Circle Jerks emerged from LA's South Bay punk scene in 1979, bringing a thoughtfully crafted yet relentless approach to hardcore that set them apart from their peers. Led by Keith Morris—who'd just co-founded Black Flag—and rounded out by former Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson, bassist Roger Rogerson, and jazz drummer Lucky Lehrer, the band combined an articulate rhythm section with earnest and often biting lyrics to create something genuinely fierce and articulate.
Starting as underground fixtures, Circle Jerks quickly became headliners at LA's 5,000-capacity Olympic Auditorium and earned cult status through appearances in Decline of Western Civilization and Repo Man. Over the following decades, they released six studio albums and became major players during the alternative explosion of the 80s and 90s. Between Circle Jerks projects, Morris fronted OFF! and FLAG while Hetson played in Bad Religion. Now, marking the band's 40th anniversary and a reissue of their landmark debut Group Sex, Circle Jerks are returning to perform together for the first time in over a decade.
