Eastside Punks, Episode 2: The Brat

The Brat
In our second installment of Eastside Punks, we focus on East L.A. legends The Brat. Formed in the late 1970s, vocalist Teresa Covarrubias, guitarists Rudy Medina and Sidney Medina, bassist Lou Soto, and drummer Robert Soto quickly cornered the market on smart, taut pop delivered with righteous punk fury by one of the tightest bands in the area. Often associated with the scene centered around Joe Suquette, Sister Karen Boccalero, and Willie Herrón’s legendary early-’80s eastside punk club The Vex, a memorable meeting with members of X led to an opening slot at the Whisky A Go Go and their introduction to the greater Los Angeles underground music scene. Their Fatima Records debut EP, Attitudes, is a prized item among collectors and, along with two tracks on the Los Angelinos compilation, was their sole released output before disbanding in the mid-’80s. Still active musicians, assorted members went on to play in Las Tres, Knucklebone, La Bestia, and Los Vex Pistols, among others, and the Brat’s legacy continues via their inclusion in a number of books and exhibitions chronicling the history of Los Angeles punk rock. As demonstrated by the recently released Straight Outta East L.A., a collection of their assorted recordings, The Brat remains one of eastside punk rock’s best, unique groups.
Eastside Punks is a film series about Los Angeles’s other punk scene, one whose existence has developed parallel to, and occasionally intersected with, but remains largely marginalized from L.A.’s greater musical underground. Blending live footage and interviews with multiple generations of musicians, artists, writers and scenesters, Eastside Punks taps into stories from the scene’s history: from its beginnings in East L.A.’s art and music underground of the 1970s to the rise and fall of its premier club, The Vex, and the bands that called it home; how its 1980s rebirth as a wholly underground scene based in backyards and advertised on flyers and traded cassette tapes led to the celebrated Chicano Groove music scene of the late 1990s; and how it remains a vibrant subculture where Chicano rasquachismo meets punk DIY to create one of the few remaining corners of punk’s true underground.
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[@wordoftruthwjdnijah3467]

I was there...Original 1St wave. La Mirada Punks. We love the brat.

[@sinclairreed5367]

Your band helped me through high-school. You have been there through every trial and tribulation an awkward girl in the early 80s.

[@KavaKavana]

Found this band a week ago. They’re the best. They would have been huge if they were left to their own devices. People should be mentioning them along side Joan Jett, the go go’s , etc.

[@stonecold3697]

Agreed. Teresa's vocals are amazing.

[@ResoRonnie]

And alongside "X"... I'm trapped. I was born in East Los Angeles in 1969 and grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. Back then, you were either a 'Rocker, Disco Lover, 'Mod', or 'New Waver'. I was a 'Rocker.' My favorite bands were and are still Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, and The Doors. My parents were strict and didn't let me go to gigs. But, even so I'm supprised I have never heard of this band, well I shouldn't be if they never produced and album. OMG, this freaking guys are great! It makes me so proud that they are 'Chicanos.' Man, history did not give this band justice. These guys are great, man.

[@mrz0413]

Came across The Brat about 2 years ago. Wish I had known about them in the 80s, they’re really good. I love Punk. Plus they’re Chicano! ✊🏼🤘🏼

[@SlothsTV]

Michael Rummans here, sometimes bass player for The Brat. Thanks for posting!

[@neonvandal8770]

Literally just heard this band for the first time an hour ago - Vinyl album bought with no delay! Brilliant! 👍🎸

[@john_from_eastcoast.]

Thanks for this! I grew up with them in LA. Rodney on the Roq used to play them on Saturday nights! Good memories!

[@David-rx5eo]

Those were great times!

[@fonzerellie3518]

I just heard this band for the 1st time . Way ahead of their time . Frickin amazing !!!!!! Love them ..... 2020 !!!!’n

[@yoooohooooo]

uh Very the era !

[@snakehunter4566]

Where can I get this music???

[@jimmyalvarado6752]

Radiation Records has rereleased the “attitudes” EP with extra tracks, and there’s a collection called “Straight Outta East L.A.” that has a bunch of unreleased recordings and remixes. Both are great.

[@leticiarodriguez3058]

Thank you for bring me back to my memories , I had my pee chee folder and thought I was hard core with having the Brats and X and Sex pistiols and Black flag written on it . Thank you for your music and being such a wonderful band. love the BRATS

[@ritadamayanti2087]

I just discovered this band. I typed in " Chicano punkband" and these guys came up. I love it! The Brats will now be on my play list.

