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Freeplay: Red Scare
By Megan Carneal
mcarneal@mscd.edu

Red Scare Ând Then There Were None (Upstart Records, 1984)

There have been three Red Scares over the course of history. The first was during World War I. The second was through the late 1940s and early 1950s. The third and lesser-known scare took place from 1984 to 1988, and during those tense years Los Angeles was filled with turbulence.

Red Scare was one of the many second-wave punk bands hovering around Los Angeles in the mid ’80s. During that time punk had become more than just three chords and repetitive lyrics. As new genres arose, punk evolved as well, taking notes from such emerging genres as new wave, metal, hardcore and goth rock. Red Scare took these innovations and added some filth and fury.

Their only full-length release during their time together, And Then There Were None, is a testament to the convergence of genres. Equal parts goth, early hardcore and metal – mixed with a snotty punk attitude – the album showcases the powerfully visceral voice of Bobbi Brat.

With Brat’s deep, operatic voice they might have been America’s answer to Siouxsie and the Banshees, but Red Scare took a rougher approach to their music. While the Banshees incorporated experimental electronic effects, Red Scare stayed primitive with more thrash, attitude and a complete disregard for traditional song structure.

The album’s opening track, “Last Request,” kicks off abruptly with Brat’s vibrato howl and a crash of percussion. The amorphous song weaves amid quick, unfettered verses and progresses to frantic, hair-metal guitar solos and soft, melodic breakdowns, in which the vocals become distant and wraithlike.

With devilishly dark rhythms and melodies, And Then There Were None’s title track is reminiscent of fellow Los Angeles heroes TSOL. Brat’s voice floats a fine line between sluggish airiness and satanic undertones, as the elaborate drumming creates an intense feeling of anxiety.

Sadly, Red Scare’s impact on the scene was short-lived. In 1988, at the age of 26, the alluring front woman died of cancer. Following Brat’s death, the group disbanded.

However, technology has ensured that Brat’s voice will live on. The formerly rare album can be downloaded in its entirety from http://anamericanpunkinsuburbia.blogspot.com, which has a respectable collection of rare and sometimes completely unheard-of gems, all absolutely free.