Lower Class Brats

ByLets Go Punk
A straight-ahead rundown of Lower Class Brats

Lower Class Brats are an American street punk band founded in Austin, Texas in January 1995, later based out of Southern California starting in 2017. Their sound pulls from punk, Oi!, 1970s glam, and straight-ahead rock and roll, with imagery inspired by A Clockwork Orange.

Austin beginnings and the first release

The band formed in 1995 with the goal of making something that stood apart from what was happening locally at the time. After about six months of writing and rehearsing, they started playing shows and put out a demo cassette to capture the early set.

In 1997, the first full-length Rather Be Hated Than Ignored came out on GMM Records. That record helped lock in a dedicated following that became known as the “LCB Army,” and it set the tone for the band’s mix of sharp hooks, street-level grit, and big, singalong choruses.

Releases, reputation, and life on the road

Over the years, Lower Class Brats built a recorded output that includes five full-length LPs, thirteen 7-inch EPs, and three compilation LPs. Alongside the releases, they kept touring as a core part of the band’s identity, playing across the United States and reaching audiences in Canada, the UK, Europe, and Asia.

They have also leaned hard into the idea that a show should feel like a full-on event, not background noise. The goal has been simple: give people a night to cut loose, leave the week behind, and yell every chorus like it is the only thing that matters for the next two minutes.

Members

Current

  • Bones: vocals, founding member (1995 to present)
  • Marty Volume: guitar, founding member (1995 to present)
  • Zed: guitar (2017 to present)
  • Ron Conflict: bass (2012 to present)
  • Jorge H. Brat: drums (2024 to present)

Former

Bass

  • Rick Brat: bass, founding member (1995 to 1999, 2000), died 2020
  • Houston Richieson: bass (1999)
  • Ryland Meyer: bass (2000 to 2002)
  • Johnny O. Negative: bass (2008 to 2011)
  • EVO: bass (2002 to 2008, 2011 to 2012)

Drums

  • Rob Brat: drums, founding member (1995 to 2000)
  • Brad Teeter: drums (2000 to 2002)
  • Mike Brat: drums (2002 to 2004), died 2024
  • Clay Aloy: drums (2004 to 2008)
  • J.T.K.: drums (2008 to 2013)
  • Punt (Eric Powers): drums (2013 to 2017)
  • Nick Brat: drums (2017 to 2024)

Piano

  • R.T.: piano on Rather Be Hated Than Ignored (1997)
  • Tony Scalzo: piano on The New Seditionaries (2006)

Discography

Demo

  • Working Class Punk (self-released cassette tape, 1995), approximately 200 copies made

7-inch records and EPs

  • Who Writes Your Rules (Helen Of Oi! Records, 1995), English import, 1,500 pressed, black vinyl
  • Lower Class Brats / Reducers SF Split (Pair-O-Docs Records, 1996), also known as the Ultra-Violence 7-inch, 1,000 pressed (800 black, 200 white), with insert
  • A Wrench In The Gear (Helen Of Oi! Records, 1996), English import, 1,500 pressed, black vinyl
  • Lower Class Brats / Dead End Cruisers Split (Second to None Records, 1996), 500 pressed, blue vinyl
  • Lower Class Brats / Templars Split (TKO Records, 1998), 1,500 pressed (800 black, 200 orange), with insert, plus 500 picture disc
  • Psycho (Combat Rock Records, 1999), French import, 1,500 pressed, black vinyl, first 100 with a hand-numbered insert with lyrics in French
  • Glam Bastard (TKO Records, 1999), 2,000 pressed (1,800 black), with insert, plus 200 orange with a hand-numbered full-color fold-out poster
  • Deface The Music (Punk Core Records, 2002), 1,000 pressed (800 black, 100 purple, 100 clear), with insert
  • The Worst (Dirty Punk Records, 2004), French import, 500 pressed, green and white splatter vinyl, with insert
  • I’m A Mess (T.S.O.R. Records, 2006), Swiss import, 500 pressed, black vinyl, with insert
  • Lower Class Brats / Chelsea Split (TKO Records, 2006), 500 pressed, green, clear, and yellow splatter vinyl, labels switched on wrong sides, with insert
  • Thoughts About You (Combat Rock Records, 2009), French import, 500 pressed, black vinyl

12-inch records and EPs

  • Punks, Skins, Herberts And Hooligans (Punk Core Records, 1997), 1,000 pressed, approximately 200 defective copies returned, about 200 of the remaining copies include a numbered full-color insert, black vinyl
  • Rock ‘N’ Roll Street Noize (Turkey Baster Records, 2012), 500 pressed, clear orange vinyl with red and black splatter, includes poster, lyric sheet, and download card

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