Agent Orange (band)
Encyclopedia
Agent Orange is an American punk rock
band formed in Orange County, California
in 1979. The band is one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music
. They first gained attention with their song "Bloodstains" which they released on their own 7" E.P. An early demo of the song was presented to Pasadena
radio station KROQ-FM
's D.J. Rodney Bingenheimer
, which soon became one of his show's biggest hits.
Besides having Mike Palm and Scott Miller as original members, Steve Soto
was the power trio’s first bass player, the one who played on the first "Bloodstains". The Living in Darkness Version of this song later appeared on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. Soto later left the band to form The Adolescents
. With new member James Levesque
on bass, the group found their way to the famous Living In Darkness sessions at Brian Elliot recording studio (Elliot is best known for having composed Madonna
’s hit "Papa Don’t Preach"). The result of these sessions was their first long player, Living In Darkness (originally released by Posh Boy Records
in November 1981). In 1988, Brent Liles
replaced James Levesque on bass and later that year, Agent Orange recorded Living In Total Darkness, which was a re-recording of the original Living in Darkness album with a few new songs mixed in. This album did not go national and very few copies exist. In 1989, Derek O'Brien replaced Scott Miller on drums and in 1990, Agent Orange recorded Real Live Sound. This is the only Agent Orange recording to feature the Palm/Liles/O'Brien lineup.
Sam Bolle replaced Brent Liles in January 1992, and remained with the band until May 2003, when he left to join Surf Guitar Legend Dick Dale
's band.
Agent Orange has had an influence on the skate punk
or skate-core scene even though band members stated on Living in Darkness that "We don't like skating at all." This may have occurred because Mike Palm evidently did skate as mentioned in an interview with TxPunk.net. Palm has also stated that he didn't talk much in early interviews and would sometimes disagree with what the band made seem like a unanimous opinion.
Other former members:
Current:
What Surf II - "surf Beat '85" What Records W12-2409 1985
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band formed in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
in 1979. The band is one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
. They first gained attention with their song "Bloodstains" which they released on their own 7" E.P. An early demo of the song was presented to Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
radio station KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
's D.J. Rodney Bingenheimer
Rodney Bingenheimer
Rodney Bingenheimer, born December 15, 1947, is a radio disc jockey on the long-running Los Angeles rock station KROQ who is notable for helping numerous iconic bands become successful in the American market. His contribution to the music business has been described as important...
, which soon became one of his show's biggest hits.
Besides having Mike Palm and Scott Miller as original members, Steve Soto
Steve Soto
Steve Soto is an American musician. He was once part of California punk band Agent Orange, and joined The Adolescents in 1980.When The Adolescents broke up, Soto, together with Frank Agnew, joined the Los Angeles based band Legal Weapon....
was the power trio’s first bass player, the one who played on the first "Bloodstains". The Living in Darkness Version of this song later appeared on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. Soto later left the band to form The Adolescents
The Adolescents
The Adolescents are an American punk band formed in 1980 in Fullerton, California. It is a punk supergroup, made up of early members of Agent Orange and Social Distortion. They are often credited as one of the leading bands of the 1980s hardcore punk scene....
. With new member James Levesque
James Levesque
James Levesque is best known as the bass player from surf punk band Agent Orange. Levesque was the bass player for the touring punk band from 1979-1988, along with original members Mike Palm and Scott Miller...
on bass, the group found their way to the famous Living In Darkness sessions at Brian Elliot recording studio (Elliot is best known for having composed Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
’s hit "Papa Don’t Preach"). The result of these sessions was their first long player, Living In Darkness (originally released by Posh Boy Records
Posh Boy Records
Posh Boy Records was a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Robbie Fields, a high school substitute teacher and former copyboy at the L A Times who took an interest in the emerging punk rock scene in Orange County, California during the late 1970s...
in November 1981). In 1988, Brent Liles
Brent Liles
Brent Harrold Liles was the bassist for Social Distortion from 1981–1984 and later was the bassist for Agent Orange from 1988 - 1992. He appeared on Social Distortion's 1983 classic debut Mommy's Little Monster before leaving the band on New Year's Day 1984, with the band's drummer Derek O'Brien...
replaced James Levesque on bass and later that year, Agent Orange recorded Living In Total Darkness, which was a re-recording of the original Living in Darkness album with a few new songs mixed in. This album did not go national and very few copies exist. In 1989, Derek O'Brien replaced Scott Miller on drums and in 1990, Agent Orange recorded Real Live Sound. This is the only Agent Orange recording to feature the Palm/Liles/O'Brien lineup.
