Stiv Bators - "L.A. L.A." (Bomp, BCD 4046 - 1994)

I’m a fan of Stiv Bators but as much as I dig Dead Boys and his solo efforts on Bomp, the same way I (almost) despise the Wanderers or the Lords of the New Church. Too much 'Blade-Runner' scenarios on one hand and too much goth on the other....Sorry, but i won't buy. I'm a pure 'dumb' fun kind of guy. I prefer to remember him the way he looked earlier on and not with candles and black painted nails... On Dead Boys was a true nihilistic force an’ answer to Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols and a lil’ later was a Knickerbockers/Choir/Beatles power popper, flourish in style with Vox guitars and tight mods suits!

Many punk fanatics at first disappointed with this turn of Stiv's career, but the only thing he wanted at the time was to get rid the persona of the Dead Boys front man. Personally speaking, i go nuts with this la-la-la songs with loud guitars. And Bomp! was the perfect place for someone who wanted to play that kind of music. This great compilation includes the excellent aforementioned Bomp singles, alternate & demo versions, jam sessions with Kim Fowley and the Runaways plus the stunning version of "I Stand Accused", a song originally by the Glories which because of this guy named Elvis Costello, had to stay in the can until the release of "L.A L.A".  Such fun!