China White

China White was an influential hardcore punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for their EP Danger Zone. They were, along with The Crowd, Adolescents, Social Distortion, T.S.O.L. and Shattered Faith, the prominent figures of the early Orange County punk scene. In 1982, photographer Glen E. Friedman wrote: "Full doses of China White will send staggering chills through your veins as you experience this nitro-punk injection." History In the late 1970s, Huntington Beach was seeing a surge in punk rock, with nine bands creating a specific 'beach punk' sound: The Outsiders, The Slashers, The Crowd, The Voyeurs, The Klan, The Screwz, The Idols, the Non-Fascists and Fourth Reich. These bands had an aggressive or violent approach; they and their growing fan base were facing push-back from the Hippie movement and the Jock scene. Street violence was increasing, bands were competing for domination in the mosh pits and Huntington Beach was gaining a reputation for street violence. Within this atmosphere, guitarist Frank Ruffino formed China White, naming the band after the drug China white and the Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers song Chinese Rocks. The band's logo was inspired by an image seen in a 1964 episode of The Twilight Zone. Ruffino recruited singer Scott Sisunik, guitarist Marc Martin, bassist James Rodriguez and drummer Richard "Skitchblade" Katchadoorian. Within a year, Sisunik had left to form the band Social Task; Katchadoorian to join the band Shattered Faith. Martin took over as vocalist and drummer Vince Mesa joined the band. A few months later, he would leave to join The Vandals and was replaced by Ruffino's older brother, drummer Joey Ruffino.