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In the beginning
I had known Emil since the days of downtown skateboarding and from the crazy hardcore
shows at the Cameo Theatre during the late 80s. When those venues shut down, so did
many of the bands that played there: Circle Jerks, Gangreen, Bad Brains, Government Issue, straightedge, skinheads, and the whole
crossover thing. That entire scene was gone when we entered the 90s. For us, however, it
was the beginning of a new era.
There were no more twenty dollar punk shows. In a way it was a blessing, because if we wanted to
do anything, it was up to us. When we did our first demo back in 92, the rocknroll scene in
South Florida was beginning to take on a real cool vibe. I had started to play guitar when I
met Johnny. That same year, I met Chuck Loose, with his raggedy old drum set. I handed Emil
a one-string bass that I had, and shortly after, Johnny joined us for what was to be the
Crumbs. We rehearsed anywhere we could find an electrical outlet. Even at a stripmall at
midnight, before the dumbfounded security guard chased us out. Once Chuck set up
Garageland, the Crumbs started practicing there and later became like, the house band there,
playing every weekend to a packed house of kids who didnt have anywhere else to drink and
hellraise. Those were our first shows, and along with other locals (Against all Authority,
Beltones), we had now the coolest and raunchiest of rocknroll scenes away from the sleazy promoters and
trendy venues. Then it was time to leave home.
Setting up national tours was a head splitting adventure. We must have played every little
shithole in the U.S. Some hard luck on the road set us back but we met some worthy people
along the way. And in no time we had our first record Alien Girl released in 1993 with Recess of L.A. And Shortly after a few more with Far Out, Lookout, Recess, TKO, and Insubordination. It is more
than sixteen years later now (2008) and the release of 'Dade County Trash' with Insubordination in 2008 made me realize how fast time
goes by. Not to forget memorable tours with FYP, the Queers, Swingin Utters, Donnas, and our very patient roadies Dan Destructo and Armando.
The line up hasnt been this strong in years. With the crafty Tono on bass now, Grim with
the relentless beat, and Johnnys buzz-saw guitar, weve been able to keep active and remain
doing what we like to do most: drinking...no! seriously, getting on stage and letting loose.
-Raf Classic-
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