Chris Ashford of What Records? discusses releasing the first LA punk single "Forming" by the Germs, rarities, tapes, memories of Darby Crash and early punk scene stories.

Topics Include:

• Chris Ashford founded What Records? and knew Germs members George (Pat Smear) and Paul (Darby Crash)
• He worked in record stores through high school and was fascinated by record labels
• Chris decided to start a label while his friends formed the Germs band
• He had no formal education about making records, learned from Richard Fuse at Rhino
• "Forming" was recorded in a garage with two-track deck and two microphones
• The single had multiple takes but most were erased years ago
• B-side used cassette recording from Germs' Cheech & Chong "Up in Smoke" audition
• Master tape for "Forming" is missing, possibly in Canada, but Chris owns rights
• Cheech & Chong footage shows Germs performing "Sexboy" - same version as B-side
• They kept the cassette source secret initially to avoid potential lawsuits
• Lou Adler excluded Germs from movie because audiences wouldn't believe they were real
• Chris missed the "Up in Smoke" taping because he had to work his day job
• He financed all What Records releases including "Forming" himself
• Black rectangle on sleeve was intentionally ambiguous, meant as tongue-in-cheek band photo
• Address on record was Chris's parents' house where he lived
• He quickly moved to P.O. Box and removed address to protect his mother
• First pressing had wrong labels on wrong sides due to Monarch pressing plant error
• About 1,000 copies were made, most of original pressing was destroyed
• 600-700 defective records were thrown down hill as frisbees for fun
• None of them expected anything significant to happen with the record
• "Forming" was technically the first independent DIY punk single from Los Angeles
• The record served as legitimizing calling card for the Germs
• Darby Crash was gifted lyricist despite his troubled background and demons
• Chris received Germs burn from Michelle Ghaffari at the Whiskey without warning
• Germs burns became insider thing in summer 1977, wider trend came later
• Darby never fully matured, died at 22 before becoming complete person
• Germs often performed as chaotic train wreck, unlike disciplined bands like Stooges
• Darby had difficult childhood and family problems that created his demons
• David Bowie was Darby's favorite outlet, influenced his dreamy/nihilistic worldview
• Chris saw potential for Darby to become writer beyond just being lyricist

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