Roger Alan Painter
was born to Bob and Gladys Painter on November 6, 1963 in Glendora, which rests in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. His parents chose his middle name after American actor, Alan Ladd, as the Painters admired him for his acting ability. Ladd had a fairly successful career in Westerns and in film noirs but is probably best known for his starring role in The Great Gatsby in 1949.
Bob and Gladys were devout Southern Baptists, so Roger together with his two older brothers, Bobby and Larry, and elder sister, Janet, were raised within a strict religious household. His parents were both talented artists, though Bob spent most of his time trapping animals so he could sell the meat or pelts. During Roger’s early childhood in Glendora he became friends with Sindie Ardia. She was a couple of years his younger, but they lost contact when the Painter Family relocated to north Pomona. Though not far away in reality, the distance was too far for them to stay in touch with each other. The city is situated in Pomona Valley, between Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley.
Roger first began to take a keen interest in music at around the age of nine, listening to the recordings of David Bowie, Roxy Music, T-Rex, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls and many others. He knew even then that he wanted to be a musician. Those 70's glam rock icons would remain a strong influence to him throughout his life. Always a keen reader and writer, Roger, at age twelve, made his first real attempts at poetry. In 1976, Roger was always found carrying a notebook he filled with ideas and drawings. The lyrics to "Desperate Hell" were started in 1976 and those for "Romeo's Distress" were first put to paper in 1977, though both would be revised and improved upon numerous times over next few years. Roger attended Pomona High School, whose students were predominantly African-American and Hispanic. It was there, at around the age of thirteen or fourteen, that Roger and Jill Emery became friends, discovering in each other, a similar interest in music and an attraction to wearing second-hand and homemade clothing. Roger already owned a guitar by this time, a gift from his parents, and Jill bought a bass guitar.
Together, they would jam for hours in her room or chat constantly on the phone. In the summer of 1978 they decided that they wanted to start making music rather than just listening to it. Roger placed an ad on the notice board of Rhino Records in neighboring Claremont, which simply said 'drummer wanted for local punk rock band'. This was read with interest by Steve Darrow, the thirteen year old son of lauded multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Chris Darrow. Steve, in the last year, had developed a passion for playing drums, practicing every spare moment in his parent's garage. Steve called the number on the card and spoke to Roger to express his interest and arranged to meet up at the Darrow’s garage. Meeting for the first time about a week later, Roger and Jill were startled to find that Steve had long hair rather than the punk rock image they were expecting and he was also a couple of years younger than them. Despite the shock, they still plugged their guitars into an amp and proceeded to jam. This was the birth of a band that would later become the A-Sexuals.
Due to poor attendance record at Pomona High School, Roger was expelled and was transferred to Claremont High School. He quickly became part of a small gang of people including Steve Darrow, John Albert (“Jay”), and Peter Andrus who were all into the same kind of music. They would frequently skip classes and hang out together, normally at the family home of one of Roger's friends, Sylvia. Her place was empty during the daytime, so they could listen to records, drink alcohol and smoke marijuana. They would make up stage names such as Xerox Clone and later Steve Tragic (both Roger), Jill Jagged (Jill), Carmine Dioxide (Steve) and Art Damage (Jay). Augmented occasionally by Sylvia, the A-Sexuals were formed and would rehearse in either Steve or Jill's garage with Roger singing, playing guitar and organ, Jill on bass and backing vocals and Steve behind the drum kit. Influenced by a mix of the 70's glam rock music from their youth and the punk rock sounds of the Germs, The
was born to Bob and Gladys Painter on November 6, 1963 in Glendora, which rests in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. His parents chose his middle name after American actor, Alan Ladd, as the Painters admired him for his acting ability. Ladd had a fairly successful career in Westerns and in film noirs but is probably best known for his starring role in The Great Gatsby in 1949.
Bob and Gladys were devout Southern Baptists, so Roger together with his two older brothers, Bobby and Larry, and elder sister, Janet, were raised within a strict religious household. His parents were both talented artists, though Bob spent most of his time trapping animals so he could sell the meat or pelts. During Roger’s early childhood in Glendora he became friends with Sindie Ardia. She was a couple of years his younger, but they lost contact when the Painter Family relocated to north Pomona. Though not far away in reality, the distance was too far for them to stay in touch with each other. The city is situated in Pomona Valley, between Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley.
Roger first began to take a keen interest in music at around the age of nine, listening to the recordings of David Bowie, Roxy Music, T-Rex, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls and many others. He knew even then that he wanted to be a musician. Those 70's glam rock icons would remain a strong influence to him throughout his life. Always a keen reader and writer, Roger, at age twelve, made his first real attempts at poetry. In 1976, Roger was always found carrying a notebook he filled with ideas and drawings. The lyrics to "Desperate Hell" were started in 1976 and those for "Romeo's Distress" were first put to paper in 1977, though both would be revised and improved upon numerous times over next few years. Roger attended Pomona High School, whose students were predominantly African-American and Hispanic. It was there, at around the age of thirteen or fourteen, that Roger and Jill Emery became friends, discovering in each other, a similar interest in music and an attraction to wearing second-hand and homemade clothing. Roger already owned a guitar by this time, a gift from his parents, and Jill bought a bass guitar.
