Circle Jerks

For the masturbatory practice, see circle jerk (sexual practice).

Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks c. 1987. L-R: Zander Schloss, Keith Clark, Keith Morris and Greg Hetson.
Circle Jerks c. 1987. L-R: Zander Schloss, Keith Clark, Keith Morris and Greg Hetson.
Background information
OriginHermosa Beach, California, U.S.
GenresHardcore punk[1]
Years active1979–1990, 1994–1995, 1998, 2001–2011, 2019–present
LabelsFrontier, Faulty Products, LAX, Combat, Relativity, Mercury
MembersKeith Morris
Greg Hetson
Zander Schloss
Joey Castillo
Past membersLucky Lehrer
Roger Rogerson
John Ingram
Chuck Biscuits
Earl Liberty
Keith Clark
Chris Poland
Kevin Fitzgerald
WebsiteCircleJerks.net

Circle Jerks (stylized as Ciʀcle JƎʀᴋs) are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The group was founded by former Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. To date, Circle Jerks have released six studio albums, one compilation, a live album and a live DVD. Their debut album, Group Sex (1980), is considered a landmark of the hardcore genre.

The band has broken up and re-formed several times, sometimes with different bassists and/or drummers. They disbanded for the first time after the release of their fifth album VI (1987), allowing Hetson to focus on Bad Religion (which he joined in 1984 and stayed with until 2013) full-time. The Circle Jerks first reunited in 1994 and released their sixth and last studio album to date, Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities, the following year before separating for the second time. The band reunited for the second time in 2001 and spent the next ten years performing live periodically; this reunion released only one new song, "I'm Gonna Live", which was posted on their MySpace profile in 2007. Tensions among members and failed attempts to record the follow-up to Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities resulted in the Circle Jerks breaking up yet again in 2011. However, the band announced in November 2019 that they would reunite in 2020 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Group Sex with live shows.[2]

Many groups and artists have cited Circle Jerks as an influence, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers,[3][4] Pearl Jam,[3][4] Anti-Flag,[3][5][6] Dropkick Murphys,[3][7] the Offspring,[3][6] NOFX,[3] and Pennywise.[6]

  1. ^ Grow, Kory (August 8, 2012). "Circle Jerks Tell Tales About Being Jerks in New Doc". Spin. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "Circle Jerks reforming for 40th anniversary of 'Group Sex,' playing Punk Rock Bowling". Brooklyn Vegan. November 22, 2019. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Circle Jerks Announce Summer Western U.S. Tour Dates". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Live Slow, Die Old". goodtimes.sc. July 5, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "Anti-Flag at AllMusic.com". AllMusic.com. Retrieved April 1, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c "Circle Jerks". Fabu.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  7. ^ "Dropkick Murphys at Allmusic.com". AllMusic.com. Retrieved April 1, 2007.