Brendan Mullen (–2009)

Darby Crash was one of the archetypal Punk Rock icons. Controversial and self-destructive like his hero Sid Vicious he was one hell bent on the "live fast die young" attitude creating a mythology around himself and his music that while wreaking chaos around him channeled genuine art with his band the Germs becoming one of the cornerstones of Punk and a foundation of Hardcore inspiring numerous followers whose influence extends to this day. Coming from a troubled and tragic background Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) was a smart and individualistic kid who loved to read and write and embraced the Rock music of the day, idolizing David Bowie and immersing himself in the budding Glam Rock scene in Los Angeles. Hooking up with best friend Georg Ruthenberg (best known as Pat Smear) the oddball duo shared adolescent hijinks and a love for music that compelled them to form a band and the rest as they say is history.

The book chronicles in impressive detail Crash's childhood and tumultuous personal life and music career. Friends, fans, bandmates, business associates, lovers and others who constituted this singular figure's constellation of ragged stars relate their memorable experiences on Crash, the music, the scene and the time. Artistic lights Pat Smear, John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Dez Cadena, Genesis P-Orridge, Tomata Du Plenty, Penelope Spheeris, Belinda Carlisle; Slash records founder Bob Briggs; and Crash's intimates Amber, Nicole Panter, Geza X, Tony the Hustler, Donnie Rose and Casey Cola share their memories on an unforgettable character and one hell of a time. From Crash slashing himself and rubbing peanut butter on himself onstage; to the raucous racket the Germs generated live; on to the last bottle flung and well-shot spit spat to the violence and obnoxiousness gleefully committed no detail is spared in this celebration of youthful exuberance and imbecility. Crash's difficult relationship with his troubled mother and his closet homosexuality are discussed all of which contributed to his personal torment which fuelled his downward spiral into alcoholism and drugs and eventual tragedy.

While the work may be a bit too long in its detailed panorama of this colorful and seamy tale, fans will be delighted with this very same dissection of that fascinating and influential time.

One of the best oral histories on music, "Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and The Germs" is a must read for Punk and Rock fans and conoisseurs of L.A. history. A compelling and moving tribute to those whose lives burn to live leaving lasting legacies as intense as their lives are flashingly brief.… (more)

Biography of the late Darby Crash, lead singer of the Germs, an influential early L.A. punk band. Told via oral histories, much like Please Kill Me and We Got The Neutron Bomb. Darby's definitely an interesting figure -- a troubled, self-destructive, charismatic queer punk, allegedly able to talk anyone into doing anything for him. I admit I wasn't able to finish the book, though I can't quite remember why... possibly I got tired of the oral history format; also, Darby's cult-leader-like charisma seems to be a "you had to be there" kind of thing that doesn't quite translate on the page. Still, if you're interested in troubled punks and/or the early L.A. scene, it wouldn't hurt to check this out. If you're interested in the intersection of queerness and punk rock (which is why I picked up the thing), this doesn't really look at things from that angle, more's the pity. Then again, I didn't finish, so maybe you'll find something I didn't. Worth taking a look at.… (more)