LA LA LA!

[@skinhead5]

The date of this is early 1980.

[@jameswoolsey3921]

SO weird seeing Keith without his dreads!

[@flacobrian3754]

he looks better without the dreads imo

[@sonidos1000]

so right

[@joeymanson2222]

Decline♥

[@MsKTMvalley]

Whoa!

[@lahardcore13]

Red tape!!!!!

[@ajscitco90]

It's form the Decline of western Civilazation movie it on here i think in different parts

[@durtaypamp]

wow

[@chiefmangas2367]

I wonder how Keith Morris ended in this band when he's the one who made Black Flag, like he was kicked out of his own band.

[@Nick-qf7vt]

Black Flag was Ginn's band. Keith left because he was tired of the constant rehearsing and not playing any shows. At the same time, Greg Hetson was in Red Cross and wanted to bring Lucky in as the drummer, but the MacDonald brothers thought he was too good of a player to do punk. So Lucky got sent off, and Greg quit because he was tired of these guys never practicing, and they just sent one of the greatest drummers ever out the door. This all happened in the Church, where you see Black Flag in the movie. The whole story is talked about in the My Career As A Jerk documentary, which you can watch for free here on KZbin.

[@chiefmangas2367]

@@Nick-qf7vt shit, the more you know. Keep in mind that I did write this 3-4 years ago so I found out about who actually started the band, which was Greg Ginn of course. Thanks though!

[@stephenhutto7481]

I don't know how good of musicians Roger or Greg were, but by god Lucky Lehrer is on fucking point on the drum kit

[@thekalifornian4244]

0_o people are just.....crazy

[@toxicskul]

this is so fuckin hardcore....

[@TheSHACKTRACKS]

@TheSHACKTRACKS what is this from

[@block65535]

fucking right.

[@orivaldoamador7430]

banda ducaralho

[@BravoSolid]

con subtitles, so punk rock

[@TheSHACKTRACKS]

what us this from??

[@albacore101]

This reminds me..I forgot my morning meth..lol

[@kadeshvega5013]

Circle Jerks Group Sex > Black Flag's entire discography .... anyone wanna fight about it?

[@hyperactivechild5813]

Keith Morris Gimme Gimme Gimme >>> Rollins Gimme Gimme Gimme...by a long shot. There I said it.

[@G.L.O.S.S.]

Nah

[@G.L.O.S.S.]

@@hyperactivechild5813 Keith's version is the worst tbf

[@206hxcx]

fighting over punk points is very cool and not a waste of time at all!

[@acb9896]

Stick your head up yer butt and fight for air!

[@gaudd]

I guess America just tool wat it could get.

[@Eerkik]

@DontEatEggs666 I wish punk would, people are making me ashamed to like punk. "Punk's not dead it just deserves to die when it becomes another stale cartoon."

[@j.t.taylor6443]

keith morris is so not punk rock......which makes him so very punk rock.

[@SKUNK_The_underdog]

What’s ‘so not punk’ about him? Pretty fuckin punk to me

[@mkproductions2.0]

@@SKUNK_The_underdog Right this post JT Taylor made makes no since what so ever.

[@RPG_1975]

HCP ok

[@carcarjinks1430]

this is just sad.

[@jeffdahms12]

This is not what I came for :(

[@legacyoffreedomain1170]

MGTOW

[@Soundeagle3456]

huh? how did you assholes get into a punk video?

[@206hxcx]

i support men going their own way... right out the door and away from me, forever. NOBODY CARES!

[@deathmetaldouglas69]

Sorry but this is early 1980 before "Group Sex" was even out. In 1981 "Wild in the Streets" was a different animal so it might be a good idea to correct it Mr. Menace.