In ’79, nightlife in the college town of Chico, CA was still ruled by mustaches, El Caminos, the sweet, sweet mandolins of hippy folk, and the tail end of a disco era that just wouldn’t die. Playing punk-rock, looking punk-rock, or even smelling faintly of it at a distance was enough to get oneself chased though the streets by a pickup load of country fellers shouting “DEVO” at you.

So it was a mildly dangerous proposition when four students were willing to pioneer the punk/new wave sound in that particular place and time. They were:

(L-R in album photo)

Lorin Nelson (keys, vocals), a former church organist and student of avant-garde electronics and musique concrète. One of the proud and few punk-rock Hammond organists.

Jeff Bethell (bass, vocals) as a CSU, Chico student in 79, he admits he was originally hoping to use his bassist gig as a way to slide on over into a guitar role. That didn’t happen, but before long, he didn’t care.

Vinnie Villany (drums) New York native was rumored to be the drummer on “Leader of the Laundromat” and other 1960s pop hits. He disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1981 and that was that for The Agentz.

Matt Hogan, (guitar, vocals) guitarist and songwriter with a solid grasp of nearly every American music style before 1975. Matt passed away in 2008 after a long and storied music career.