From Supply and Demand: I totally missed out on the Germs while I was primarily listening to L.A.'s second wave of hardcore. Not until I heard the Melvin's cover of "Lexicon Devil" did I look for the Germs catalog, which had been out of print but, conveniently, re-released on CD. Of all the punk bands, I think the Germs most embody the "if there's a will, there's a way" punk spirit. In my opinion, they were outsider artists who used instruments and vocals as paintbrushes. Though their work may have been sloppy, sometimes there is charm in a gesture that transcends craftsmanship and could even be compromised by it. It is this same gestured whimsy that can make people self-destructive and susceptible to vice. Darby's virtues in one area were his demons in another. -Shepard Signed edition of 300. 18 x 24 inch screen print. Reference photo by Gary Leonard.