Alice Bag: The Punk Rock Scene That Soundtracked a Serial Killer
Summary
This Disgraceland episode explores the birth of the Los Angeles punk scene in 1977, centered on Alice Bag and her band, The Bags, at the underground club The Mask. Host Jake Brennan intertwines this cultural history with the terror of the Hillside Stranglers, whose murder spree of ten women paralyzed the city. The narrative highlights how the punk community, led by Alice Bag’s fierce protectionism, found solidarity and identity amidst the paranoia and violence of late-70s LA.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The Hillside Stranglers and 1977 LA
LA's Identity Crisis and the Underground Punk Scene
Alice Bag: From Abused Child to Punk Protector
The Bags Band and The Mask Club Culture
The Murder of Jane King and the Hillside Stranglers
Citywide Paranoia and the Punk Response
Violence at The Mask and Alice's Role as Protector
Impersonating Police: Heightened Fear in LA
Kimberly Martin's Encounter with the Stranglers
Community Protection and Life at The Canterbury
Club Shutdown and Pearl Harbor's Narrow Escape
The Murder of Cindy Hudspeth
The Fight with Tom Waits and Blacklisting
Scene Implosion and Alice's Return Home
Conclusion: The Cycle of Evil in Los Angeles
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