Punk in The Park with Black Flag, The Exploited, and more

Black Flag, formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach by Greg Ginn, is a pivotal punk band known for albums like "Damaged." They've released music on SST Records and toured with vocalist Mike Vallely.

The Exploited, formed in 1978 in Edinburgh, Scotland, rose to fame in the second wave of UK punk with hits like "Punks Not Dead." Known for their raw sound blending punk and thrash metal, they were led by Wattie Buchan. Their debut album hit No. 20 on UK charts. Despite lineup changes, the band toured extensively and released influential live albums.

The Dickies, formed in 1977 in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, are a pioneering punk band known for their humorous style and lively performances. They achieved fame with hits like "Banana Splits" and "You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla)." Their quirky covers and original tracks merged punk-pop and L.A. hardcore influences. Despite lineup shifts and hiatuses, founding members Leonard Graves Phillips and Stan Lee kept the band going. Influential in punk circles, they inspired bands like Green Day and The Offspring. Notable collaborations include a 2019 single with Monkey from The Adicts.

The Dwarves, formed in Chicago, are known for their crude, high-speed punk rock led by Blag Dahlia and He Who Cannot Be Named. Notorious for wild antics, they gained fame with 1990’s "Blood Guts & Pussy." Their sound evolved in albums like "Sugarfix" and "The Dwarves Invented Rock & Roll." The band worked with artists like Dexter Holland and Nick Oliveri and released music on labels like Sub Pop and Epitaph. Their provocative style maintained a cult following despite controversies.

The Vandals, born in Huntington Beach, CA, are a SoCal punk band known for humorous punk rock with hits like "Anarchy Burger." Formed in 1980, they self-release on Kung Fu Records. Despite line-up changes, they remain popular for albums like "Hitler Bad, Vandals Good." Collaborations include Oingo Boingo's Warren Fitzgerald and session work with Josh Freese. Notable for their lively performances and legal battles over album art, the Vandals have maintained a cult following in the punk scene.