[@davidvasquez6578]

Thank you for these Punk Hood Stories!

[@RickMichaelis63]

Teresa is a living Doll!!!

[@Fonnsterify]

I just accidentally came across them today. I’ve never been happier

[@davidm78]

Just discovered this band. This is beautiful and amazing! Never knew there was a chicano punk scene. VIVA LA RAZA!

[@norbertlofe8366]

Keep em coming! These are the best punk stories!

[@Shikta-poobah67]

Love this band. I didn’t grow up in L.A. or even Southern California, so I didn’t have that regional reference factor, but I had the EP record and always loved it. It was just really great above-average punk rock. I always wished I had heard more from them, or had gotten the opportunity to see them live.

[@vinylrichie007]

Well done. Those flyers are so cool.

[@GheorgeDuarte]

City Terrace always going wild .

[@iocat]

Sych a rad band. Thanks for doing these intervies

[@David-rx5eo]

I love The Brat. I have their EP. I bought it when it came out. I wish the music "geniuses" would not try to change the bands they sing. If they liked what they heard then why did they need to change them. I always wanted more songs/music from The Brat. Much love to all of them for the pleasure their music brought to me!

[@pjsmith6954]

so good! I wish I’d heard this band when I was growing up but better late than never

[@jackjill-ri8uw]

Great band, too bad they didn't get their due back then. Glad this is here for us all to experience. Thanks for posting this!

[@riccarrasquilla379]

thanks for the video

[@TheGuerillapatriot]

This is a great band, dude. They rock.

[@quail333]

Wow, I was at that party with Richard Duardo and X, it blew my mind that the wild man punctuated the end of a song with three shots, BANG , BANG, BANG, In the hood, no cops. Always loved Teresa's voice, she was a real Punk Chanteuse. Michael Norman Bayes

[@JerryInfinity]

I lived on Concord and Brooklyn. Use to pass by and listen to you all!!

[@jackjill-ri8uw]

Thank you covering this great band!!!

[@jake19001]

I don’t understand how they weren’t getting regular play on Kroq. They’re so good & talented!

[@Rafma89]

I have been a fan of the Brat ever since Land of a Thousand Dances book came out!

[@richardquiroz4808]

The Song Allegiance is awesome, literal history. Greetings from South Texas.

[@rheatepp1674]

so good!

[@Greywolf1066]

Great! Love ‘em!

[@coriettapadilla9977]

I love this. ❤️

[@johnfelix4611]

I loooove you guys!

[@vorefishkid1158]

awesome!

[@alexromo7003]

thank you love these videos

[@sosathegrunge2]

You did represent your culture!

[@DeathTrap-tc6uv]

Such a great band!!

[@tamusbaby]

awesome..

[@petermclaughlin3292]

Much love

[@rodtigre]

She's amazing!

[@shovedhead]

Hails!

[@robertlane1197]

Sick! How did I not know?!

[@boarheadprods]

tremenda banda! son grandiosos

[@damnyou01]

pretty bad ass stuff!

[@theguitfiddler6111]

Rudy and Sidney are some awesome musicians i met them back in the mid 70s when i first srarted playing

[@alexromo7003]

LA DIY shows are alive! i go to one every weekend also help throw them

[@snakehunter4566]

Don’t stop!!

[@Skyhook77]

sick

[@drunvert]

Had this in 81, first heard on Rodney

[@TruckStopMixtape]

I fucking LOOOOOOOOVE THIS!!!!!!

[@rickboiardimindshiftingaca6975]

Just heard for the first time! Maybe we’ll get lucky with a band reunion!

[@fucketaboutit]

Knew mark stewart well....saw act of faith a bunch of times... props!

[@finnmcginn9931]

Piercing eyes on the singer. I was but a kid and 5000 kilometres away so had neved heard of them, Great band, deserves to be better known.

[@georgie23]

Hell Yeah!!!

[@2815marionwood]

I saw Los Illegales at CSUN in the 80's, it was around lunch time, but I had to go to class. I am Mexican and loved punk and New Wave, but I never heard of you guys, :( . but listening now you guys sound great!! Its too bad they wanted to make you in something they are not. nevertheless loved to see Chicanos playing punk.

[@danieljones8876]

Finally found the song "High School"!

[@Nick-qf7vt]

I gotta check these guys out! Reminds me of a slicker sounding X-Ray Spex because of the female vocals, and of course minus the saxophones.

