Here’s another in a series of remembrances from PUNK UNDER THE SUN readers. This one’s from Tom Dark, a self-proclaimed 61-year-old punker living in Cleveland, Ohio, who played in bands such as the Decapitators and the Dark (featured image) and founded Hit & Run Records. Read all about Tom HERE.

“I knew about your music scene, back in the ’80s, through my friend Andy Panik, while in the Abusers (later, he & the singer Bobby [Bondage] became the blues/glam-rock band Rock City Angels). He gave me reports either through letters or phone & turned me on to the 1st wave of bands down there. To this day, I have never been to Miami, only in their airport, but I plan to visit someday.

“I have been into punk since the middle of the ’70s. I began buying anything I could get my hands on: vinyl, fanzine wise & listening to college radio when I could get it in (WRUW 91.1 FM, Case Western Reserve, it was only 10 watts back then). The turning point for me, to form a band, was when my dad took me to see Iggy Pop (with David Bowie on keyboards) & Blondie opening, I was only in the 6th grade. That night changed my life & I knew I wanted to be in a band! I became the singer in many groups. To see my history/releases(under about), go to my label Red Hour Records at: www.redhourrecords.com.

“I’m sure you can relate to this, funny how we get older, collect stuff & then want to box it up or get rid of it or both lol! Glad I ordered the book & love it so far. I’m glad you put this out, as I can relate. I had an idea years back, about putting out a book out about the Cleveland ’80s punk scene, but nobody wanted to dig up, find or put their pictures in a book, so I stopped asking. So many books are coming out from that era, Cleveland had a great scene & is very underrated, so I wanted to bring those memories into print. Maybe it will happen someday, but i wish soon, as we are not getting any younger & time is flying by. I will be in touch down the line. All the best! Tom Dark”