The Stains
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The Stains is a Californian underground band.
They were formed in 1976 in the Boyle Heights section of east Los Angeles by Jesus Fixx aka Jesus Amezquita and Robert Becerra. They went through various personnel changes, and evolved from heavy metal to jazzcore. Then they heard the first Ramones album and they regressed to fast and furious rock'n'roll with improvised passages a la Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream or The Who. They were hated by many in East Los Angeles for their nihlist attitude, but were very popular among South Bay and Hollywood street punks. They later had some noteriety in Latin America and Europe. Their's was a violent, unpredictable stage show, with excellent musicianship. Becerra was very influences by Carlos Montoya, Ritchie Blackmore, Hendrix and Andres Segovia, and it showed in his intricate solos. He is the most under rated guitarist of that genre and era. Fixx was a master bassist, up to par with John Entwhisle or Jack Bruce. Today they would be classified as jazz metal. Their off-stage behavior was infamous, as the would show up at Brat, Los Illegals gigs, or any gig for that matter, and break up the place with their Stormtroopers and Stainettes. They antogonized everyone, and thus today are ignored by fans and researchers of the 70's ELA punk scene, or are dismissed as common thugs or criminals. They flaunted Nazi symbols, and even performed as the "Young Nazis" in quasi-paramilitary gear. Other times they would dress like Pachucos, or Revolution-era Mexican bandito costumes, much like Panchho Villa or Zapata. Fixx even went as far as dressing as a Federal officer, and another time as a Nazi officer, and was almost killed on First ond Soto Streets. All antics aside, they were a great band. They recorded one EP/album on SST Records, "the Stains", which is now out of print. These guys were the best of the hardcore genre, and never got their due. Anyone who ever saw them at the Masque, the Whiskey, the Detour, Mabuhay Gardens, the Vex, that urine-smelling warehouse in Vancover or any other toilet that passed for a venue in those days could testify that these working class punks from the mean streets of gang-infested Boyle Heights (the CRASH LAPD unit had the Stains down as a gang, due to their violent behavior and certain "business" dealings!) were the real thing. No pousers here. Unforunately, too much too soon did the Stains in. Giant egos and substance abuse killed the band. Becerra fired Fixx, who was the puppet master behind the whole freak show, and the band was never the same.
RIP Stains!!!! Other band members were Jerry Atric, Jughead, Earache, Tecate George, Chuy Morga, Cearar Vescarra, Tony Romero (the best damn drummer in East Los Angeles, EVER!!!!), King Louie,and many others who's names we cannot recall, or care to even remember. Que Vivan Las Manchas, Hijos De La Chingada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!