Punk legends Circle Jerks take first tour in 15 years to Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg on April 11
From a press release:
After a hiatus that lasted more than a decade, the Circle Jerks have returned to touring, hitting the stage of the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg on Monday, April 11 with fellow hardcore punk legends 7 Seconds and Negative Approach.
“We are beyond excited for our first full North American tour in over 15 years with our good friends 7 Seconds and Negative Approach. … The Bouncing Souls will be joining us for the last date of the tour (Friday, May 13th) at the Hollywood Palladium. This hometown party will be one for the books!” the band said.
“This is the last leg of our 2022 tour. If you miss out, it may be another 15 years until we come back.”
Doors at the Sherman (524 Main St., Stroudsburg) open at 7 p.m., and the all-ages concert starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets, which are $30 in advance or $33 at the door, go on sale this Friday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. at the Sherman Theater box office and online via shermantheater.com and Etix.
Circle Jerks emerged from the punk underbelly of Los Angeles’ South Bay in 1979. After serving as a co-founder and lead vocalist of Black Flag during the recording of their essential “Nervous Breakdown” EP, Keith Morris joined forces with former Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson to form what would become Circle Jerks, along with bassist Roger Rogerson and jazz drummer Lucky Lehrer.
Unlike much of the unapologetic hardcore that seeped through the cracks of American suburbia, the music of the Circle Jerks was thoughtfully steadfast, yet relentless and ferocious in nature. Bringing together a potent, articulate rhythm section with earnest yet oftentimes derisive lyrics and themes, the band was thereafter heralded as a leader of the pack – and a force to be reckoned with.
Plowing forward with a relentless, tooth-cutting work ethic and a rousing stage presence, the group would soon find themselves headlining shows at LA’s 5,000-capacity Olympic Auditorium and emblazoned in cult video classics like “The Decline of Western Civilization,” “Repo Man,” “New Wave Theatre,” and “The Slog Movie.”
Over the decades, Circle Jerks would release six studio albums, including the acclaimed “Group Sex” (1980), “Wild in the Streets” (1982), “Golden Shower of Hits” (1983), “Wonderful” (1985), and “IV” (1987), becoming a major headliner during the alternative music explosion of the 1980s and ’90s.
During hiatuses, Morris fronted bands like Off! and Flag, while Hetson played guitar in Bad Religion. Bassist Zander Schloss (The Weirdos, Joe Strummer) has been a member since the ’80s, and veteran drummer Joey Castillo (The Bronx, Queens of the Stone Age, Danzig, Bl’ast!, Wasted Youth) completes the lineup as its newest member.
The long list of those influenced by the legacy of the Circle Jerks ranges from Butthole Surfers to Red Hot Chili Peppers, with notable fans being Dogtown skateboarders, Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, Elton John, Johnny Depp, Guns N’ Roses, and Philip K. Dick. Decades later, their music continues to make an imprint on generations of diverse music fans and those who challenge the status quo.
In celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary and the commemorative reissue of their celebrated landmark record “Group Sex,” Circle Jerks have returned to the stage for the first time in over a decade. Most recently, the band kicked off their highly anticipated 2021-2022 world tour with performances at Punk Rock Bowling and Riot Fest.
