The Musical Biography of Dead Moon: The Rise and Fall of an Icon

When we talk about iconic punk bands, it's hard not to mention Dead Moon. Formed in Portland, Oregon in 1987, Dead Moon quickly made a name for themselves with their DIY attitude, raw sound, and high-energy live shows. Led by husband and wife duo Fred Cole and Toody Cole, Dead Moon released over a dozen albums before disbanding in 2006. In this blog post, we'll dive into the musical biography of Dead Moon - from their beginnings to their most famous albums and songs.

Fred and Toody Cole had been making music together since the 1960s, playing in a variety of garage rock bands. In the late 70s and early 80s, they formed the punk band The Rats, which would eventually become Dead Moon. Dead Moon's sound was characterized by their simple, stripped-down instrumentation and Fred's snarling vocals. They were influenced by a variety of punk and garage rock bands, including The Stooges, The MC5, The Sonics, and The Wipers.

Dead Moon's self-titled debut album was released in 1988 and set the tone for their career - raw, energetic, and full of attitude. They followed it up with a string of critically acclaimed albums, including In the Graveyard (1989), Stranded in the Mystery Zone (1991), and Crack in the System (1994). These albums cemented their reputation as one of the most exciting punk bands of the 90s.

One of Dead Moon's most famous songs is It's Ok, which is a perfect example of their sound - a catchy, anthemic chorus, a simple but effective guitar riff, and Fred's unmistakable vocals. Other notable songs include Dead Moon Night, 54/40 or Fight, and Unknown Passage, which all showcase the band's ability to blend punk, garage rock, and psychedelia into a unique sound.

Despite their cult following and critical acclaim, Dead Moon never achieved mainstream success. They remained true to their DIY ethos, operating their own record label (Tombstone Records) and recording and producing all of their albums themselves. In many ways, Dead Moon represented the true spirit of punk rock - uncompromising, independent, and fiercely DIY.

Dead Moon may not have achieved the commercial success of other punk bands, but their influence on the genre cannot be overstated. They inspired countless DIY punk bands with their uncompromising attitude and authentic sound. Fred and Toody Cole may be gone, but their legacy lives on through the music they created with Dead Moon. So if you're looking for some raw, energetic punk rock with attitude, look no further than Dead Moon.