Painted Willie

Painted Willie arose in the wake of Sin 34’s dissolution and made its first appearance on SST, carrying the label’s familiar adolescent wit yet anchored more firmly in straight-ahead rock than in punk or hardcore. Guitarist Vic Makauskas, bassist Phil Newman, and drummer Dave Markey assembled the group in Los Angeles during the early ’80s, issued Mind Bowling in 1985, and taped a live EP in neighboring Van Nuys the next year. Upsidedowntown arrived in 1987, after which the band dissolved, though SST later put out the Relics compilation in 1988.