Biography

Having grown up in the Orange County, CA, throughout the late '70s/early '80s, Glenn McKenzie and Dean Briggs were surrounded by the SoCal punk scene. Bands like the Adolescents, TSOL, the Vandals, Agent Orange, Black Flag, and the Circle Jerks were out destroying their town, and Mckenzie and Briggs were like "everyone else is doing it and having a blast, why shouldn't we?" With the recruitment of Bob Becker on vocals and Mike Burton on Guitar, the Whitekaps were formed in 1981. With the founders Briggs (drums) and bassist McKenzie heavily influenced by surf, skating, beer, and just all around being stupid, the Whitekaps brought on their funny punk throughout the California Coast for the next several years -- not to mention an abundance of guitar players and K.C. Maddox eventually taking over the mic. With their lineup finally settling down in 1987, thanks in part to Rich Paul's permanent duties on guitar, the Whitekaps finally released their first EP Cannonball Man in 1994 on Hopeless Records. Two years following, former vocalist Bob Becker hooked them up with a deal on his label Fearless Records in 1996. After 15 years, their first full-length, Blown in the USA finally saw the light of day with the same energy and goofiness that the Whitekaps had when they first started out in the early '80s. Their second EP, Endless Bummer, followed later on that year. ~ Mike DaRonco, Rovi