1977 - New Friends on Pleasure Island

Everything - All the Time

In 1976/77, Belinda pretty much went from being a popular cheerleader in high school and fitting in - to being a total freak in school and being an outsider. So - after graduation, she left home and headed for Hollywood.

Her new circle of friends had several things in common

• they liked music - especially the fast and confrontational stuff coming from England
• they liked going to clubs in Hollywood
• they liked rock musicians - especially the fast and confrontational ones
• they liked to party and hang out - especially with rock musicians
• basically - they were
  
• misfits
• rebellious
  
• from disfunctional families

However, this network of friends developed into that would form the Hollywood punk music scene.

1976 photo: Jennnylens

Belinda's new friends included:

• Bobby Pyn (Darby Crash)
• Pat Smear
• Nicky Beat
• Pleasant Gehmam
• Malissa Hutton
  
• Alice Bag
• Terry Graham (Bag daddy)
• Joan Jett
  
• The Plunger Girls
  
• Hellin Killer,
• Trudie
• Mary Rat
• Trixie
• Theresa Kereakes
  

They knew all the right people, they took
all the right pills, They threw outrageous parties
They paid heavenly bills

Everything all the time
Life in the fast lane
Everything all the time...
(lyrics by Don Henley)

Photo of the inner core:
Terry Graham, Loran, Belinda, Hellin Killer, Dave Trout, Pleasant Gehman

August 1977 photo: Jennylens

Darby, Pat and Pleasant

Darby and Pat were friends from University High in West LA. They were both into the same kind of music such - as Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Alice Cooper and New York Dolls. They were also into taking lots of Quaaludes and LSD. Darby had an obsession was Joan Jett and the Runaways. He would go to all their shows and eventually became her friend. He would hang out in her apartment. They were all into drinking and drugs.

1977 photo JennyLens

Paul (Darby), Pat and Lorna formed the nucleus of the band the Germs.

The Germs

Darby was fascinated with mind control theories associated with religion and politics. He read up on Scientology and fascism. He carried around books such as Mein Kampf and biographies on Charles Manson. He saw himself as one day becoming a cult figure.

Pleasant Gehman first met Darby and Pat in 1975 at a Tube's concert at the Santa Monica Civic. They became quick friends. She and Pat dated awhile. She would always be one of their best friends. She was a big Germ supporter and started a fanzine called Lobotomy the Brainless Magazine.

Darby Crash (aka Paul Beahm/ Bobby Pyn) committed suicide on 7 December 1980 at age 22. He died of a heroine overdose.

Alice Armendariz

(aka Alice Bag) was born and raised in East L.A. She went to an all girl Catholic High school in Montebello. In high school she was fascinated with the glitter rock scene starting with Elton John and then moved on to David Bowie, T. Rex, and the New York Dolls.

The Bags The Bags was formed by Alice Armendariz and Pat Morrison. The had met at an audition for Venus and the Razorblades, Kim Fowley's next attempt at creating a band after The Runaways had left him. Alice and Pat decided to form their own band and thus - The Bags were born.The band was rounded out by guitar players Craig Lee and Rob Ritter, and Terry Graham played drums. The Bags played their first show at The Masque on September 10, 1977. source alicebag

The Bags were one of the first and most popular bands of the early L.A. punk scene and were notable for having two strong female members. Their music was fast, aggressive and confrontational

The Bags

photo courtesy :alicebag

Nicky Beat

Nicky was one of the best drummers in town. He played drums for several bands including; the Bags, the Germs and John and Dix Denny of the WEIRDOS. He and Alice dated for a time.
Nicky was from San Pedro. He use to go to Rodney's Disco and he was associated with Kim Fowley, Joan Jett and the Runaways during that whole scene.

The Plungers - Hellin, Mary, Trixie and Trudie

Hellin, Mary, Trudie (aka The Plungers) were groupie/party girls from from Pales Verdes High School. They would use hang out at the old glitter clubs on Sunset Boulevard. They loved Rodney and the whole British glam scene. They wanted to be around rock musicians. They met scenester Trixie (from Norwalk) hangin' out at the Tropicana.

Hellin, Pleasant and Mary at Denny's,
September 1977

photo: JennyLens

Hellin and pals became good friends with Exene Cervenka of the band X. They lived at the same apartment building near the Starwood Club, off Santa Monica Boulevard and La Jolla (behind Circus of Books).

Apartment behind Circus of Book on Santa Monica Blvd.

2008 photo: tlc

They were regulars at the Starwood located just down the street. Bands playing in Hollywood clubs could always crash at their place. Their apartment became know as the Plunger Pit. It had a reputation a party place 24/7. Pretty much anyone in a band could hang out there- just bring some booze.

Hellin, Pleasant and Darby at the Starwood

Oct 1977 photo: Jenny Lens

The Plunger Pit Girls; Tuxie, Hellin, Trudie and Mary

1977 photo: Jules Bates

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