Bakersfield, California—where the soil is as tough as the people and the music is as raw as the streets. This city doesn’t just follow trends; it spits them out, chews them up, and makes something real. But we’re not talking about what people usually imagine when they think of Bakersfield—just a bunch of country-lovin’ farmers, with the likes of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard hailing from here. We’re talking about punk rock. From basements to sun-scorched backyards to large venues, Bakersfield’s punk scene isn’t just alive—it’s thriving, loud, and unapologetic. A scene that heavily influenced nu-metal band Korn in their early days. It has shaped musicians, artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs for decades, and it continues to define the people and brands that rise from it. Punk here isn’t nostalgia; it’s a daily, lived ethos—an engine driving everything from music shows to motorsports.
The Venues That Built the Scene
Jerry’s Pizza & Pub has been the heartbeat of Bakersfield’s underground since 1992. Originally a basement pizza joint, it became a venue for all-ages punk shows, hosting acts like Madball, Rise Against, and countless local bands that helped define Bakersfield’s sound. The walls have witnessed the sweat, the moshing, and the raw, uncompromising energy that only a place like Jerry’s can produce. Its significance goes beyond entertainment: Jerry’s represents accessibility, inclusivity, and the understanding that punk thrives only when the next generation has space to create and experiment. Without venues like this, Bakersfield’s punk culture wouldn’t have survived decades of change.
Bam Bam’s / Club Mars, primarily active in the early ’90s, served as the DIY crucible where hardcore punk thrived. Bands like Los Crudos, Fury, and The Flex tore through its stage, night after night, creating a legacy that still resonates today. Bam Bam’s wasn’t about fancy production or corporate sponsorships—it was about grit, passion, and community. The venue taught everyone involved the fundamental punk lesson: your environment is what you make of it. Bands improvised, audiences participated, and the energy was contagious. These venues didn’t just host shows; they forged a city’s identity and taught countless punks the value of building something with your own hands.
Bands That Shaped Bakersfield
Burning Image, formed in 1982, is a deathrock band that became a voice for misfits and outsiders. Opening for Dead Kennedys and 45 Grave, their influence extended beyond the local scene. Their music was dark, atmospheric, and raw, giving a generation of Bakersfield punks a blueprint for authenticity and self-expression. Burning Image didn’t just perform—they created culture, showing that punk could be both art and rebellion simultaneously. Their longevity speaks to the enduring spirit of the scene and the community that supports it.
Fatal Vision contributed fast, aggressive, hardcore energy, leaving an imprint on Bakersfield that would inspire bands for decades. Their sound was a punch in the face—a reflection of the city’s raw, unpolished energy. Every performance demanded intensity and commitment, and it set a standard for what punk in Bakersfield could be: fearless, unfiltered, and uncompromising.
Pump Fake is a Bakersfield hardcore punk band known for their explosive live shows and aggressive sound. Their debut demo, Demolition 2024, features tracks like “Bring My Shit Back,” capturing the band’s raw energy and fast-paced style. Pump Fake has become a key part of Bakersfield’s punk scene, connecting to the city’s long history of hardcore music and influencing the next generation of local bands.
GOLD, also from Bakersfield, blends d‑beat with early ’90s New York Hardcore influences. Their 2024 EP, 14 Karats, tackles themes like economic hardship and societal struggles in Kern County. Active in performing and touring across California, GOLD helps shape the local hardcore scene while keeping Bakersfield’s punk culture alive and relevant.
Special Mention: Korn While Bakersfield is known for its raw punk roots, it also gave birth to one of the most influential nu-metal bands of all time—Korn. Formed in 1993, Korn blended elements of metal, hip-hop, and alternative music, creating a dark, aggressive sound that reshaped heavy music in the late ’90s and 2000s. Though not traditionally punk, their defiance, emotional honesty, and refusal to conform reflect the same rebellious Bakersfield spirit that fuels the city’s underground scene. Their global success put Bakersfield on the musical map, proving that the city’s DNA breeds innovation and intensity across genres.
