The Fags at Paradise Loft, Seattle, WA, February 13, 1981

James “Babyteeth” Carbo (b. unknown) designed this poster for The Fags’ show at Seattle club Paradise Loft, near Woodland Park, on February 13, 1981. Babyteeth had moved to Seattle in 1974, where he quickly became an important part of the city’s growing Punk Rock scene as a DJ and promoter. In 1978, he moved into an Eastlake house with silver walls and ceilings and filled it with go-go boots and Punk paraphernalia. This became one of the first Punk Rock houses in the city. He put on many shows at the Vogue, where he was a long-time DJ, including theme nights like Glitter Night and Punk Rock Night. He also silkscreened posters for many of the bands who performed at the Vogue. 

The Fags were a Punk band originally formed in Seattle. They got their named from local promoter Steve Pritchard (b. 1948), who, not knowing the name of the band one night at the Lincoln Arts Center, introduced them as such. Siblings Ben (b. unknown), a drummer, and Barbara Ireland (b. unknown), a singer, bassist, and filmmaker, joined guitarists Paul Solger (b. 1965), who had started Solger, one of Seattle’s first hardcore Punk bands, and Dahny Reed (b. unknown), as well as vocalist Upchuck (d. 1990) to form The Fags in 1980. Leaving Seattle behind in 1984, the band would also find success in NYC, where they were known for wild stage shows including vampire weddings and full body day-glow tattoos.