The Germs was an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1976 by Darby Crash and Pat Smear. The classic lineup consisted of Crash on vocals, Smear on guitar, Lorna Doom on bass, and Don Bolles on drums. Their first single, "Forming", was released in July 1977. In 1978, the group released the EP Lexicon Devil, followed by their debut studio album, (GI) (1979), produced by Joan Jett. The band was featured in Penelope Spheeris's documentary film The Decline of Western Civilization (1980), which chronicled the Los Angeles punk movement. Following Crash's suicide on December 7, 1980, the group disbanded. In 2005, actor Shane West was cast to play the late vocalist in the biographical film What We Do Is Secret, which premiered on June 23, 2007. West performed with Smear, Doom, and Bolles at the film's wrap party, leading to a reunion of the Germs with West as their frontman. This lineup toured worldwide, including performances at the 2006 and 2008 Warped Tours. Doom died of breast cancer on January 16, 2019.