[@user-qu7fq1mg5v]

I was a big fan of the brat... Am, met exene, but never got to see you.. Going to catholic school made me a rebel brat, I understand 😎😎😎💪🤷🤷

[@kjfisher1]

So good.... does anyone here know if the Brat opened for X at the Greek? I saw an opening act there in the early 80s (probably?) that I have never ever forgotten!

[@randygravel2057]

My Sharona haha

[@vinylvinylvinyl]

Catching The Brat at a Disco Party was cool.......was it Carpenters Hall?....... I can't remember lol...

[@crosslink1493]

Saw these guy twice, about 6 months apart, second time was the 'X' show at the Whiskey that this video mentions and they were MUCH 'tighter' and solid than the first time. Too bad about the record deal and the corporate manipulation. I thought they had great rock-n-roll roots, maybe expand that 'base' by blending in some ethnic music to change it up. Hope all the members are doing well these days.

[@remmy6610]

Hey Jimmy great to see what you have done, Director awesome. Chido cabron.

[@jimmyalvarado6752]

Much thanks, homie!

[@CaptainG23]

Where can we get this music?

[@jimmyalvarado6752]

There’s a double-LP out, “Straight Outta East LA,” that came out a year or two ago and has unreleased songs and alternate mixes of tracks from the EP. Copies of their EP and a later single of “the wolf” can be found on discogs.

[@peteespinosa2530]

Does. Anybody remmber. Buttacne?

[@DavidPerez-xo7nh]

Seen them play a few times in East.L.A..Tudy, Johnny and Randy..(Can't tell them apart, with his twin Scott)..Good times.

[@bizarro999]

I think the band just wrote and sang about whatever inspired them at the time. Just like most artists of any medium do. It's a shame that there was a push to compartmentalize their work into a segment of their personas when they were fine just speaking their truths about any and everything that inspired them as it should be. They didn't need to be cultural cartoon characters to progress and excel and I give them major props for resisting that stereotype. Even if it cost them the careers they SHOULD have had. It's a shame though.

[@owenwilberforce6138]

X was cool. Like D. Boon said- “Good old John Doe.” It’s interesting how management killed the band. What’s great now is how the meddling middle entities like record companies can now be bypassed easier than ever. Own your masters and own your destiny. Great video glad they are being remembered. Chicanos like everyone else didn’t want to be put in a box and stereotyped into consciousness.

[@EugeneLorey]

Started out as a decent punk band, ended up sounding like the Go Gos.

[@pumasgoya]

Yes the white bands were representing their culture. You should have too. I remember back then, so many Mexican punks were the type that were rebelling against Chicano culture, myself included, but I'd go home and speak only spanish. By the late 80s I was like fuck this. I'm Mexican. I like lowriders, I like oldies too. Punk certainly helped me to expand my outlook and interests, but no ass kissing for me.

[@MugenWarriorKun]

I think over time you start to realize I'm still the race I am but I'm just diverse I find inspiration wether it be fashion, philosophy, style, or etc from other races. It's why I don't get upset when folks say you don't act black. I like black culture but I also likes white culture, Mexican culture, Japanese culture especially.

[@yoooohooooo]

Uh punk was always multiracial " Yes the white bands were representing their culture. ''

[@yoooohooooo]

Don't you get that ? lmao !

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

@@yoooohooooo Depends on where you lived. In some places not at all, in other places totally. And socal/norcal being how it was back then there was lots of WS infiltrating and taking over parts of the scenes. There were plenty of bands that supported multiracial, but some didn't at all. Ask a black punk how scary it was back then.

[@PopPoopTV]

The Boyle

[@stevegarvey9530]

Shame these young bands cannot see the big picture, sound like they where a great little punk band. Could have gone on to big things, but in the end nothing.Sad

[@Man_Ray78]

Modern Trash/Punk Band ,Brat brought me here.

[@laflame7631]

Why do we feel the need to represent our culture... all the time. It’s corny

[@homieflix]

begone white man sympathizer

[@onfoenemgrave]

Why are you so ashamed of our culture… It’s corny

[@yoooohooooo]

Punk is multiracial Always has been 😆

[@livingintheforest3963]

If you had been around in the late 70s and early 80s, it was very white and so the scene on the east side was brown. There was a club that they would play called the vex and we would go there too. It was much more segregated in those days.

[@Druffmaul]

@@livingintheforest3963 There probably would have been more suburban/Hollywood gueros at the Vex if they didn't have to worry about getting jumped by gangs on the way there.

[@user-vq2ki1qo1b]

Love you Teresa!!