Twisted Roots

VINYL FORMAT. Aggro from back in the day, TWISTED ROOTS surfaced in 1981 from the dying embers of the original LA punk scene. Spearheaded by former Nina Hagen and SCREAMERS keyboardist Paul Roessler, ex-GERMS guitarist Pat Smear, and joined by singer Maggie Ehrig, drummer Emil McKown, and bassist Kira, TWISTED ROOTS was notable not only for its wildly creative, all-over-the-map punk music, but also for its members later contributions to other well-known bands. Pat Smear later went on to join NIRVANA and The FOO FIGHTERS and both Kira and Emil went on to stints with BLACK FLAG. Paul and Kira both played with Mike Watt; Kira in the bass duet band DOS and Paul in the duo CRIMONY, as well as Watt's power trio, THE SECONDMEN. Included here is the band's three-song 1981 EP; a track released on the Rodney on the Roqs compilation, and various other previously unreleased songs culled from four tracks and cassettes. While TWISTED ROOTS' pedigree may be impressive, it's own music is equally so. From straight out thrashers like "James Bondage" to Public Image-esque tracks like "Pretty White House" or "Are There Cobwebs on My Face" to poppy confections like "Mommy's Always Busy in the Kitchen" and "The Yellow One," TWISTED ROOTS seemed capable of just about any musical direction. Unfortunately, it wasn't capable of staying together for more than a year. Another piece of LA punk rock history!