Jonny and Bruce

ABOUT SOCIAL SPIT

Formed in the Late 70's SOCIAL SPIT Played one show with Guitarist Dave Fleminger, Singer Bruce "Scabs" Atwell, Drummer Brian Watkins, Bassist "Bosco" and excess guitar player "Squirrel" at The Blind Center on Upas Street in San Diego. XweAponX (Jonny Vee) joined Social Spit at a Black Flag show in the fall of 1980. Original drummer Brian Watkins stayed and Bassist Russ Weber was added, in December 1980, the first new Social Spit show was played at the Lions Club on Utah St in San Diego.

 

Better Picture of Cliff

Bruce Atwell quit Spit in January 1981 and was promptly replaced by Cliff "PegLeg" Cunningham (before he had a "pegleg" - And so Social Spit existed until August 1981 when we decided to quit. We shoulda STAYED quit. But we were stupid… And we didn't! We just had to keep comin back now and then.

One "Reunion" Show was played in 1982 at Kings Road on 30th Street, this was the last show where Brian and Russ ever played with Spit. Unfortunately Cliff had developed cancer in his lower leg, and due to agressive chemo, an operation cost him his leg. So this was Cliff's leg's last show too, and Cliff was more upset about being discharged from the Navy than that pesky little leg! So Cliff sang at Kings Road, and did an impression of that bald guy from Midnight Oil! And sang with gravel-voice but that did not stop us! It was at this piece of shit show that Mad Marc Rude, after drunkingly singing “the UK Sub's "Warhead" with us -decided that San Diego needed a Social Spit Reunion once a year. It sounded like a good idea, but it wasn't! Jonny at that time was still living in San "Fran-sick-o", and had been playng with a band Tim Yohanan from Maximim RockNRoll Mentored: "Juvinil Justice"- J.J. got a song on a huge double record the DK's put out which had every band from SF and Northern Cal at the time. Justice also opened for DK's and TSOL at Elite Club, and at Tool and Die for MDC, and as a matter of fact Justice's original drummer was AlShvitz of MDC, who recorded three songs with them, one of them being the song that went on the double album. Finally, Juvy Justivce played a part of Wes' "Eastern Front" shows, and opened for Battalion of Saints at Berkely Square- This performance was recorded, because another Easter Front record was supposed ot be released, but it never happened. Jonny was also playing in SF New Wave band "Umbrella Defence" and later with his own band, "Dangerous Visions" - After they broke up in 1985, Jonny moved back down to Sloe Deth, and promptly urged Cliff to get Spit started again.

"SKUMDAWG" und JAVIER

In 1986 Social Spit reformed with Drummer Paul "SKUMDAWG" Valentine and Bassist Sean "Diatribe" Coley. Clliff's famous Social Spit cassette tape was made and Cliff made a lotta money selling it, but that was a-ok, cos everyone bought one of those tapes back then! Six months later Sean was replaced with Bassist Mike Von-Geitzen. At this time, Mystic Records got interested and it was free heh? So we recorded a 6-Song EP "Psycho Ward". Just a note to you little fooks who are starting Punk bands: If a guy approaches you and offers to release a record of yours FOR FREE, tell him to Fook Ooof! Well, unless he DOES it. So, we were really stupid and Mystik recorded and distributed the EP "PSYCHO WARD".

Mike von Gietzen and Skumdog left the band in late 87 and were replaced with Dave "Psycho" Nestor on Bass and Javier Vega on Drums. Our first show with that lineup (This is arguable between Cliff and Jonny) was the the KCR benefit at Siagon Palace sometime in late 87. In 1988, the record "SHIT LIST" was recorded at Nestor Studios in El Cajon , but was not released until 1991, due to Mystic brand of red tape and other wankage. The album was re-named "There's No Place like Home" and sported a cover by Mad Marc Rude. An "Interim" Live EP was put out by Mystic Records in 1988 "Live Spit" and for some crazy reason a really bad live performance was chosen out of hundreds of better ones. So Spit joined the LONG list, along with Dr Know, Agression, Ill Repute, RKL, Battalion of Saints, and about a hundred other bands, who were not too happy with Mystic and Moody. Anyway we got 2 records out of the deal so what are WE beefin about!

