The Beakers, an art punk band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1980 with Mark H. Smith on vocals and guitar, Jim Anderson on saxophone and vocals, and George Romansic on drums. Their debut concert took place at the Bahamas nightclub in Seattle on January 25, 1980. Shortly after this performance, Frankie Sundsten joined the group as bassist. The band quickly gained traction, touring the West Coast and sharing stages with notable acts like Gang of Four, The Delta 5, and XTC. In 1980, they released a 7-inch single featuring "Red Towel" and "Football Season is in Full Swing" on the independent Mr. Brown record label. The band disbanded in January 1981 after a brief but impactful career. Following their dissolution, their influence was recognized with the release of the compilation Four Steps Toward a Cultural Revolution in 2004 by K Records.
