''RF7'' is an American, long-lived,
southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...
punk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
band,
that began in 1979 by Felix Alanis and small-time child star of the ''
Sheriff John
Sheriff John was an American children's television host who appeared on KTTV in Los Angeles from July 18, 1952, to July 10, 1970, on two separate series, ''Sheriff John's Lunch Brigade'' and ''Sheriff John's Cartoon Time''. He was played by John ...
'' show Nick Lamagna. Felix also began the record label Smoke Seven Records and signed his band and many others who were ignored by the big labels then, such as
Redd Kross
Redd Kross is an American Rock music, rock band from Hawthorne, California, who had their roots in 1978 in a punk rock band called the Tourists, which was started by brothers Jeff and Steven Shane McDonald, Steve McDonald while Steve was still i ...
,
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilities and ...
,
JFA, Crank Shaft, Circle One,
SIN 34
SIN 34 was an American hardcore punk rock band formed in 1981 in Santa Monica, California. The band featured a female front-person, Julie Lanfeld-Keskin. The band's rhythm section would go on to form Painted Willie in 1984, and sign with SST ...
,
Youth Gone Mad
Youth Gone Mad is an American punk rock band founded in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1980 by Paul "ENA" Kostabi (also of White Zombie and Psychotica). Youth Gone Mad signed onto the Posh Boy Records roster, scored a minor radio ...
, etc.
From the beginning, the ''RF7'' sound was not clearly punk but really what would be called today
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
. Felix Alanis has always mixed middle class virtues with strange religious imagery in his lyrics. Nick Lamagna added guitar and music that had a twist more "rock" than some punks preferred. Walt Phelan added a drummer's drumming, and the bass player seemed to always change, with Robert Armstrong perhaps being the most solid recorded bass man from 1980–83, and again on 1990s classic ''Traditional Values'' album. On 1982's ''Fall In'' album, the band brought in the record producer, Geza X.
The band continues today with their 2004 release, ''Addictions and Heartaches'', on the Puke and Vomit label, which also re-released the compilation albums ''Public Service'' and ''Sudden Death'' compilation. Their early releases are available on the Grand Theft Audio label, as well as
Bomp and
Alive records.
Discography
Studio albums
* 1979 – ''Acts of Defiance''
* 1981 – ''Weight of the World''
* 1982 – ''Fall In'' (EP)
* 1983 – ''Submit to Them Freely'' (EP)
* 1987 – ''RF7 87''
* 1989 – ''Traditional Values''
* 1994 – ''Satan VS The Working Man''
* 1997 – ''God Forbid''
* 2004 – ''Addictions and Heart Aches''
* 2007 – ''Left for Dead'' (45)
* 2009 – ''Hatred on the Rise''
* 2011 – ''God Forbid''
* 2014 – ''101''
* 2017 – ''Day at the Crisis''
Compilation albums
* 1981 – ''Public Service''
* 1982 – ''Lung Cookies''
* 19?? – ''Sudden Death''
* 1995 – ''Buried Alive / Smoke 7 Records 81-83'' (Bomp Records #BCD 4052)
* 1996 – ''Buried Alive 2]'' (Bomp Records #BCD 4058)
Band members 1979 - 2009
* Felix Alanis, ''Vocals''
* Nick Lamagna, ''Guitars''
* Joe Rowan, ''Bass Guitar''
* Robert Armstrong, ''Bass'',
* Gnat, ''Bass''
* Mike Smith, ''Bass''
* Kiley Asato, ''Bass''
* Xavier Chavez, ''Bass''
* Walt Phelan, ''Drums''
* Big Mike, ''Drums''
* Jerry Fehlman, ''Drums''
* Steve Drojensky (Dorant), Auxiliary Guitar(Fall In/Submit to Them Freely)
* Tony Calderone, ''Guitar''
References
External links
RF7 Website
Musical groups established in 1979
Hardcore punk groups from California
{{US-punk-band-stub