The Casbah Recording Studio or simply Casbah is a recording studio in the Orange County suburb of Fullerton, California that helped to spawn several highly successful acts, including Berlin, Stacey Q, and Social Distortion.
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The Casbah Recording Studio or simply Casbah is a recording studio in the Orange County suburb of Fullerton, California that helped to spawn several highly successful acts, including Berlin, Stacey Q, and Social Distortion.
Casbah was founded in the late 1970s by bandmates Jon St. James, and Charles "Chaz" Ramirez, with money borrowed from St. James' parents. [1] [2] Initially it boasted only a TEAC 8-track tape machine, a mixing console and a few effects. St. James purchased additional electronic devices and rack mount equipment using money he earned doing a series of sound-alike jingles for the now-defunct Los Angeles rock and roll station KMET 94.7 FM. [1] In the early 1980s, the 8-track TEAC was replaced with a Tascam 16 track, which was considered the standard in many studios at the time. It was on that reel-to-reel tape machine that Stacey Q's Better Than Heaven album was recorded. [3] The Casbah attracted a variety of talent, including Righteous Brothers keyboardist John Van Tongeren and Berlin drummer, synthesist and producer Dan Van Patten, who lent their abilities to a variety of projects. [4] As a songwriter, guitarist, and producer, St. James helped to bring the talents of techno-pop diva Stacey Q, the dance-pop duo Bardeux, and the dance-pop artist Katalina to a wide audience. [3] [5]
Casbah's roll in the punk boom can be heavily attributed to St. James's partnership with Charles "Chaz" Ramirez. [4] While St. James and Ramirez had very different styles, their partnership gave birth to classic records by iconic punk bands such as the Adolescents, Social Distortion, Agent Orange, Burning Image, The Cadillac Tramps, and The Vandals. [1] [5] [6] "Chaz", as he was known to most, was guitarist for Eddie and the Subtitles, a local punk band that was influential on younger Fullerton punks as the Adolescents and Social Distortion, both of which recorded their early demos and singles at Casbah, and continued recording albums there as their popularity grew. [1] [2] [6] “I don’t think they shared musical tastes" stated Michael Hutchinson, producer for Billy Idol and Berlin, observing "I don’t know how excited Chaz was about Berlin – he was more excited about punk stuff.” [1] Yet there was an excitement that came from the blending of the two distinct cultures; one typified by Chaz and his cronies’ slacker ethos, the other by St. James and his commercial sensibilities and keen awareness of musical trends. [1] After the success of Stacey Q's Better Than Heaven , St. James deferred ownership of The Casbah to Ramirez. [3]
Ramirez and his influence played a vital role in fostering the punk rock boom that became Orange County's signature contribution to '80s music, [2] helping Fullerton to become the epicenter for early OC punk. [7] Under Ramirez, Casbah became known as a Meca for the punk rock scene. “Most punk bands wanted to go there and record,” stated Hutchinson, “Mostly, I think because of the vibe, and because of Chaz. Chaz always cared that everybody got what they wanted and had a good time," added Hutchinson. [4] Mike Ness, front-man for Social Distortion, said of Ramirez "He was a fun guy, probably one of the most well-liked guys I ever met," adding "I don't think he had an enemy in the world." [4] Ramirez described punk rock as "the cool new folk music, the new music of the people," adding "People equate folk music with nylon string guitars, but folk music is folk music, and this is it." [2]
Ramirez co-produced Social Distortion's first two albums, Mommy's Little Monster and Prison Bound , and continued to help the band fashion its sound in demo sessions and rehearsals at Casbah after it graduated in 1990 to Epic Records. [4]
Ramirez was able to branch beyond punk. He engineered Berlin's hot-selling 1983 album, Pleasure Victim And he worked closely with Stryper, the metal band whose glossier sound helped it become the best-selling Orange County rock band of the '80s. [4] "Chaz wasn't just a punk rock producer at all," Sweet said. "He 100% knew what he was doing, and he was one of the easiest guys to work with in the business," said Michael Sweet, lead singer of Stryper. [4]
In 1998, Ramirez brought on partner Greg Heil, who engineered and produced the album "Johny Bravo" for Joyride [8] (former members of the Adolescents), [9] "post-punk" alternative bands such as Breakfast with Amy, Fluffy, and EXIT, and speed-metal bands such as The Crucified. [10]
Tragically, Chaz Ramirez died on Wednesday, Dec 2, 1992, following an accidental fall, after years of shaping some of the most memorable and widely heard rock music to have come out of Orange County. He was 39 years old. [4]
Following the passing of Ramirez, Social Distortion began leasing the space, where they continue using the studio for practicing and recording new material. [6]
St. James recently opened a new Casbah recording studio in downtown Fullerton—a Pro Tools equipped digital studio offering recording, mixing, and mastering services. [3]
Michael James Ness is an American musician who is the lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the punk rock band Social Distortion, which was formed in 1978.
Dennis Eric Danell (June 24, 1961 – February 29, 2000) was an American musician, guitarist and co-founding member of the Southern California punk rock band Social Distortion.
The Adolescents are an American punk rock band formed in Fullerton, California in 1980. Part of the hardcore punk movement in southern California in the early 1980s, they were one of the main punk acts to emerge from Orange County, along with their peers in Agent Orange and Social Distortion. Founding bassist Steve Soto was the sole constant member of the band since its inception until his 2018 death, with singer Tony Reflex being in the group for all but one album.