The band went on hiatus in 1992 but reformed for a short period in 1993 with Kris Roth on the Drums (another Fluke: Kris also played for Inciting Riots) and Rudy Hippie Bassplayer, chiefly to play with Unwritten Law at SOMA in San Diego. After that show and a few other shows at The Spirit (Now Brick by Brick) with Deadbolt, Social Spit went on Hiatus again, until 1997 or so when Dave and Jonny got with Javier had their annual Social Spit reunion at Nestor Studios, but without Cliff being there. A number of songs were recorded without Cliff: "Fiends Like YOU" which actually got some attention at Mp3.com for a while, and a few other songs, including "Race ya to Hell" and "Bonzo's Blood". This incarnation lasted for only a few months, then we tried to play at Joe and Andy's saloon, Due to some *cough* problems the plug was pulled on us at Joe and Andy's. A later show at Winston's East was a lot better and managed with no ill effects, but the band went on Hiatus again, a year later, 1999-2000 Cliff came out of the woodwork of retirement for two shows- At Brick by Brick a couple of times - once with "The Dirty Birds" with Former Unknowns drummer Steve Steve Bidrowski. We broke up again cos were were sposed to play with Pulley in Anaheim, but more problems and Cliff retired for a bit... At the time Javier was playing with "Big Black Boots" which was Meatwagon in another form, and they took over that show... tried to play it but the whole Pulley showing Up thing was a Joke, so it was all just as well.

Until mid-2004, it was not expected that Social Spit would ever play live ever again- But Jonny saw a pic of Dan Skum playing Drums on the net, and well, there was an email addy attached to the pic, so he emailed Dan and asked him if he wanted to play. Dan replied "No Shit ya gotta be kidding me!" cos he didn't believe it was Jonny, but as it happened, Dan and Ugly Lenny were in Inciting Riots, so it was just natuaral that Ugly Lenny wanted to play bass! Ugly Lenny was originally in "Beer Goggles" in the early 90's, and was the vocalist and guitar player for Inciting Riots until they went on hold a couple of years ago. At this time he also sings for the "mad Mummies". So... Spit played several shows in 2005, Alibi Club which was great, Chasers, Mercury Room and the best show up at The Metaphor! And finally, last show of 2005 was at, Ironically, Joe and Andy's Dive bar Saloon - And THIS time they DIDN'T pull the plug on us! Check over at the "Shows and Flyers" link and there is a video of us. So, end of 2005 Cliff had problems with his voice giving out, band drifted apart again, people went on their merry ways until Summer of 2009, We realised it's been almost THIRTY YEARS since we started this crap!

In Fall of 2009, Spit put up an "Ad" for drummers on our Myspace Site and the one to respond favourably was James "Jimi" Flynn the IIIrd, who was known to Spit as being the drummer for Eminence and Ministry of Truth in the 80's and was recently in the bands "Duel of the Century" and "Phantom Ratio" of which the latter is an excellent 70's style Progressive (aka "Technical") Rock Band. Due to work scheduling problems, James had to cease playing with Spit in May 2010. At that time, it was decided that we would ask former Drummer Javier Vega to "Tryit" with us once again... Javier had been playing a little with the band "US Drag" with Jimmy "Grind", but was ripe for playing once again with Spit. And now, it was as if he had never been away, as can be seen at our recent gigs, we are very happy and proud of Javy! We try to beat that fact into his head, but it's getting soft... We also have had guest appearances with Former Drummers Paul "SkumDawg" and Kriss Roth, and a very special appearance by one of our old friends, John "Testicle Head" Toner!

Social Spit! Which we all considered kind of a joke-band back in 1981 when we were doin this, but Now...

IT AIN'T NO JOKE that SS is doing our every-5-year DIVE BAR TOUR and that who gives a FUCKING shit about what we useta do! We just wanna PLAY, and were gonna keep playing until Anvils fall on our heads! We're playing in 2010 and beyond, we hope, so if ya don't come out ta see us, FOOK ALL Y'ALL!


Kris Roth and Rudy Hippy Bassplayer

SOCIAL SPIT 2010:

Cliff Cunningham: Vocals
weAponX/Jonny V: Guitar
Ugly Lenny: Bass
January to May: Jimi Flynn: DRUMS - MAY to CURRENT: Javier Vega, DRUMS!

With special guest appearances by Kriss Roth, John Testicle Head Toner, and Paul SKUMDAWG Valentine!

SOCIAL SPIT circa February 2010 and June 2010: At Mark Hammaerle's Home Recording Studio

and at the Skybox Bar and Grille: