Finally. The entry at the top of my want list is crossed off. Seemed like this one used to turn up with far more frequency, but lately, feels like EVERYONE needs a copy and none are to be had.

In the opinion of all those who matter, “Vengeance” invariably ends up as one of the top 5 American punk singles of all time. 2nd Germs single, Bad Brains, Black Flag’s “Nervous Breakdown” and wild card for the fifth and that’s generally as close to “consensus” as folks tend to get in that world. As the second-ever release on Touch & Go Records, this 1981 disc lands right on the precipice of the emergence of hardcore.

For me, these cats from Lansing, Michigan were ahead of the game just enough so as to never really capitalize on the fruits of their labor. Oftentimes, those bands RIGHT before a movement/scene/whatever are what fascinate me.

Songs are short, abrasive, to-the-point and worth every penny. My Michigan punk collection is now officially “on point” and if anyone has a copy of the Springs single they’d let go of, I could be that much closer to completion, whatever that means. Past that…I don’t think there’s any legit MI punk records I’m lacking. But I love to be proved wrong.

Side note: lead singer of the Fix (Steve Miller) has become a friend in recent years. When I told him I was looking for a copy, he said he was gonna look under some rocks to see if he could uncover any. Apparently an ex-girlfriend of his did quite well for herself in the Bay Area and is almost certainly still holding a copy, but under no circumstances did he think it’d be a good idea to reach out to her. So this copy came in a more roundabout fashion. Apparently, the original owner of this one was Bruce Pavitt, almost certainly having been sent to him for consideration of including a review in his zine at the time, Sub Pop. Although from my hurried research, “Vengeance” appears to not garner a review or mention in any issues of the ‘zine. So being very clearly not fond of the single, it ended up in the possession of Calvin Johnson of K Records/Beat Happening/co-conspirator on some issues of Sub Pop. Then some other guy owned it, then some other guy, then me. It will have a nice, safe home from here on out.

Side note 2: ok, so maybe this wasn’t the TOP of my want list (Spaced “Flying Thru The Sky” b/w “Ain’t That The Way It Is Baby” probably is) but this was a SOLID #2 on the list for at least five years or so. Spaced been the top of the list for over ten years now. Wild. Find me one.