The Mau Maus
Original 1978 LA punk rock band the Mau Maus have released “Scorched Earth Policies: Then & Now” which contains 6 songs from their 1983 recordings (produced by Doors guitarist Robby Krieger), and 8 new recordings that feature the 1981 line up of the band – Rick Wilder (Berlin Brats), Scott “Chopper” Franklin (The Cramps, Nick Curran & the Lowlifes), Paul “Black” Mars (LA Guns) and Michael Livingston (The Livingstons) playing the rest of their songs from that era.
The Mau Maus formed in 1978 and were amongst the original Masque bands. Reveled and reviled, taking the raw energy of Iggy and the Stooges and infusing an unhealthy dose of James Brown jive, the Mau Maus were formed when mid 70’s trash rockers the Berlin Brats imploded when punk rock arrived and divided the band. When the band cancelled their appearance in Penelope Spheeris’ “The Decline of Western Civilization”, Penelope asked singer Rick Wilder to introduce the bands appearing in the film. When he insisted on saying what he wanted about each band, the idea was scrapped. “Scorched Earth Policies” is the band’s first full length release.