Together, they would jam for hours in her room or chat constantly on the phone. In the summer of 1978 they decided that they wanted to start making music rather than just listening to it. Roger placed an ad on the notice board of Rhino Records in neighboring Claremont, which simply said 'drummer wanted for local punk rock band'. This was read with interest by Steve Darrow, the thirteen year old son of lauded multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Chris Darrow. Steve, in the last year, had developed a passion for playing drums, practicing every spare moment in his parent's garage. Steve called the number on the card and spoke to Roger to express his interest and arranged to meet up at the Darrow’s garage. Meeting for the first time about a week later, Roger and Jill were startled to find that Steve had long hair rather than the punk rock image they were expecting and he was also a couple of years younger than them. Despite the shock, they still plugged their guitars into an amp and proceeded to jam. This was the birth of a band that would later become the A-Sexuals.
Due to poor attendance record at Pomona High School, Roger was expelled and was transferred to Claremont High School. He quickly became part of a small gang of people including Steve Darrow, John Albert (“Jay”), and Peter Andrus who were all into the same kind of music. They would frequently skip classes and hang out together, normally at the family home of one of Roger's friends, Sylvia. Her place was empty during the daytime, so they could listen to records, drink alcohol and smoke marijuana. They would make up stage names such as Xerox Clone and later Steve Tragic (both Roger), Jill Jagged (Jill), Carmine Dioxide (Steve) and Art Damage (Jay). Augmented occasionally by Sylvia, the A-Sexuals were formed and would rehearse in either Steve or Jill's garage with Roger singing, playing guitar and organ, Jill on bass and backing vocals and Steve behind the drum kit. Influenced by a mix of the 70's glam rock music from their youth and the punk rock sounds of the Germs, The Damned, Adam and the Ants, Siouxsie and the Banshees and P.I.L..
was born to Bob and Gladys Painter on November 6, 1963 in Glendora, which rests in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. His parents chose his middle name after American actor, Alan Ladd, as the Painters admired him for his acting ability. Ladd had a fairly successful career in Westerns and in film noirs but is probably best known for his starring role in The Great Gatsby in 1949.
Bob and Gladys were devout Southern Baptists, so Roger together with his two older brothers, Bobby and Larry, and elder sister, Janet, were raised within a strict religious household. His parents were both talented artists, though Bob spent most of his time trapping animals so he could sell the meat or pelts. During Roger’s early childhood in Glendora he became friends with Sindie Ardia. She was a couple of years his younger, but they lost contact when the Painter Family relocated to north Pomona. Though not far away in reality, the distance was too far for them to stay in touch with each other. The city is situated in Pomona Valley, between Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley.
Roger first began to take a keen interest in music at around the age of nine, listening to the recordings of David Bowie, Roxy Music, T-Rex, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls and many others. He knew even then that he wanted to be a musician. Those 70's glam rock icons would remain a strong influence to him throughout his life. Always a keen reader and writer, Roger, at age twelve, made his first real attempts at poetry. In 1976, Roger was always found carrying a notebook he filled with ideas and drawings. The lyrics to "Desperate Hell" were started in 1976 and those for "Romeo's Distress" were first put to paper in 1977, though both would be revised and improved upon numerous times over next few years. Roger attended Pomona High School, whose students were predominantly African-American and Hispanic. It was there, at around the age of thirteen or fourteen, that Roger and Jill Emery became friends, discovering in each other, a similar interest in music and an attraction to wearing second-hand and homemade clothing. Roger already owned a guitar by this time, a gift from his parents, and Jill bought a bass guitar.
EARLY
YEARS
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the audience and only managed to last a few songs before they walked off stage. As not all the members of Castration Squad had arrived at the venue yet, Don Bolles - the 45 Grave and ex-Germs drummer- asked whether Christian Death could perform a short set using Castration Squad's instruments in the interim. The crowd loved them and they were even mentioned in the review of the show by Dave Damage in the influential Flipside fanzine. This led to an interview conducted by Dave and Al Flipside in Ontario, California on December 27, together with a photoshoot in a nearby graveyard. The article was published in the January/February 1981 issue.
Christian Death performed a second show at the Arts Building on January 4, 1981 supporting 45 Grave, who included Dinah Cancer from Castration Squad. Art recalls the band bringing coffins into the venue to enhance the stage set and candles being lit to affect the lighting. The set comprised of songs that would later be included on the Deathwish EP and Only Theatre of Pain album. A review of the show was again featured in Flipside. A further performance was given at the Arts Building on January 18, but this time under the guise of Acid Flag. This consisted of Rozz, James, George and Mary Torciva all playing each other's instruments and improvising vocals while tripping on LSD. The idea of a gig of this nature may have come from their playing about hitting pots and pans and pretty much whatever item they could find during downtime in rehearsals. A recording of one of these free jam sessions was included as bonus CD on the release of Premature Ejaculation - (Part 1) by Malaise Music in 2010. It gives us a unique opportunity to hear them during this very early period.“
Ours was a volatile relationship that revolved around music, art and monstrous public personas. We were true punk romantics - he pierced my nipple, I tattooed his name on my wrist.