Sam Bolle replaced Brent Liles in January 1992, and remained with the band until May 2003, when he left to join Surf Guitar Legend Dick Dale
Dick Dale
Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
's band.
Agent Orange has had an influence on the skate punk
Skate punk
Skate punk is a sub genre of punk rock, originally a derivative of the West Coast hardcore punk scene, that is named after its popularity among skateboarders and association with skateboarding culture. Skate punk most commonly describes the sound of melodic hardcore bands from the 1990s with an...
or skate-core scene even though band members stated on Living in Darkness that "We don't like skating at all." This may have occurred because Mike Palm evidently did skate as mentioned in an interview with TxPunk.net. Palm has also stated that he didn't talk much in early interviews and would sometimes disagree with what the band made seem like a unanimous opinion.
Members
- Mike Palm
Other former members:
- James LevesqueJames LevesqueJames Levesque is best known as the bass player from surf punk band Agent Orange. Levesque was the bass player for the touring punk band from 1979-1988, along with original members Mike Palm and Scott Miller...
1979-1988 (CD Living In Darkness, This Is The Voice) - Scott Miller (CD Living In Darkness, This Is The Voice)
- Brent LilesBrent LilesBrent Harrold Liles was the bassist for Social Distortion from 1981–1984 and later was the bassist for Agent Orange from 1988 - 1992. He appeared on Social Distortion's 1983 classic debut Mommy's Little Monster before leaving the band on New Year's Day 1984, with the band's drummer Derek O'Brien...
(CD "Real Live Sound, "Living in Total Darkness" - Derek O'Brien (CD "Real Live Sound")
- Tim Riley
- Sam Bolle 1991-2003 (CD Virtually Indestructible)
- Charlie QuintanaCharlie QuintanaCharlie Quintana was born in 1962, in El Paso, TX. Quintana was A drummer for the old school punk band Social Distortion, who joined in 2000 as the replacement of Chuck Biscuits , following the death of the band's former guitarist Dennis Danell...
(CD Virtually Indestructible) - Steve SotoSteve SotoSteve Soto is an American musician. He was once part of California punk band Agent Orange, and joined The Adolescents in 1980.When The Adolescents broke up, Soto, together with Frank Agnew, joined the Los Angeles based band Legal Weapon....
(first "Bloodstains" single) - Steve Latanation
- Bruce Taylor
- Dusty Watson
- Scotty Lund
Current:
- Perry Giordano
- Dave KleinDave Klein (musician)Dave Klein is an American musician with over 20 years of experience as a drummer, bassist and keyboardist. He's produced, recorded and mixed projects for Agent Orange, FroBro and Friends, The Bots, The Vooduo, The Thingz, Insect Surfers, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Darklings, The Odd Squad, The 20...
- Mike Palm
Studio albums
- Living in DarknessLiving in DarknessLiving in Darkness is the 1981 release by the hardcore punk band Agent Orange. It was released on Posh Boy Records in 1981. It showcases their punk sound with its metal and surf influences....
(1981) - This Is The Voice (1986) http://www.discogs.com/Agent-Orange-This-Is-The-Voice/release/1422029
- Virtually Indestructible (1996)
EP
- Bloodstains 7" E.P. (1979)
- Bitchin' Summer (1982)
- When You Least Expect It (1984)
Singles
- Everything Turns Grey (1982)
- Secret Agent Man (1986)
- El Dorado (1990)
- Halloween Single (2010)
Compilations
- Blood Stained Hitz
What Surf II - "surf Beat '85" What Records W12-2409 1985
- Surfing to Some Fucked Up Shit
- Surf Punks (2011)