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Link 80

From Alfawiki
Link 80
Company typePunk rock and ska punk band
IndustryMusic
Founded1993 in East Bay, San Francisco, United States
FounderMatt Bettinelli-Olpin, Joey Bustos, Adam Pereira, Jeff Acree
Headquarters
East Bay, San Francisco
,
United States
ProductsMusic albums and EPs

Link 80 was a punk rock and ska punk ensemble originating from the East Bay region of San Francisco, United States.

Band history

Link 80 came together in the summer of 1993 within California's East Bay area. The founding lineup included guitarist Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, drummer Joey Bustos, bassist Adam Pereira, and vocalist Jeff Acree. Before adopting the name Link 80, they performed locally under the names Drano and The Rag-Tags.

The band's name is derived from Interstate 80, which connects the members’ residences in Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond, as well as serving as the route to their rehearsal location.

In May 1995, Nick Traina became part of the group after meeting Adam at a concert in San Francisco. His unique vocal style and dynamic presence influenced Link 80's direction, emphasizing punk elements more than ska, distinguishing them from conventional ska-punk bands. According to Asian Man Records, their sound is a vigorous blend of ska, punk rock, and hardcore.

Their songwriting, use of samples, and album artwork frequently incorporate references to various films and television shows such as The Twilight Zone, The Usual Suspects, Happy Gilmore, and Stand by Me.

Prior to releasing their first album, Link 80 put out three 7-inch records: The Link 80 & Wet Nap Split, Remember How It Used To Be, and Rumble at the Tracks.

17 Reasons

In 1996, Link 80 recorded their debut full-length album, 17 Reasons, which was released in early 1997. This record contains 17 fast-paced tracks combining punk rock and skacore, including a hidden cover of the Misfits’ "Who Killed Marilyn?" It marked their initial release on Asian Man Records after previous efforts on Dill Records.

Both the album title and one of its tracks ("Turn It Around") pay homage to two prominent local Bay Area punk compilations: Turn It Around! and 17 Reasons: The Mission District. Their sole official music video, for the song "Verbal Kint," was partially shot at 924 Gilman Street under the direction of Scott Pourroy.

While still attending high school in 1996, Link 80 embarked on their first nationwide tour across the United States, during which they established a fan collective known as ATRC (Against the Rest Crew).

The principal lineup throughout this era consisted of Nick Traina on vocals, Joey Bustos on drums, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin handling guitar and vocals, Adam Pereira on bass and vocals, and Aaron Nagel on trumpet. After recording sessions concluded, Jason Lechner joined on saxophone to support live performances. This configuration was responsible for producing two of their three albums.

Songwriting efforts were collaborative: Aaron Nagel spearheaded horn arrangements; Joey Bustos, Adam Pereira, and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin composed much of the instrumental foundation; Nick Traina along with Matt Bettinelli-Olpin crafted lyrics. All members contributed to backing vocals, with some taking lead roles—for instance, Adam sang lead on "Termination" and "Slap," while Matt led on "Turn It Around."

Their second U.S. tour commenced in Oregon on June 14 but was cut short after an August 1 show in Milwaukee. Following this tour, the band members went their separate ways individually.

Killing Katie

Link 80's final studio album featuring Nick Traina, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, and Seth Blankenship, titled Killing Katie, was released on August 26, 1997—just weeks before Nick's untimely passing. The record comprises eight studio recordings alongside three concealed live tracks, including the fan-favorite "Blank Mind," which notably does not have a studio version. Among the hidden live songs is a rendition of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth," retitled by the band as "Everybody Look What's Going Down."

Following his time with Link 80, Nick established the band Knowledge, rapidly engaging in performances and recordings. Unfortunately, on September 20, 1997, Nick—who battled bipolar disorder—passed away from an overdose during his fourth suicide attempt.

The Struggle Continues

After Nick's death, Link 80 briefly brought in Stoney Moak as a stand-in vocalist before appointing Ryan Noble from the Blast Bandits as the official frontman. With Ryan and Adam Davis replacing Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, the group shifted towards a fusion of hardcore and ska while preserving their defiant spirit. This lineup produced the 1999 album The Struggle Continues, contributed b-sides to various compilations, and embarked on extensive tours alongside bands such as Capdown and MU330.

The closing track, "Unbroken," was penned by former guitarist Matt as a tribute to Nick's memory.

Reunion

After multiple partial reunions over the years, Link 80 officially came back together for Asian Man Records' 20th Anniversary concerts held on June 17 and 18, 2016, at San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill, with both performances selling out. The ensemble included vocalist Ryan Noble; guitarists Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Adam Davis; drummer Joey Bustos; bassists Adam Pereria and Barry Krippene; along with horn players Aaron Nagel, Steve Borth, and Jason Lechner. Numerous members attended these shows accompanied by their families.

Prior to the concerts, a tribute video honoring Nick Traina was presented, set to Social Distortion's "When the Angels Sing"; this homage was subsequently shared online by the band.

On May 21, 2021, Link 80 issued a cover of Rancid's "Junkie Man" through Lavasock Records for the tribute compilation ...And Out Come the Lawsuits, celebrating Rancid's album ...And Out Come the Wolves. This recording featured Adam Davis, Barry Krippene, Joey Bustos, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Steve Borth, and Ryan Noble.

On October 17, 2023, Mike Park announced that Asian Man Records would reissue vinyl editions of 17 Reasons and The Struggle Continues, along with reproducing the band's inaugural official t-shirt.

