Hearing a band for the first time could change your life. Seeing a band play live for the first time takes it to a different levelβseeing them in motion, the incredible energy of the band, the crowd interacting. Target Video was at the vanguard of releasing a barrage punk VHS releasesβthe bleeding edge of technology at the timeβin the decade of Reagan.
These tapes were incredible documents of first and second wave punk bands playing live. The footage of those early bands playing also showed us the first West Coast venues, what the early crowds looked and acted likeβwith the lack of a dress code and no separation from the band or stage.
Some of the most unusual punk shows ever were captured on early, raw video by Target: Crime playing at San Quentin State Prison, The Mutants playing at a school for deaf children, The Cramps playing at a mental hospital, the first performances of Survival Research Laboratories, and both live and studio performances of The Screamers, who would only release video and no vinyl during their time.
Their second and third spaces also doubled as studios to videotape bands performing for the camera. Joe Rees was the man behind the camera, also producing, directing, and editing the videos.
Jill Hoffman helped produce the videos and took still photos. I was raised by my grandparents. They were already elderly people when they took me and my brother. So at eleven or twelve-years-old, that was my job. I grew up real fast in that sense. All that hard work of taking care of livestock, bailing hay, doing all those farm chores. I did not want to do that.
