Died On This Date (December 7, 1980) Darby Crash / Lead Singer of The Germs

By themusicsover December 7, 2009 #Black Flag, #Casey Cola, #Circle Jerks, #Darby Crash, #Fear, #Penelope Spheeris, #The Germs, #X

Darby Crash (Born Jan Beahm)
September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980

Darby Crash is best remembered as founder and lead singer for influential Los Angeles punk band, the Germs. Formed in 1977, the Germs were part of the same scene that produced X, Fear, the Circle Jerks and Black Flag. In 1977, they released a single, “Forming,” which is regarded by many to be the first punk record to come out of Los Angeles. The Germs disbanded in 1980, with Crash going on to form the Darby Crash Band, that didn’t last much longer than a handful of gigs. He got the Germs back together for a reunion show on December 3, 1980. Four days later he took his own life by overdosing on heroin in an apparent suicide pact with friend, Casey Cola who actually survived the OD. In 1981, Crash and the band were featured prominently in Penelope Spheeris’ acclaimed documentary on the L.A. punk scene, The Decline of Western Civilization.