feature: “before bad brains, there was pure hell” – the first african-american punk band

Philadelphia’s Pure Hell are often hailed as the first Black punk rock group, but little is mentioned about the four piece – made up of members Spider, Stinker, Chip Wreck and Lenny Still. The band toured many U.S. venues in the late 70’s but found their big break in England; akin to the story of Jimi Hendrix – who was in fact discovered by the person who would later discover Philly’s Pure Hell, Curtis Knight. Check out this piece that Dangerous Minds did on the punk rockers here; and watch the clip of them in action, below.

By Alexander Aplerku, AFROPUNK Contributor