10 Songs That Made Me Fall In Love With Punk – Tim O’Hara (Stabbed In Back/The Lillingtons)

We recently caught up with Stabbed In Back drummer Tim O’Hara to get his take on the songs that got him in to punk rock.  Check out his list here.

1. Pinhead Circus – Gone Again

Pinhead was the first “punk show” I ever saw..yeah sure I had been to shows/concerts before them but it was more like metal or hippy bands playing locally..which at the time we didn’t have a preference or care..we just wanted out of the house and a place to have fun. As My taste in music geared towards punk, I caught Pinhead at a local fire station who let the local promoter have a show in their conference room. From their first song to the witty banter in between, I was hooked..I was even more thrilled to of bought my very first 7″ that night from them for $6…something a 13 year old like me could afford..I grew up watching that band and became personal friends with Scooter, Trevor, and Forrest and wish they were still around.

2. The Meatmen – We’re the Meatmen and you Suck!

The Meatmen were my first punk show that was out of town…Me and a grew up friends traveled to Denver, CO from Wyoming to catch them and being young and naive, had NO idea what I was in for. When The Meatmen Started and when the Dutch Hercules came out 7ft tall with a furry vest on and a big paper mache cock that shot confetti and streamers.. labeled the “rectum Wrecker” …I suddenly feared for my life and thought I was in the wrong place and I was gonna get killed…The show turned out awesome once my anxiety subsided, though a crew of skinheads came in looking for trouble and starting a full on bar room brawl…as a skin head put his sights on my small bony body and came charging at me with his fist raised and clenched…at the last second when I closed my eyes and braced for impact..I felt a hand grab me by the scruff of my shirt and yank me on stage..it was Tesco Vee. The Dutch Hercules had just save my life. So when those of you wonder where The Timmy V came from on all the Lillingtons Albums…the V was paying homage to the ABBA lover who saved my life that night.

 3. Screeching Weasel – Dingbat

I heard dingbat first, covered by Kody’s (TBR) first band the hybrids when my first punk band the New Degenerates played a show with them. When I heard the song I totally thought it was a Hybrids original and was a lil jealous of how catchy the song was..I was relieved to find out the song was a cover…back to a level playing field. I hit kody up weeks later, asking what the album was called..from there I searched it out and bought it from Lookout! records (which was a gateway for more great bands to be discovered) – Worth noting that I was so in love with that album that it was responsible for the weasel tattoo on my leg.

4. The Queers – I didn’t get invited to the prom

I guess it’s only fair to list The Queers right after SW as I discovered them through weasel. In no way am I saying Weasel is better than The Queers because I actually prefer The Queers over Weasel..but it’s just the order how I fell in love with them. I could go on for days about The Queers..I think they by far are the band that has had the most impact on my life and punk rock, from a listener to a musician..these guys have been involved along the way. This song was always a favorite of mine as I was a young punk in love once and used to pine over a girl that wasn’t into me as much as I was into her, and The Queers were a perfect soundtrack to my sappy teenage years.

Interesting fact: Hugh O’Neill is who taught me how to play the drums…correctly.

5. Pegboy – Strong Reaction

I first heard pegboy on a cassette I bought for a quarter at thrift store..I thought I couldn’t lose with it costing a quarter. Who knew that I would get hooked on them? Years later while The Lillingtons we’re in Chicago recording, I had the chance to see what was then their very last show…and at the fireside bowl to boot. What a amazing show and memory. I hear they are back together or at least are actively playing from time to time. I’m grateful that quarter introduced me to some awesome punk rock.

6. Descendents – Bikage

Ahh…The Descendents..you can’t go wrong with the Descendents. Growing up in Wyoming I think every Punk Rocker (all 25 of us) adopted The Descendents as “our band” in the same way People from Wyoming adopted the Denver Broncos as “their football team” solely based on the fact that it was the closest “real thing” to us….The Descendents were the closest big time punk band to us so…that made them ours. I heard various albums growing up blaring from my older brothers room but really didn’t latch on them with both hands until I saw their very first reunion show in Denver when I was finishing up a Lillingtons tour. I remember when they played Bikeage that the crowd was singing so loud, it over powered the music on stage..the Experience was so surreal, I found myself shedding a tear two being immersed in the energy in that room that night…powerful stuff.

7. The Vindictives – I’m in trouble now

Another great band that I discovered through Lookout! records and my bandmates in The Lillingtons. I really loved the Vindictives because the other 2 guys in the our band latched onto SW and The Queers so, to me The vindictives was like open season..to make it my Lookout band..in the sense that I bought the shirts, albums..you know took a real interest in the band…I plus I was fascinated to hear about Joey Vindictives crazy episodes and some of the outlandish stuff he did…seemed so cartoonish. Everytime I hear the vindictives it always reminds me of being on tour with Kody, and Cory cruising down the highway in our van with this song blasting on our dashboard boombox.

8. 7 Seconds – 99 red Balloons

Another song that blasted from walls of my older brothers room. I have to give all credit to Dan (my brother) for discovering them and sharing them with me. I remember hearing the original from Nena when I was a young kid..the cousins used to blast it while baby sitting us, but when I heard the 7 seconds version, I was blown away on how powerful it sounded to me…it just plain and simple rocked and it was fun to sing along too. Dan I wanna thank you for all the awesome music you shared with me growing up..it was comforting hearing those bands come through the wall at night.

9. Bad Religion – Modern Man

Oh man..this song rips…it STILL gives me goose bumps and makes me wanna jump up and down on the couch. Yet another band that was discovered by the brosie and then passed along to me. I actually first heard the song on a skate video..ya know’ cause back in the day in wyoming..if you were punk ..you skated and if you skated..then you were punk. Dan bought the album and I used to sneak in his room often and “borrow it” I always got busted..but I was glad we were able to bond over great music. Bad Religion is still one of my favorite bands to this day and love to see them every chance I get.

10. Good Riddance – Yesterdays Headlines

GR was a band I got into later in my years as my tastes changed from light and Sappy to Dark and meaningful. I really liked the social messages in Russ’s lyrics and I felt like (still do) I could relate to a lot of things they sang about…Just being really pissed off at the world we live in and the things going on. It spoke to me, and i’m stoked they are back at it.