Soundtrack To A (De)Generation: A …Lost Films Playlist

It seems wherever I go in the world, people consistently mention, remark or ask about the songs used during the glory days of the …Lost surf videos.  

Along with the party antics, cast of unique characters, the surfing itself, and the thought that went into crafting these garage couture classics, the soundtrack has remained and potent part of their legacy and staying power.

Our music was a point of difference.

We didn’t follow the same rules as other video makers of the era. Rather than re-hash harmless, ingenue bubble gum pop from the Momentum music box, or grovel though a pittance of pre-approved party tunes, pandered off by two-bit record companies, we instead chose to vindicate and place on a pedestal the music and bands that we, ourselves, loved.  

Scary bands. Radical bands. Brilliant barnstorming bands who made a profound impact on mine and other’s lives, yet had seemingly drifted into the shadows by the bubblegum punk and Grunge that they’d inspired. Bands like Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Bad Brains, Adolescents and Minor Threat. Bands, who over the course of time, have now (thanks to the internet and social media) seemed to have been vindicated and recognized as the years go by, but in the mid ’90’s, were all but passed over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjg-nu80l0Y

Our first video was sarcastically titled Momentum-3 …The Wrath of Chicken (Taylor Steele sued us for “borrowing” the name of his Momentum movies). Mike (Reola) was always the director, and vehemently particular about details, but let me run rampant with the music.  For Momentum-3, we went to Radio Shack and bought some cheesy record player that you could plug into your editing equipment and download your vinyl records to beta tapes. Much of that video, and many more in the future, was soundtracked by direct recordings from my 1980’s vinyl record collection.

As things progressed, we called the record labels and reached out for music, and they would send big bags, bulging with promotional CDs, boldly emblazoned with “Not For Sale” across the cases. I’d listen to them all, hoping for magic. Most the stuff went straight to the bin.  Some were surprise blessings. The first Foo Fighters CD, Everclear’s “Sparkle and Fade”, Frank Black’s “Teenager of The Year”, and Sublimes “Robin’ The Hood” quickly became house favorites, went on to be commercially successful, and got exploited in our videos.

A true highlight was when the guys from SUBLIME got handed a copy of What’s Really Goin’ On, featuring a few of their songs from Robin’ The Hood. They were touring in Florida when a surf shop owner and friend turned them on to it. Once home, they figured since we used their songs in our video, they might as well come and do a gear-grab. The whole band, along with the manager, dogs, mascots and sidekicks, showed up in the driveway of our SC home/offices/warehouse, and proceeded to pillage our shed filled with all the latest …Lost clothing.

Our next video, What’s Really Goin’ Wrong, was anchored by the title song of the same name, recorded by Sublime and our own Chicken Willy. While we were editing On The Road…With Spike, Bradley (Nowell, Sublimes troubled genius singer/songwriter) gave us a digitally pressed pre-release, master copy of his forthcoming Magnus Opus, to be simply titled SUBLIME.

Brad brought the CD and his new record contract to Mike and me. He asked our interpretation of what it said. I’ll never forget reading, and surmising that he would need to sell 300,000 records to break even from the record Co.

We mined that masterpiece of a CD, and used the track “What I Got” twice in On The Road.

A couple months later, Bradley tragically died, at age 27. Drug overdose. We lost the man I consider the most talented artist I was ever blessed to call a friend.

The record, SUBLIME, was released, posthumously, and has sold well over 6 million copies—20 times more than the break even.

Anyways, at the request of Stab, I’ve tirelessly traipsed through the catalog of well over 350 songs, used across 10 films, and curated an “Essential Collection” of tracks contained in the classic …Lost videos. It’s not perfect, and only my opinion. Hell, even Mike Reola would have have different choices. I narrowed it down to about 10% of the total songs used. So here it goes.

1. “Betray” by MINOR THREAT

2. “When The Shit Hits The Fan” by The CIRCLE JERKS

3. “Ten Percenter” by FRANK BLACK

4. “Wasted” by BLACK FLAG (Keith Morris version)

5. Holiday In The Sun by The SEX PISTOLS

6. “Ace of Spades” (Motorhead cover) by Battalion of Saints

7. “Alcohol” by GANG GREEN

8. “Boss DJ” by SUBLIME

9. “Whats Really Goin’ Wrong” by SUBLIME

10. “Santa Monica” by EVERCLEAR

11. “Kids Of The Black Hole” by ADOLESCENTS

12. “Greatest Hits” by SUBLIME

13. “Code Blue” by TSOL

14. “Heroin Girl” by EVERCLEAR

15. “What I Got” by SUBLIME

16. “Medly” by MANIC HISPANIC ( see link above, and in separate email ).

17. “I and I” by BAD BRAINS

18. “OC Life (not the life for me)” by D.I.

19: “Nice Guy Eddie” by EPPERLY

20. “Drugs Are Good” by NOFX

21. “Homicide” by 999

22. “Old Black Dawning” by FRANK BLACK

23. “Rock n Roll / Sympathy” by JANES ADDICTION

24. “Mommy’s Little Monster” by SOCIAL DISTORTION

25. “I Don’t Care About You” by FEAR

26. “Good Guys Don’t Wear White” by MINOR THREAT

27. “Johnny’s Gotta Problem” by D.I.

28. “Run Run Run” by The VELVET UNDERGROUND

29. “Sonic Reducer” by DEAD BOYS

30. “Orgasm Addict” by The BUZZCOCKS

31. “Jet Boy” by NEW YORK DOLLS

32. “Human Fly” by The CRAMPS

33. “What Happened?” by SUBLIME

34. “Don’t Bother Me” by BAD BRAINS

35. “Margin Walker” by FUGAZI

36. “Right Side of My Mind” by The DESCENDANTS

37. “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by The STOOGES

38. “Scarlet Begonias” by SUBLIME

39. “Desensitized,” Smear. 

40. “California Uber Allies” DEAD KENNEDYS.