Band Spotlight: U.S. Bombs (Pt. 1)

U.S. Bombs is an (amazing) American punk revival band that draws on classic ‘77 British street punk for inspiration. The band’s lineup consists of: vocalist Duane Peters, guitarists Chuck Briggs and Kerry Martinez, bassist Wade Walston, and drummer Chip Hanna. Chuck Briggs eventually left the band (due to an illness that was slowly taking his life) and was replaced by Jonny Wickersham (a former Youth Brigade member). 

The crew signed with Alive debuting in 1996 with self-titled EP and album Garibaldi Guard!, and was followed the next year by Never Mind the Opened Minds. They signed to Hellcat in 1997 and produced War Birth (easily the band's most famous album; it's rumored that it was on Joey Ramone's turntable the night he died) and 1999 which contained a three-song EP that was recorded for TKO, called Hobroken Dreams. They also put out The World for Hellcat and Alive's, Put Strength in the Final Blow (originally released in 1995). 

Duane eventually left the band to start his new band "Duane Peters and the Hunns" and released a 7" called,"Not Gonna Pay". They also put out a debut album "Unite", and a follow-up "Tickets to Heaven".  After some touring, he went back to the studio with the Bombs (they were still under contract to make 2 more records with Hellcat). Duane, Kerry, Chip, and Wade went in and came out with "Back at the Laundromat" (named after the early years when the Bombs would set up their gear at the local laundromat and play until the cops broke it up). The album was well received, but was the last album with drummer Chip Hanna, who left to pursue One Man Army. In 2001, the Bombs performed the "Holidays in the Sun" concert in San Francisco and was recorded and released as a live CD and DVD. With the assistance of Hellcat (and some relentless touring) the U.S. Bombs had begun to secure their place in punk rock history. Once Duane completed his Hellcat obligations with the Bombs, he returned to the studio with the Hunns putting out a split with The Revolvers and a third full length "Wayward Bantums" (2002).

The time came again to return to the studio to make Hellcat another album. With Chip having been replaced with Jamie Reidling, and the crew adding a new guitarist, Curt Stich; Peters, Martinez, and Walston headed back into the studiod in 2003 to make "Covert Action." 

Following "Actions" tour, the boys felt it necessary to take the longest hiatus in their history. After 10 years of continuous touring and recording, they deemed it time to take a break to save the future of the band.