The LEWD: Seattle/San Francisco Punk Rock pioneers.
In 1998, Chuckie-Boy Records unleashed “Kill Yourself…Again”, a fat-free collection of 29(!!) of The Lewd’s best, remastered by OG Lewd-Man KURDT VANDERHOOF (who, post-Lewd, went on to help found renowned NW Rockers METAL CHURCH).Wrapped in an amazing pack of photos and posters, it also featured history and essays by LISA LINDSTROM and ALAN WRIGHT of “Do The Pop” magazine, as well as HAPPY TOM of Notorious Norwegian Rockers TURBONEGRO. “Kill Yourself…Again” was also released as a 2-LP set in 1999 via Belgium’s Demolition Derby Records.
While the original CD and LP are long sold out, copies pop up on Ebay from time to time, and The LEWD also have a later version of “Kill Yourself…Again” (and concert dates) available through their website.
Above: video for THE LEWD “Kill Yourself”, from SCRATCHED Records. Video from Waxmusic 1.
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And now: A little LEWD treat— a short excerpt from LISA LINDSTROM and ALAN WRIGHT’s tale, “Exposed!”, from the “Kill Yourself…Again” CD Booklet:
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“Anyone who has heard The Lewd's great late '70s single "Kill Yourself" can vouch for the raw, crazed energy of this young Seattle punk combo. Their self-released single has commanded high prices based on its rarity, not to mention the fact that it kicks ass.
The Lewd were an outgrowth of an earlier band called the Sixteen Year Old Virgins, who changed their name toThe Knobs. Lead singer J. SATZ BARET was formerly known as "Satin Sheets," and played in the later, non-cabaret version of Ze Whiz Kids, circa 1975. Ze Whiz Kids, primarily a theater group, also included the late TOMATA DU PLENTY, of The Screamers. According to SATZ, The Knobs "never really played. We were going to play, had publicity ahead of us, photo sessions and a flyer that announced that we were coming soon!" Yet The Knobs never played an official show, because as SATZ says…"We had no songs." Like that's stopped anyone else?
The LEWD “Kill Yourself…Again”: Chuckie-Boy Records (#CB1009), released 1998.
However, The Knobs did play one intimate "performance" at a Fremont rehearsal space called The Funhole. This A-list evening was written up in a Seattle punk fanzine Twisted. SATZ chainsawed a stage monitor during "Chain Saw Sex." 'Nuff said!
The Lewd's first show was in the Northwest punk Bethlehem, Vancouver, B.C. The Lewd opened for The Ramones on June 8, 1977 for an evening of pure ‘insanitainment’…”
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The LEWD rock the cover of Punk Rock Bible MRR #183, Summer 1998, with a nice long in-depth interview inside.
Be sure to wear…some flowers in your hair.