"...Supposedly, some of the band members were in a White gang in LA..."
Suicidal Tendencies consisted of 1 white (lead singer), 2 Mexicans and 1 black. One of the Mexicans is now the bassist for Metalica (I'm 'sure' Metalica's recent insipid output is purely coincidental, I suppose when you're that rich you just don't care anymore). The 'gang' which formed around ST, The Suicidals, drew from their home base of Venice and included many blacks and Hispanics as well as whites.
The Suicidals primary opponent in after-gig fights were Fight For Freedom, a 'gang' formed around the band of the same name. Even though FFF were mere whites, many from area prep schools, they never lost a fight to 'disadvantaged' Suicidals (who, among other nasty habits, were renowned for jumping off high-mounted speakers at gigs directly onto the floor, splat! goes the aptly-named Suicidal).
The Suicidals were repsponsible for at least one unprovoked murder of a white youth (alone, natch) they mistakenly considered 'racist'.
FFF, band and group, essentially ended when a 15 year old follower was murdered by a Viet. The Viet was acquitted largely on the grounds FFF members were a violent bunch willing to fight mods, Koreans, blacks, Mexicans, metalheads, etc. (as well as engaging in homosexual-bashings referred to as 'AIDS-prevention', public service). That the Viet shot to death an unarmed person, who was under the impression he was going to a fist fight, was considered of little importance. Mothers of the white girls the Viet dated, and in whose homes he would stay overnight, were charmed by his polite manners.
It's interesting how FFF drew together well-off kids and working-class kids. Homeless misfits and latch-key kids. Not to say it was all positive, or just good clean fun, but it does speak to a certain searching, even back in the 80's, for something beyond the inorganic affiliations whites are permitted.
It's curious how Suicidal Tendencie's brand of teen/punk angst was successfully marketed to the masses. Or maybe not. Not so much that PC sells, but rather that anything can be sold, even PC. And what is sold is determined by those who own things; radio stations, magazines, television networks, etc. Perhaps in an alternative universe Ving (Fear), Crash Darby (Germs) or even FFF would have been the face of the 'exploding youth underground of exciting Los Angeles'.
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Colonel Reb, I'm not trying to 'correct' you or anything like that. This is obscure and mostly unimportant stuff, but it does show how certain things are conveniently forgotten.
Suicidal Tendencies consisted of 1 white (lead singer), 2 Mexicans and 1 black. One of the Mexicans is now the bassist for Metalica (I'm 'sure' Metalica's recent insipid output is purely coincidental, I suppose when you're that rich you just don't care anymore). The 'gang' which formed around ST, The Suicidals, drew from their home base of Venice and included many blacks and Hispanics as well as whites.
The Suicidals primary opponent in after-gig fights were Fight For Freedom, a 'gang' formed around the band of the same name. Even though FFF were mere whites, many from area prep schools, they never lost a fight to 'disadvantaged' Suicidals (who, among other nasty habits, were renowned for jumping off high-mounted speakers at gigs directly onto the floor, splat! goes the aptly-named Suicidal).
The Suicidals were repsponsible for at least one unprovoked murder of a white youth (alone, natch) they mistakenly considered 'racist'.
FFF, band and group, essentially ended when a 15 year old follower was murdered by a Viet. The Viet was acquitted largely on the grounds FFF members were a violent bunch willing to fight mods, Koreans, blacks, Mexicans, metalheads, etc. (as well as engaging in homosexual-bashings referred to as 'AIDS-prevention', public service). That the Viet shot to death an unarmed person, who was under the impression he was going to a fist fight, was considered of little importance. Mothers of the white girls the Viet dated, and in whose homes he would stay overnight, were charmed by his polite manners.
It's interesting how FFF drew together well-off kids and working-class kids. Homeless misfits and latch-key kids. Not to say it was all positive, or just good clean fun, but it does speak to a certain searching, even back in the 80's, for something beyond the inorganic affiliations whites are permitted.
It's curious how Suicidal Tendencie's brand of teen/punk angst was successfully marketed to the masses. Or maybe not. Not so much that PC sells, but rather that anything can be sold, even PC. And what is sold is determined by those who own things; radio stations, magazines, television networks, etc. Perhaps in an alternative universe Ving (Fear), Crash Darby (Germs) or even FFF would have been the face of the 'exploding youth underground of exciting Los Angeles'.
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Colonel Reb, I'm not trying to 'correct' you or anything like that. This is obscure and mostly unimportant stuff, but it does show how certain things are conveniently forgotten.
