Crime

Crime was a punk band formed in 1976 in San Francisco, California. Initially made up of Johnny Strike (vocals, guitar), Frankie Fix (vocals, guitar), Ron “The Ripper” Greco (bass), and Ricky Tractor (drums), Crime was one of the first American punk bands from the West Coast. Their self-financed debut, a double A-side single “Hot Wire My Heart” and “Baby You’re So Repulsive,” was released in late 1976, marking them as one of the first punk acts from this region.

How The Band Got Started

The band was formed by Johnny Strike and Frankie Fix, both members of the punk rock band Our Time Down Here, along with Ron Greco, a former member of the Flamin’ Groovies, and Ricky Tractor. The band was initially conceived with a raw, energetic punk ethos, with Strike and Fix leading the charge as primary songwriters. The band’s early sound was a blend of simple rock and roll mixed with a loud, aggressive edge. They quickly gained attention in the San Francisco punk scene and independently released their debut single in 1976. This debut marked them as one of the pioneering punk bands on the West Coast. Their next few years involved lineup changes, including the departure of Ricky Tractor, and they eventually found their rhythm with the addition of Brittley Black on bass in 1977. The band began to establish a following through their energetic live performances and the release of their subsequent singles. In 1979, they achieved further recognition through their performance at San Quentin prison, which was captured for a documentary, *Crime: Live in San Quentin Prison*.

Key Releases and Recognition

Crime’s music was characterized by loud, high-energy performances and raw rock-and-roll sound. Their minimalistic, yet intense, musical style earned them praise from critics. In 1978, they released another double A-side, “Frustration” and “Murder by Guitar,” which further solidified their reputation in the punk scene. Despite being a relatively unknown band at the time, their music started to attract attention beyond the local scene. Their music was described as “unpredictable” and “shuddering” with a distinct sound that was far removed from typical punk rock of the time.

Reformation and New Material

Following a break-up in the early 1980s, the band reformed in 2005, with Johnny Strike and Hank Rank returning to perform together. The band’s new lineup included Mickey Tractor and Pat ‘Monsignor’ Ryan. They continued to perform sporadically and recorded the album *Exalted Masters* in 2007. During this time, the band experimented with older, rare material, and also released a 7″ single “Extortion” in 2010. A compilation of unreleased studio recordings, *Murder by Guitar: 1976 to 1980*, was released in 2013, which showcased the band’s raw live recordings and studio demos. The band continued to perform and record with their unique punk sensibility until the end of their run in the 2010s.

Members

• Johnny Strike – lead vocals, guitar (1976–1981, 2005–present)
• Frankie Fix – guitar, vocals (1976–1981, 2005–present)
• Ron “The Ripper” Greco – bass (1976–1979, 2005–2008)
• Ricky Tractor (Ricky Williams) – drums (1976–1977)
• Brittley Black (Larry Black) – bass (1977–1979)
• Hank Rank (Henry S. Rosenthal) – drums (1977–1981, 2005–present)
• Joey D’Kaye – bass, synthesizers (1979–1981, 2005–2008)

Discography

• Hot Wire My Heart / Baby You’re So Repulsive (7″) (1976)
• Frustration / Murder by Guitar (7″) (1977)
• Maserati / Gangster Funk (7″) (1980)
• San Francisco’s Doomed (CD/LP) (1991)
• Terminal Boredom (live bootleg, LP) (1993)
• San Francisco’s Still Doomed (CD/LP) (2004)
• Exalted Masters (LP) (2007)
• Murder by Guitar (CD/LP) (2013)