Under the Big Black Sun explores the nascent Los Angeles punk rock movement and its evolution to hardcore punk as it’s never been told before. Authors John Doe and Tom DeSavia have woven together an enthralling story of the legendary west coast scene from 1977-1982 by enlisting the voices of people who were there. The book shares chapter-length tales from the authors along with personal essays from famous (and infamous) players in the scene. Additional authors include: Exene Cervenka (X), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), Mike Watt (The Minutemen), Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go’s), Dave Alvin (The Blasters), Chris D. (Flesh Eaters), Jack Grisham (T.S.O.L.), Teresa Covarrubias (The Brat), Robert Lopez (The Zeros, El Vez), as well as scenesters and journalists Pleasant Gehman, Kristine McKenna, and Chris Morris. Through interstitial commentary, John Doe “narrates” this journey through the land of film noir sunshine, Hollywood back alleys, and suburban sprawl—the place where he met his artistic counterparts Exene, DJ Bonebrake, and Billy Zoom—and formed X, the band that became synonymous with, and in many ways defined, L.A. punk.
Under the Big Black Sun shares stories of friendship and love, ambition and feuds, grandiose dreams and cultural rage, all combined with the tattered, glossy sheen of pop culture weirdness that epitomized the operations of Hollywood’s underbelly. Readers will travel to the clubs that defined the scene, as well as to the street corners, empty lots, apartment complexes, and squats that served as de facto salons for the musicians, artists, and fringe players that hashed out what would become punk rock in Los Angeles.
Cast of Narrators: Dave Alvin Billie Joe Armstrong Charlotte Caffey Exene Cervenka Teresa Covarrubias Chris D. Tom DeSavia John Doe Pleasant Gehman Jack Grisham Robert Lopez (aka El Vez) Kristine McKenna Chris Morris Henry Rollins Mike Watt Jane Wiedlin
“We’re Desperate” “Your Phone’s off the Hook (But You’re Not)” “I’m Coming Over” “The Unheard Music” “Nausea” “White Girl” Performed by X. From the album Live 1980
“The Worlds a Mess (It's In My Kiss)” “Los Angeles” Performed by X. From the film X: The Unheard Music “The World's A Mess and Los Angeles” from 'The Unheard Music', directed by W. T. Morgan, used with permission by Angel City Media, LLC.
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