Circle Jerks

Circle Jerks

Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band from Hermosa Beach, United States, formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The group is founded by former Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. Its line-up over time includes Lucky Lehrer, Roger Rogerson, Greg Hetson, Keith Morris, Chuck Biscuits, Earl Liberty, Keith Clark, Zander Schloss, Kevin Fitzgerald, Joey Castillo and John Ingram. The band remains active.

Career

Circle Jerks release six studio albums, one compilation album, a live album and a live DVD. Their debut album, Group Sex (1980), is regarded as a landmark release in hardcore punk. The band breaks up and reforms several times, often with different bassists and drummers.

After the release of their fifth album, VI (1987), the band disbands for the first time, which lets Hetson focus full-time on Bad Religion, which he joins in 1984 and stays with until 2013. Circle Jerks reunite in 1994 and release their sixth and last studio album to date, Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities, the following year. They reunite again in 2001 and perform live periodically over the next decade. During that period they release one new song, “I’m Gonna Live”, which appears on their MySpace profile in 2007. Tensions between members and failed attempts to record a follow-up to Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities lead to another breakup in 2011.

In November 2019, the band announces plans to reunite in 2020 to mark the 40th anniversary of Group Sex with live shows. Circle Jerks are associated with hardcore punk and punk, and release material on Mercury Records.

Influence

Circle Jerks are cited as an influence by a number of later punk and rock acts, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Anti-Flag, Dropkick Murphys, the Offspring, NOFX and Pennywise.