Brent Harold Liles was as American musician who was the bassist for Social Distortion from 1981–1984 and later was the bassist for Agent Orange from 1988 – 1992.
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness, Jonny Wickersham, Brent Harding, David Hidalgo Jr. (drums), and David Kalish (keyboards).
Stacey Lynn Swain, known by her stage name Stacey Q, is an American pop singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. Her best-known single, John Mitchell's "Two of Hearts", released in 1986, reached number one in Canada, number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten in five other countries.
Mommy's Little Monster is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Social Distortion, released in 1983.
White Light, White Heat, White Trash is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band Social Distortion, released on September 17, 1996, by 550 Music and Epic Records. The album was produced by Michael Beinhorn. After the release of Social Distortion's 1992 album Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, the band toured until the end of 1993 and needed a break. After dealing with court battles over early recordings and attempting to retrieve them, package them up, and release them, Social Distortion wrote many songs to plan a new album.
Agent Orange is an American punk rock band formed in Placentia, California in 1979. The band was one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music.
John Buckner Crawford is an American singer-songwriter known for co-founding the pop group Berlin who scored several hit songs in the 1980s. Crawford's career as a musician began in junior high after breaking his leg during a basketball game. In an attempt to fight off the boredom of being injured, he picked up a guitar and began taking lessons at a musical instrument retailer in nearby Fullerton, California, where his teacher put him in touch with future Berlin band members Dan Van Patten, Chris Velasco, and Tyson Cobb. John attended El Dorado High School in Placentia, California.
The Mechanics (1977–1981) are considered to be the first punk band to come out of Fullerton, California.
Steve Soto was an American musician. Soto was a multi-talented instrumentalist, a founding member of California punk rock band Agent Orange in 1979, and a founding member of Adolescents in 1980 performing on bass guitar in both bands. Soto was also a member of Legal Weapon, Joyride, Manic Hispanic and the punk supergroup 22 Jacks. Soto fronted his own band, Steve Soto and the Twisted Hearts and he also became a member of Punk Rock Karaoke in 2001.
Derek Shawn O'Brien is an American drummer and producer. The Fullerton, California-born O'Brien started his career while still at Fullerton High School and played in Rock cover bands by night with Guitarists Stan De Witt and Frank Agnew.
Horse Bites Dog Cries is the second studio album by the American punk rock band D.I. It was originally released in 1986, on the label Reject. The album was recorded at Casbah Studios in Fullerton, California in 1985 with Chaz Ramirez. Due to a typo on the album itself, many fans believe that it was released in 1985, but this appears to be false because its release was delayed until 1986 to avoid confusion with the band's then-current album Ancient Artifacts. Horse Bites Dog Cries was the final album featuring the Agnew brothers and drummer John Knight.
Jon St. James is an American guitarist, songwriter–composer, producer and recording engineer. His Casbah Recording Studio was a part of Orange County, California's new music scene in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. St. James' first album was as leader–frontman–songwriter of the progressive rock group French Lick. St James was a pioneer of techno pop and dance music, using Moog synthesizers, electronic effects, and tape loops. St. James lived in France for two years, studying Musique concrète with French composers.
The Leaving Trains were an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. The Leaving Trains were founded in 1980 by Falling James Moreland, a frontperson who became known for her chaotic performances and penchant for (male-to-female) cross-dressing. Falling James had previously been a member of punk rock bands the Mongrels and the Downers before assembling the group with guitarist Manfred Hofer, bassist Tom Hofer, keyboardist Sylvia Juncosa and drummer Hillary Laddin. They played locally for three years before releasing their first album, Well Down Blue Highway, in 1984.
Balboa Fun*Zone is the third studio album by the American punk rock band the Adolescents, released in 1988 on Triple X Records. Titled after the Balboa Fun Zone amusement area of Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach, it is the band's only album recorded without singer Tony Brandenburg, who had left the group the prior year. Electing not to replace him, guitarist Rikk Agnew and bassist Steve Soto alternated lead vocals on Balboa Fun*Zone. The album also features the return of original Adolescents guitarist Frank Agnew, who had been absent from their prior album, 1987's Brats in Battalions. Balboa Fun*Zone is also the final Adolescents studio album to include Rikk Agnew and drummer Sandy Hanson. The band broke up in April 1989, reuniting in later years with different lineups.
Burning Image are an American deathrock band formed in Bakersfield, California in 1982. Burning Image first released a 7" single with the songs "The Final Conflict" and "Burning Image, Burning" in the summer of 1984. The compilation 1983-1987 in 2004 and album Fantasma (2009) were both released on Alternative Tentacles, record label owned by former Dead Kennedys singer, Jello Biafra, with album Oleander (2011) being self-published. Burning Image celebrates 39 years as a band, in 2021, with a new album.
The Complete Demos 1980–1986 is a compilation album of demo recordings by the American punk rock band the Adolescents, released in March 2005 on Frontier Records. It includes the band's first three demo tapes, recorded between March and July 1980; one outtake from the recording sessions for their 1981 EP Welcome to Reality; and two songs recorded during their 1986 reunion as demos for their second album, Brats in Battalions (1987). The first eight tracks are the only material recorded by the Adolescents' original lineup, which included guitarist John O'Donovan and drummer Peter Pan. The remaining tracks include their replacements Rikk Agnew and Casey Royer.