Germs (band)

Germs
The Germs in 1979 on a Flipside calendar. Clockwise from top left: Lorna Doom, Pat Smear, Darby Crash and Don Bolles.
Background information
Also known as	Sophistifuck and the Revlon Spam Queens, GI
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Punk rock hardcore punk
Years active	1976–1980 2005–2009 2013
Labels	Slash Records
Past members	Darby Crash Pat Smear Michelle Baer Dinky Grant Lorna Doom Dottie Danger Donna Rhia David Winogrond Luisa Terrence Cliff Hanger D. J. Bonebrake Nicky Beat Don Bolles Rob Henley Shane West Charlotte Caffey

The Germs were an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1976 to 1980. The band's "classic" lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom and drummer Don Bolles. They released only one album, 1979's (GI), produced by Joan Jett, and were featured in Penelope Spheeris' seminal documentary film The Decline of Western Civilization, which chronicled the Los Angeles punk movement. The Germs disbanded following Crash's suicide in 1980. Their music was influential to many later rock acts, and Smear went on to achieve greater fame performing with Nirvana and Foo Fighters.

In 2005, actor Shane West was cast to play Crash in the biographical film What We Do Is Secret. He performed with Smear, Doom, and Bolles at the film's wrap party, and afterwards, the Germs reunited with West as their new frontman. This lineup of the band toured worldwide, which included performances at the 2006 and 2008 Warped Tours.