Related bands and projects

In 2002, the lineup consisting of Seth Blankenship, Adam Davis, Aaron Nagel, Steve Borth, Joey Bustos, Barry Krippene, and vocalist Ryan Noble went on hiatus. Steve Borth later joined Rx Bandits before founding Satori in 2006. The other members formed DESA while affirming intentions for Link 80’s eventual return but concentrating on their current endeavors.

Joey Bustos and Ryan Noble perform together in The Soft White Sixties as drummer and bassist respectively. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin created Dolores alongside Nick’s brother Todd Traina, releasing a 7" through Johann's Face Records, and co-founded filmmaking groups Chad, Matt & Rob and Radio Silence, directing films such as V/H/S, Southbound, and Ready or Not—which feature Link 80 as well as other Asian Man Records artists like Alkaline Trio, MU330, and Laura Stevenson and the Cans. Aaron Nagel operates Two Twenty Two Design Studio; his artwork has been exhibited globally and appears on album covers including The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun. Adam Davis is a member of Gnarboots, which released A.L.B.U.M. under Asian Man Records. Barry Krippene plays in Terrible Timing alongside a former Blast Bandits musician. Adam Pereira joined Thought Crime after his tenure with Link 80. Prior to his death in 1997, Nick Traina founded Knowledge, whose album A Gift Before I Go was released by Asian Man Records. As of 2019, Steve Borth and Adam Davis contribute to Omnigone—a ska/punk collective releasing music on Bad Time Records featuring members from RX Bandits, Link 80, Skatune Network, and We Are The Union. Regarding Omnigone’s concept, Adam Davis stated: "The idea behind OMNIGONE: I want to play ska, punk & hardcore... This allows different configurations of my close friends to come together & play the music we grew up playing."

Members

  • Ryan Noble – lead vocals
  • Jason Lechner – saxophonist
  • Seth Blankenship – saxophone
  • Barry Krippene – bass guitar
  • Steve Borth – saxophone, backing vocals
  • Stoney Moak – lead vocalist

Timeline

LPs

EPs

  • The Link 80 & Wet Nap Split 7" with Wet-Nap (1995, Wannabe Brothers Records)
  • Remember How It Used to Be 7" (1995, Switchblade Records)
  • Rumble at the Tracks Split 7" with Subincision (1996, Switchblade Records)
  • Nothing Lasts Forever Split 7" with Punishment Park (1998, Dream Circle Records) Distributed free during German performances
  • Lifestyles, Textiles & X-Files Split 7" with Lesdystics (Tomato Head Records)
  • Split CDEP/7" with Capdown (Householdname Records)

Compilations

  • Skank for Brains (1995, Beach Records)
  • What Are You Looking At? (1996, Switchblade Records)
  • This Aren't Two Tone (1997, Too Hep Records)
  • Cinema Beer Nuts (1997, Hopeless Records)
  • Misfits of Ska II (1997, Asian Man Records)
  • 23 Reasons (1997, Tachyon Records) Features first two albums combined on one CD, exclusive to Japan
  • The Mongolian Wild Turkey.... Volume 4 (1997, Bad Stain Records)
  • It Takes a Dummy to Know a Dummy (1997, Dumb Ass Records)
  • Punk Goes Ska (1997, Stiff Dog Records)
  • Punk 'til Ya Poop (1997, Bad Stain Records)
  • Ramen Core Volume 1 (1997, Burnt Ramen Records)
  • Dillinquents (1997, Dill Records)
  • Unrealism (Function Productions, 1997)
  • Puro Eskanol Volume 2 (1998, Aztlan Records)
  • Ska Sucks (1998, Liberation Records)
  • Mailorder Is Fun! (1998, Asian Man Records)
  • Skank for Brains: Saturday Matinee (1998, Beach Records)
  • Waiting for Punk? (1998, Twisted Records)
  • Ska: The Third Wave Checkered Box Set (1998, Beloved Records)
  • Ska: The Third Wave, Vol. 4: Punk It Up (1998, Beloved Records)
  • Hey Brother...Can You Spare Some Ska? (1999, Vegas Records)
  • Mailorder Is Still Fun! (1999, Asian Man Records)
  • Mission Control Presents: Dr. Strange Vs. Asian Man, Vol. 1 (1999, Asian Man/Dr. Strange Records)
  • Punker Than Your Mother (1999, Sour/Soda Jerk Records)
  • To Protect and Serve - Chapter 13 (1999, Chapter 13 Records)
  • Coffee, Cigarettes and Nuclear War (1999, Absolute Zero Records)
  • Punk Goes Metal (2000, Fearless Records)
  • Plea for Peace (2000, Asian Man Records)
  • Just Not Punk Enough (2000, Orchard Records)
  • Here We Are Nowhere (2000, Substandard Records)
  • Punked Up Love (2000, VMS Records)
  • Taken from a High School Journal (2000, Deafinit Records)
  • Have You Heard (2001, New School Punk Records)
  • Ten Minutes to Ogikubo Station’’'’(2001, Asian Man Records)
  • ’’Shut the Punk Up, Vol. 1’’'’(2001, Orchard Records)
  • ’’Dropping Food on Their Heads Is Not Enough: Benefit for RAWA’’'’(2002, Geykido Comet Records)
  • ’’Mailorder for the Masses!’’'’(2002, Asian Man Records)
  • ’’Lessons for Today’’'’(2003, Almost Good Music)
  • ’’The Great Soup Opera’’'’(Wormhole/Atomic Records)

External links

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