SIN 34
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica , United States |
| Products | Music recordings (EPs, albums, compilations) |
SIN 34 was a hardcore punk group originating from Santa Monica, California, in 1981, distinguished by its female lead vocalist Julie Lanfeld-Keskin. The band's rhythm section eventually formed the group Painted Willie, secured a contract with SST Records in 1985, and embarked on a nationwide tour alongside Black Flag in 1986. Following their reunion in 2008, SIN 34 mainly performed across southern California until 2012. The principal songwriter Phil Newman passed away in 2015, and the band has since ceased plans for future activity. Vocalist Lanfeld-Keskin died in 2018.
1981–1984
The name SIN 34 was derived from the Los Angeles UHF broadcaster Spanish International Network, channel 34. The band was established by singer Julie Lanfeld and drummer Dave Markey, soon joined by bassist Phil Newman and guitarist Mike Glass after brief contributions from Mike Vallejo and Chris Pedersen.
SIN 34 supported prominent acts such as Dead Kennedys, T.S.O.L., and Social Distortion. Their initial recordings were featured on cassette compilations like Meathouse and Charred Remains. In 1982, they issued their first EP, Die Laughing, through Spinhead Records, a label managed by bassist Newman; it achieved sales of approximately 1,500 units. They also participated in local compilations including Smoke 7's Sudden Death and Nu Underground's Life Is Boring So Why Not Steal This Record.
In 1983, the band recorded their full-length album Do You Feel Safe at Mystic Records with producer Greg Hetson of Circle Jerks, initially selling around 2,500 copies. The album received airplay on college radio stations and garnered favorable reviews in fanzines. That year, Julie was spotlighted in Thrasher magazine for her skateboarding skills. They re-recorded the track "12 Hour Trip" for Dave Markey's film Desperate Teenage Lovedolls, whose soundtrack was later reissued by SST Records and Sympathy for the Record Industry. SIN 34 also appeared on Mystic Records' compilation Mystic Sampler #1, alongside other influential punk bands.
Internal conflicts led to the band's dissolution in September 1984.
1995–1996
In March 1995, Grand Theft Audio released Die Listening, a CD compilation that included most of SIN 34's earlier recordings made on 4- and 8-track equipment, tracks from various compilations, an interview conducted by Tim Yohannon on Maximum Rocknroll radio, as well as live performances recorded at Los Angeles' Grand Olympic Auditorium. That year also saw their inclusion on two reissued compilations: Buried Alive (The Best from Smoke Seven Records) 1981–1983 (Bomp! Records) and Teaching Your Bird to Talk (Beat Generation Records). In 1996, Bomp! Records featured them again on the compilation Buried Alive Vol. 2.
2008
After a break lasting nearly a quarter-century, Julie Lanfeld revived SIN 34 in 2008 with original members Phil Newman, Mike Glass, and Dave Markey. The reunited band played several shows throughout southern California and reissued their debut EP Die Laughing digitally via iTunes.
2011
On August 2, 2011, the punk group NOFX released an untitled EP under Fat Wreck Chords consisting of hardcore punk covers, which included SIN 34’s song "Say We Suck". Later that year in December, SIN 34 performed at a significant event held at GV30 inside Santa Monica’s Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, celebrating promoter Gary Tovar and Goldenvoice Productions’ three decades of influence. This event featured renowned bands such as Bad Religion, T.S.O.L., Youth Brigade, and The Grim.
2012
The SIN 34 emblem was featured on the cover of Markey's publication We Got Power, which documents the hardcore punk movement of the 1980s. The group performed their concluding concert on June 2, 2012, at Webers in Reseda before entering a period of inactivity.
2013
In 2013, SIN 34 appeared on two compilation albums: What Have We Wrought? A Benefit for Mike Atta released by Burger Records, and David Markey & Heavy Friends – Volume Infinite issued through Thick Syrup Records.
2014
The band's only album, Do You Feel Safe, was reissued by Sinister Torch, an independent label based in Seattle, across multiple formats including LP, CD, cassette, and digital. This marked the album’s first commercial release in three decades.
Side projects
Glass, Markey, and Newman joined forces with Steven McDonald from Redd Kross to create Anarchy 6, a satirical hardcore punk ensemble. Using alternate names, they produced the studio album Anarchy Lives! (1988) and a live cover record titled Live Like a Suicidal (1990).
Books and fanzines
- Flipside fanzine (1982)
Film and video
- The Slog Movie (1982)
- SIN 34 – Trip to San Francisco (1982)
- Desperate Teenage Lovedolls (1984)
- Flipside Video Fanzine #1
Former members
- Julie Lanfeld-Keskin – vocals
- Phil Newman – bass guitar
- Michael F. Glass – guitarist
- Dave Markey – drummer
Brief stints in the band
- Mike Vallejo – guitar (1981)
- Chris Pedersen – guitar (1981)
- Scott Silverman – guitar (1981)
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charred Remains | 1981 | Version Sound | Compilation cassette |
| Meathouse | 1982 | Version Sound | Compilation cassette |
| Sudden Death | 1982 | Smoke Seven Records | Compilation LP |
| Die Laughing | 1982 | Spinhead | Sin 34 EP |
| Do You Feel Safe? | 1983 | Spinhead | Sin 34 LP |
| Life is Boring So Why Not Steal This Record | 1983 | New Underground | Compilation LP |
| We Got Power | 1983 | Mystic Records | Compilation LP |
| Mystic Sampler #1 | 1984 | Mystic Records | Compilation LP |
| Desperate Teenage Lovedolls | 1984 | Gasatanka Records | Compilation LP |
| Desperate Teenage Lovedolls | 1986 | SST Records | Compilation LP |
| Buried Alive: (The Best from Smoke Seven Records) 1981–1983 | 1995 | Bomp! Records | CD & vinyl compilation |
| Teaching Your Bird to Talk | 1995 | Beat Generation | CD compilation |
| Die Listening: 1981–1984 A.D. | 1995 | Grand Theft Audio | CD |
| Buried Alive Vol. 2 | 1996 | Bomp! Records | CD compilation |
| Desperate Teenage Lovedolls – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | 1997 | Sympathy for the Record Industry | CD |
| Sudden Death (reissue) | 2004 | Puke N Vomit Records | CD compilation |
| Party or Go Home (60 bands) | 2004 | Mystic Records | CD compilation |
| Mystic Sampler #1 & 2 | 2006 | Mystic Records | CD compilation |
| What Have We Wrought? (Benefit for Mike Atta) | 2013 | Burger Records | Cassette compilation |
| David Markey & Heavy Friends – Volume Infinite | 2013 | Thick Syrup Records | CD & digital release |
| Do You Feel Safe? (re-issue) | 2014 | Sinister Torch Records | LP, CD, cassette, digital release |