The Testors

While the Stooges, Blondie, and Talking Heads are revered for their punk rock antics and unchangeably praised for being a part of a major rock revolution in the late '70s, there's one band that's been consistently overlooked. The Testors created just as much noise as the Dead Boys and rioted far more than the Germs. The were even kicked out of Canada for causing a ruckus. Sonny Vincent (vocals/guitar), Gene Sinigalliano (guitar), and Gregory R (drums) formed the Testors in New York City in 1975, quickly becoming mainstays at Max's Kansas City and CBGB's. They'd only release one single, the limited-edition 7" "Together"/"Time Is Mine" in 1976, while dismissing offers from records labels. For them, it was about rock & roll; pedal-to-the-metal rock & roll. Before breaking up in 1981, the Testors amassed a limitless amount of material, but it would be nearly two decades until the public would hear of the Testors again. In 2003, Swami Records unearthed some of the band's greatest work so it could be heard for the very first time. The double-disc release Complete Recordings: 1976-79 captured the raw spirit of the Testors, finally giving them their proper place among the punk rock history books.