Crime

Crime were a punk/ rocknroll/ garage rock outfit from San Francisco, California. They released their first single in 1976, with the original line-up that consisted of Johnny Strike (guitar/vocals), Frankie Fix (guitar/vocals), Ron "Ripper" Greco (bass) and Chris Cat (drums). Their initial recording session took place in mid-1976, which yielded the contents of the "Hot Wire My Heart" b/w "Baby You're So Repulsive" 45. After the release of the "Hot Wire" 7" on their own Crime Music label, they began appearing regularly at Mabuhay Gardens, a Filipino nightclub that would become the epicenter of San Francisco's punk scene. But Crime were outcasts within a group of outsiders, making high profile enemies early on and often. By 1977 they had begun sporting standard police uniforms at live dates and on the streets of San Francisco, much to the dismay of the San Francisco police department. A second vinyl release, "Frustration" b/w "Murder by Guitar," (with Brittley Black on drums) came out in mid-1977, again on Crime Music. Out-of-town gigs were sporadic, though the group did perform at San Quentin Penitentiary in full police garb. A third and final single, "Gangster Funk" b/w "Maserati," was delivered via the independent Berkeley Squared, and found the band using a synthesizer, which was also incorporated into their live show. Crime soldiered on for a brief period before quietly disbanding in 1982.