Catholic Discipline

This first-generation new wave outfit was formed in 1979 in San Francisco, California, USA, featuring a variety of artists better known for their contributions to their ‘regular’ bands. The line-up featured Claude Bessy (vocals), Phranc (guitar), Rickie Jaffe (bass), Robert Lopez (keyboards, also Zeros) and Craig Lee (drums, ex-Cars [not The Cars]; Invaders; Mutards; Bags). Bessy, an ex-dishwasher turned punk visionary, was the most memorable of the writing team on the LA punk magazine, Slash, writing under the name Kickboy Face. He later relocated to the UK to become press officer for Rough Trade Records, a video DJ at the Haçienda, and a music video producer. Phranc, later a solo artist advocated by Morrissey, remembers the band’s brief exploits thus: ‘Catholic Discipline was never a real ‘band’ situation. Everyone was in at least one or two other bands. Some of it was conflict of interest or conflict of personality but it was perfect the way it started and ended.’ That amounted to a handful of compilation appearances and singles, notably those issued by Slash Records, and an appearance in Penelope Spheeris’ seminal 1981 movie, "Decline Of Western Civilization". [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]