Disco's Out...Murder's In!: The True Story of Frank the Shank and L.A.'s Deadliest Punk Rock Gang

Heath Mattioli · David Spacone

Oct 2015 · Feral House

About this ebook

Famous for its revolutionary aspects in musical, political, sexual identity and consumerist ideas, punk rock also has its lesser-known gangster ethos as well, explained here by players in the various punk gangs.

The Los Angeles, Orange County, and South Bay punk scenes, populated by blue collar kids who responded to the violence and aggression of punk songs and shows. A number of them formed punk gangs that got into beatings, drug dealing and murder. Among them, no gang was more notorious than La Mirada Punks, or LMP.

Says LMP chieftain Frank the Shank after getting arrested by police for murder: "After having my hands in so much bloodshed over the years, I most certainly had it coming. I deserved whatever I got."

Unexpectedly Frank was bailed out from prison by his father's friend, a mob gangster.

"Too many people died at the hands of punk rock violence," said Frank. "I got lucky, some didn't. As an ultra-violent punk rock gangster, I admit my part in ruining the scene. L.A. punk was a magical moment of youth expression like no other. And the gangs ruined punk rock. I still have people telling me today that they quit punk because of LMP. I dig graves at a small cemetery just outside Los Angeles. What else would you expect for Frank the Shank?"

Cover illustration by the renowned Raymond Pettibon.

Ratings and reviews

As a fan of Hardcore/Hardcore Punk this book is perfect, the mixture of Hardcore and cholo gang lifestyle is awesome not to mention how he describes the way they dress is awesome, I loved every moment of this book the violence, the parties, all the bands they got see is unreal all bands I would love to see. I feel as if I personally know Frank the Shank and his crew of LMP, I really hope this becomes a movie

Excellent read. Alot of info on the LA punk gangs of the early 80s. Read in 3 days.

Great book! Captures the time perfectly!