Southern California punk has always had its legends—but Orange County often gets overshadowed by its louder LA neighbors. That changes with the upcoming release of Tearing Down the Orange Curtain, a book that puts OC punk exactly where it belongs: front and center.
Compiled by Chris Morris, Mike Gitter, and photographer Jack Grisham, the book dives into the wild, gritty, and often misunderstood subculture that exploded in the suburbs of OC. From backyard gigs to violent clashes, skate culture, zines, and the rise of bands like T.S.O.L., Social Distortion, Adolescents, and more, this is a deep dive into a scene that helped shape punk’s identity far beyond the SoCal bubble.
Loaded with firsthand interviews, rare photos, flyers, and stories from the people who lived it, Tearing Down the Orange Curtain doesn’t romanticize—it documents. This is about a DIY scene forged in alienation, rebellion, and backyard chaos. It’s not just punk history—it’s punk survival.
If you care about where hardcore, skate punk, and that signature SoCal sneer came from, this one’s essential.
“Code Blue” by T.S.O.L.
