The Heartaches

The designation skatepunk has denoted a strain of straightforward, rebellious three-chord punk since the early 1980s, when outfits such as JFA and Suicidal Tendencies helped define the style. Professional skateboarders, however, have seldom appeared in punk lineups, since the sport’s elite competitors devote themselves so completely that girlfriends become difficult to sustain, let alone rehearsal schedules or studio time. The most visible exception, the Heartaches, ironically departs from the usual skatepunk template altogether. Drawing on post-1977 punk and power pop while also echoing the 1960s garage acts Love, the Standells, the Chocolate Watchband, and the many bands anthologized on Pebbles compilations, the group coalesced in San Diego during 2000 under the leadership of professional skater Kristian Svitak. Its original roster comprised vocalist-guitarist Billy Dee Williams (distinct from the actor who played Lando Calrissian), lead guitarist Billy Heartache, and bassist El Mano del Diablo. In 2003 the lineup expanded to five members when Williams shifted to vocals alone, El Mano del Diablo moved to rhythm guitar, and Dr. Dean, PhD joined on bass. The expanded Heartaches then toured the skate-festival circuit and contributed to various skate-oriented CD and DVD anthologies before signing with Swami Records and issuing their first album, Too Cool for School, in October 2006.

These California garage punks bear no relation to the Belgian street-punk band also called the Heartaches, which debuted with the 2003 album Lunacy and Devastation on People Like You, followed by Move On in 2004 and Suicide in 2007, both issued on I Scream. In a November 2006 interview with the online punk zine Mutiny, the Belgian group’s singer Tommy X noted that both acts insist they originated the name.