Born Jan Paul Beahm in Los Angeles in 1958. He was the last of four kids. His mother Faith had split up with husband Harold Beahm, who was not Paul's (as he would come to be known) father. Paul was the bastard son of a man named William Beorkland. He was raised by stepfather Bob Baker who his mother joined in holy matrimony in the year 1964. He died in '71, and Paul went to search for his real father, who he discovered had passed on. Paul also had an big brother, who, in an eerily prophetic way, had died of a heroin overdose.
Paul met friend, guitarist and companion Pat Smear when he was in 8th grade. They met thru a speed dealer they both bought from. Pat was in 7th grade. They became friends quickly, despite some differences of opinion—while Paul loved old 50s rock and roll, the more cutting-edge Pat was a fan the New York Dolls, David Bowie, and Queen. Paul disliked this music at first, but would grow to appreciate it. At 13, Pat ran off and lived in a "Jesus commune" for a year. He came back and saw Paul again, and that's where the story really begins.
The setting was the notorious "Innovative Program School" at University High in Santa Monica. The school was designed to harbor social miscreants, and, not surprisingly, both Paul and Pat were admitted to the experimental facility. Also found on campus was future Black Flag bass player Kira Roessler. Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth graduated from the school. Around this time, the two first got the notion of forming a band. Originally it was just sort of a joke - they had the name "Sophistifuck and the Revlon Spam Queens." Not much came of the idea until later. Paul and Pat were thrown out of IPS - they accused Paul of trying to brainwash students.
Soon the two became interested in punk rock. The story of the early days is littered with familiar names and places—The Whiskey a Go-Go, the Licorice Pizza record store across the street, and the parking lot of the Rainbow, where many of the people involved in this story and others from the same period would spend their time. Bands like The Runaways and The Ramones were a big influence, but the catalyst was the bombastic glam / arena-rock sensation, Queen.
Queen was staying at the Beverly Hilton. Pat and Paul arrived to look for Freddie Mercury, and ran into two (they claimed) "twins" from the Valley. They were Belinda Carlisle and friend Lorna. They never thought they'd see each other again. Lorna later said she immediately liked Pat and Paul, calling them "the weirdest guys we ever met!"
Now Pat and Paul were determined to form a band for real. Soon the city was plastered with flyers asking for "two untalented girls", and, as if by fate, Lorna and Belinda answered. Belinda played drums, calling herself Dottie Danger, but quit fairly quickly after getting mononucleosis. She brought in her friend Becky, who was named Donna Rhia. Belinda continued to work with the band, doing such things as making flyers and supplying Paul with peanut butter. Reportedly the girls were disappointed with Pat and Paul's name for the band, which symbolized "the germ of an idea", something that was there at the beginning.
In no time the band had their first performance, with pointy-shoed Mexican kids The Zeros and "LA's first punk band" The Weirdos. They "made noise." Paul, who was now known as Bobby Pyn, covered himself with licorice and peanut butter and threw himself around dramatically. In five minutes they were shut down. This was the beginning. They also played at the audition for Cheech and Chong's "Up In Smoke", from which the best-known version of "Sex Boy" is taken. They also played at Kim Fowley's "New Wave Nights", a performance recorded on the Germicide album. They covered "Sugar Sugar" and Bobby covered the audience in, well, sugar.
They attracted the attention of Chris Ashford, a record store employee who founded What? Records and released the band's first single, "Forming", with the live "Sex Boy" as a B-side. Bobby included his shockingly literate and intelligent lyrics on a lyric sheet. The eerie, unmistakable echo on the recording was apparently, according to Pat, a "button left on by accident." The band, quickly deciding to "get more serious", went thru a series of new drummers, including Cliff Hanger, Don Bonebrake, and Nicky Beat, who played with them on the Slash Records 7 inch #SCAM-101 that included the songs "Lexicon Devil", "Circle One", and "No God" and showcased the band's impressive playing ability and skill, as well as Bobby's lyrical prowess. It featured a cover with sinister, Nazi-esque imagery for shock value. Paul also dropped the name Bobby Pyn, adopting a new moniker: Darby Crash.
The Germs were born.
