Historically, Los Angeles, California has been racially segregated. Mexican Americans have been pushed to the lower income Eastern part of the city. Los Angeles and Hollywood are hubs of American entertainment. The Punk scene in Los Angeles emerged in the early 1980s, right after the birth of this genre in NYC and London, but it was seen as the most hardcore Punk scene at the time. Like the city, the Punk scene was racially segregated.
The Chicanx Punk scene was fast, hard, and socio-politically charged. Unlike the white bands, Mexican Americans not only combined elements of Glam and Classic rock, but also mixed in elements of ska, corridos, and mod beats. Like all Punk bands, lyrics were about rejecting the norm and relieving frustrations of economic oppression. But, Chicanx Punks also spoke about Mexican culture, racism, and what it was like growing up in the Barrios of East L.A. They highlighted struggles unique to Mexican Americans, like working in the fields.
Los Illegals and Los Crudos show posters.
Because of the racial segregation, Chicanx Punks were kept on the East side. Chicanx Punk bands like The Plugz, The Zeros, Nervous Gender, and The Bagz, could not book shows in the white scene around other parts of LA. This led them to play in each other’s backyards and garages, and eventually open their own venues on the East Side. One of the very first Punk venues was a Catholic Church. Chicanx Punks played in the youth building of this church. This concentration of Mexican American Punks was oppressive, but also resulted in amazing and successful Punks. The band that first utilized the youth church, Los Illegals, eventually created the first Chicanx Punk venue in East L.A.
Until now, the Chicanx Punk scene of East L.A. was always viewed as invalid and less substantial than the white scene of L.A. But they are now rightfully recognized as a core scene of California Punk from the 80s and 90s. The Chicanx Punk scene is still alive and well in East L.A.
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