VKTMS
Dedicated to Nyna 1956-2000

By the way, we are still accumulating memoribilia (photos, tapes, and especially videos) if you have or have info on any of these *please* contact us.
Thanks to our dear friend Jane Weems(drummer, artist, and punk legend) we just got a copy of a video from one of our last shows. Anything else would be appreciated and credited.

Steve is actually playing music LIVE again. We should be hearing more about that again. John is still at it of course (you'll have to pry the guitar out of his cold dead hands). Lou has his own art and music studio and is very busy with projects too.

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In case some of you didn't know - Jim Osborne r.i.p.
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The VKTMS t-shirts that were made by a friend of ours are no longer available.
Talk to us if you want to to make one for sale.
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- Lou, Steve, John

NEWS - VKTMS cd - has all the material previously released on vinyl plus some live songs. Finally, you can get the originals, not some cover version or a poor bootleg. Look for it on Broken Rekids, at your local stores and ask for it at your radio stations.
More info below.

There's a new myspace.com page with a good bio at VKTMS in Myspace

Or, you can read Nyna's fact-filled (!) VKTMS bio. Right here!

are a punk band from the original days of the wild and crazy scene in San Francisco in the late '70s. Inspired by the fire and intensity of the punk explosion, Louis Gwerder (drums) began putting a band together with some friends on bass and guitar. They found Nyna (Napalm) Crawford through a listing on a bulletin board. This was the beginning of the type of serendipity that has always occurred around VKTMS. Not only was the band impressed by her vocal and lyric writing talents but they were also awed by the way she cracked the solid concrete floor with her hyper-active performing style.

After working on their sound and songs for awhile, VKTMS brought in Steve Ricablanca to replace the original bass player. Steve's powerful approach, influenced as much by funk as by Grand Funk Railroad, gave the band an even more punchy sound. Shortly after this, however, the original guitarist disappeared. Not willing to wait for him to resurface, Steve called an East Bay friend John Binkov (who also plays keyboards) to join up. Using John's background in various styles, as well as his tough attitude, the finishing touch was added to the project.This line-up has remained intact since 1980.

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Playing gigs with the Dead Kennedys, DOA, Flipper, Mutants, and so forth at the legendary Mabuhay Gardens, around the San Francisco Bay area, and up and down the coast helped establish the VKTMS sound and style. Shows with the Ramones, Johnny Thunders and other godfathers toughened the music even more. VKTMS also became the ritual sacrificial offering for many touring acts (Stranglers, Roky Erikson, 999, Killing Joke, Wall of Voodoo, Bush Tetras, Fear, Psychedelic Furs, Delta 5, and many others) when they came through town.

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VKTMS are: Nyna Crawford - vocals, harmonica; John Binkov - guitar, keyboards; Steve Ricablanca - bassist and graphic designs; and Louis Gwerder - drums and spiritual leader (Hey! He's the drummer!!). The band's interests and influences range from Chicago blues to East Bay funk, from the rawest rock to the cheesiest garage slime and more. But there is no doubt about VKTMS punk roots. They didn't just try to capitalize on some trend du jour,unlike too many of the current crop of bands.

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In addition to the new cd VKTMS have released a single on 415 Records - "No Long Good-Byes"/"100% White Girl", a song ("Ballad of Pincushion Smith") on the wonderful S.F. Underground ep (along with Flipper, No Alternative and the Tools), another (more famous) 7" EP with four songs on it (including "Midget" and "Roma Rocket") , and a self-titled limited edition album (Released 1995 on Daflespitz Records). In August 1996 (!) VKTMS put out a double EP package (!) , with one EP of newly recorded material combined with a rerelease of the "Midget" EP. If if wasn't for Dave Elias and John Eisenhart these last two vinyl issues might not have happened. SALUTE!

NEWSFLASH!!!! Only a few of these eps are still available!!! You can order them directly from us.
We plan to honor Nyna and her talent by releasing a Live CD that will include performances from the nearly 20 year span of the VKTMS performing career.

Stay tuned!!!

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Well, VKTMS are still around in some ways and are still kicking, just not as a performing unit. We will not dishonor our dear friend Nyna nor ourselves. In addition to all the incredible shows we did early on there were many others later. We last played at the Club Boomerang in San Francisco (1840 Haight) and Bottom of the Hill (great show, thanks Ramona!). The band also did shows at the Transmission Theater, Paradise Lounge and (of course) 924 Gilman Street.
VKTMS also played BAM magazine's 20th Anniversary Party and it was outrageous!!! The benefit show for the H.E.A.R. project with the Merman, Mo'Fessionals, White Trash Debuttantes, and others was great!. Check out Vibe-O-Thon.
The shows at Klub Komotion and El Rio were probably the rockingest ever!!! (That's where we met Mike Millet from Broken Rekids.) Basically, we carried on until the end.

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OH WOW!!!- Steve's page is down for now. Check it out sometime later.He's the best.
Lou's gonna have his wild paintings online soon too
You can write them at - sricabla@yahoo.com and louvktm@aol.com.

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The ep package is $8 (U.S.)/ $10 int'l - ppd. There are no more copies of the album available at this time.

You can order from VKTMS Relief Fund - 679 11th St. Richmond, CA. 94801

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Or, you can write to VKTMS direct. Send whatever you want, they'll write back. We'd like to hear from you. P-Listers especially welcome.

VKTMS RELIEF FUND - 679 11th St. Richmond, CA 94801.

Or write to - vktms@mindspring.com

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John's Myspace page is HERE!
His new band's site D'Jelly Brains
is ready now !
Also...D'Jelly Brains are at Myspace too. CHECK IT OUT THERE!

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*A special request from us.....call your local cool radio station and request VKTMS songs. Recommended songs are: "Midget" (track #1), "Earthbound"(#21), "Municide"(#13), and "San Franciscan Nights (#24).
Another request - KEEP ROCKIN' AND STAY TRUE TO YOUR DREAMS.
Thanks.

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Check out these VKTMS Posters. (A real blast from the past! This link may be dead....)

Or...just do a search for "VKTMS" with your favorite search engine. We're all over the place!

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Or...perhaps... John's page...

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Too lazy to send e-mail? Is that possible? vktms @ mindspring.comC'mon...you can do it!

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Our little Web Counter says that out of all of the millions of people using the "Net" have stopped by here.

Thanks. And ya'll come back now y'hear.

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Last update - August 19, 2006. See ya!

Nyna we will always love and miss you. - Lou, Steve and John