Visual Exhibitions
Bakersfield’s punk influence extends beyond music into the visual and style realms, shaping artists and designers who reject convention and embrace authenticity. Punk in this city informs creativity, attitude, and the fearless pursuit of individual expression.
Stage Fright Clothing is a downtown Bakersfield store offering rock and horror-themed apparel. Established in 2015, it serves as a hub for alternative fashion enthusiasts, providing unique merchandise that resonates with the local punk community. The store hosts events like the Spooky Street Fair and Fright Night Market, fostering a space for like-minded individuals to connect and express their style.
Going Underground Records is a record store in Bakersfield known for its extensive collection of vinyl records. Founded by Ron Ramirez, the store has become a gathering spot for local music enthusiasts, offering a wide range of music genres and fostering a sense of community among patrons. It also serves as a venue for underground shows and events, contributing to the city’s vibrant music scene.
Punk in Sports and Lifestyle
Bakersfield punk doesn’t stop at music. It drives lifestyle, sports, and creativity. Punk in the city instills a fearless approach to action, a do-it-yourself mindset, and an insistence on authenticity.
Rick Thorne, BMX rider and musician, embodies this ethos. From the ramps to the stage, Thorne’s life merges athletic skill with punk attitude, proving that the scene’s energy can translate into anything you do. The creativity, risk-taking, and perseverance required to succeed in extreme sports mirror the DIY and rebellious nature of punk.
Jim Walewander, former MLB player, brought punk sensibilities to the baseball diamond. His fandom of bands like Dead Milkmen and his irreverent attitude demonstrated that punk wasn’t just music—it was a mindset. This approach informed his career, his interactions, and his willingness to do things differently, leaving a lasting impression on the culture surrounding Bakersfield sports.
Metal Mulisha: Bako Troops Born from the same dirt and defiance that fuels Bakersfield’s underground, Metal Mulisha’s Bako Troops embodied the city’s fearless edge. These riders weren’t just about motocross—they were about attitude. Known for their wild energy and no‑limits approach, the Bako Troops carried Bakersfield’s punk‑rock grit into the freestyle world, representing the raw, unfiltered spirit that defines this city’s athletes.
Jeff Fisher, a.k.a. FI$H: Athlete, Builder, Founder
Jeff Fisher channels Bakersfield’s punk ethos into his work as a racer, custom builder, and founder of ROXXR. Growing up in Bakersfield, he was drawn to and immersed himself in the scene at a very young age. His approach to motorsports, fabrication, and entrepreneurship is heavily influenced and embodies punk principles: independence, creative defiance, and self-reliance. FI$H’s work isn’t about fitting into existing structures—it’s about creating his own rules, pushing boundaries, and inspiring others to do the same. ROXXR exists because punks like him demand authenticity and refuse compromise. His influence spans beyond his own career, impacting the culture, the scene, and the broader Bakersfield community.
Punk Culture Today
Punk in Bakersfield is a living culture. It informs music, art, fashion, sports, and entrepreneurship. It teaches independence, resourcefulness, and resilience. Bakersfield’s punk scene continues to produce bands, athletes, and creators who reject compromise and embrace self-reliance. Venues, shows, and local initiatives ensure that the punk ethos continues to inspire action, innovation, and authenticity across generations.
In the streets, in the studios, on the tracks, and in the workshops, punk remains a force—a lens through which people approach their work, their passions, and their lives. It is both a historical movement and a present-day engine for creativity and rebellion.
Bakersfield’s punk scene is more than music—it’s a way of life. From Jerry’s Pizza to the ramps of BMX and freestyle motocross, from Burning Image to Pump Fake and Gold, punk shapes identity, culture, and enterprise. ROXXR is a product of this spirit, built on independence, creativity, and uncompromising energy. In 2025, punk isn’t a relic—it’s a living, breathing force driving musicians, athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs to push boundaries, take risks, and define their own rules.
ROXXR —