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The Dead Boys first formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1976. The band was originally known as Frankenstein before renaming to The Dead Boys. They are known for their intense performances and raucous sound, which made significant waves in the punk rock scene of the late 1970s. The band originally consisted of Stiv Bators (vocals), Cheetah Chrome (guitar), Jimmy Zero (guitar), Jeff Magnum (bass), and Johnny Blitz (drums).
The Dead Boys released two studio albums during their initial runāYoung, Loud and Snotty and We Have Come for Your Childrenāand have since become iconic in the punk genre, although they never achieved significant commercial success on the mainstream charts. They briefly reunited several times and produced several live albums capturing their dynamic stage presence. In terms of awards, The Dead Boys were not known for collecting accolades but are revered in punk circles for their groundbreaking influence on the genre.
THE DEAD BOYS STUDIO ALBUMS
Young, Loud and Snotty (1977)
Released: 1977
Young, Loud and Snotty was the debut studio album by The Dead Boys, released in 1977 by Sire Records. The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City during April 1977 and was produced by Genya Ravan. This release became a landmark in punk rock, celebrated for its raw energy and rebellious attitude.
CD Track Listings:
- “Sonic Reducer” – 3:09
- “All This and More” – 2:47
- “What Love Is” – 2:10
- “Not Anymore” – 3:41
- “Ain’t Nothing to Do” – 2:28
- “Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth” – 2:07
- “Hey Little Girl” – 3:06
- “I Need Lunch” – 3:41
- “High Tension Wire” – 3:08
- “Down in Flames” – 2:17
We Have Come for Your Children (1978)
Released: 1978
The follow-up album, We Have Come for Your Children, was released in 1978, also under Sire Records. Recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, in early 1978, this album was produced by Felix Pappalardi. Though not as commercially successful as their debut, this album continued to deliver the band’s notorious punk rock sound.
CD Track Listings:
- “3rd Generation Nation” – 2:35
- “I Won’t Look Back” – 2:16
- “I Don’t Wanna Be No Catholic Boy” – 2:42
- “Flame Thrower Love” – 2:03
- “Son of Sam” – 5:10
- “Tell Me” – 2:37
- “Big City” – 3:03
- “Calling on You” – 3:29
- “Dead and Alive” – 1:48
- “Ain’t It Fun” – 4:34
Still Snotty: Young, Loud and Snotty at 40 (2017)
Released: September 8, 2017
Still Snotty: Young, Loud and Snotty at 40 is a re-recording of their debut album, marking its 40th anniversary. Released by Plowboy Records, the album featured original members Cheetah Chrome and Johnny Blitz along with Jake Hout, Jason Kottwitz, and Ricky Rat, capturing the spirit of the original while updating it for a new generation.
CD Track Listings:
- “Sonic Reducer” – 3:00
- “All This and More” – 2:51
- “What Love Is” – 2:17
- “Not Anymore” – 3:37
- “Ain’t Nothin’ to Do” – 2:33
- “Caught with the Meat in Your Mouth” – 2:07
- “I Need Lunch” – 3:40
- “High Tension Wire” – 2:58
- “Down in Flames” – 2:04
THE DEAD BOYS ALTERNATE MIX ALBUMS
Younger, Louder and Snottier (1997)
Released: 1997
Younger, Louder and Snottier, released by Bomp! Records, features the original rough mixes of Young, Loud and Snotty. This alternate mix album gives fans a rawer insight into the bandās debut, presenting a grittier version of the already raucous original.
CD Track Listings:
- “Sonic Reducer” – 3:07
- “All This and More” – 2:52
- “What Love Is” – 2:10
- “Not Anymore” – 3:44
- “Ain’t Nothin’ to Do” – 3:37
- “Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth” – 2:08
- “Hey Little Girl” – 3:00
- “I Need Lunch” – 3:37
- “High Tension Wire” – 3:07
- “Down in Flames” – 2:14
3rd Generation Nation (1999)
Released: 1999
Released by Bad Boy Production, 3rd Generation Nation offers premix versions of tracks from We Have Come for Your Children. This alternate mix album provides a unique perspective on the bandās second studio album, showcasing an earlier, unpolished take on the songs. A remastered edition was released by Cleopatra Records in 2024.
CD Track Listings:
- “Catholic Boy” – 2:42
- “Son of Sam” – 4:45
- “3rd Generation Nation” – 2:34
- “Dead and Alive” – 1:49
- “I Won’t Look Back” – 2:16
- “Tell Me” – 2:35
- “Calling on You” – 3:06
- “Big City” – 3:04
- “Flame Thrower Love” – 2:04
- “Ain’t It Fun” – 4:32
THE DEAD BOYS RARITIES AND ARCHIVAL ALBUMS
Ignorance In Action (The Rarities) (2024)
Released: September 20, 2024
Ignorance In Action (The Rarities) collects vintage Dead Boys demos, rare studio material, and live recordings. The collection includes material from the band’s early years as well as recordings connected to later reunion activity.
CD Track Listings:
- “All The Way Down (Poison Lady)” – 3:53
- “The Nights Are So Long” – 3:30
- “Ya Really Don’t Love Me” – 2:20
- “Detention Home” – 3:33
- “Ain’t It Fun” – 4:29
- “Dead Or Alive” – 1:30
- “Catholic Boy” – 2:00
- “Detention Home” – 1:31
- “Don’t Mind Rockin’ Tonite” – 2:41
- “Hey Little Girl” – 2:48
- “High Tension Wire” – 4:10
- “What Love Is” – 2:32
- “I Need Lunch” – 4:16
- “Down In Flames” – 2:46
- “Anarchy In The UK” – 2:10
THE DEAD BOYS LIVE ALBUMS
Night of the Living Dead Boys (1981)
Released: 1981
Night of the Living Dead Boys, released by Bomp! Records, captures the raw live energy of The Dead Boys during their peak performance era. The album was recorded at CBGB in New York in March 1979, delivering the intense atmosphere of their concerts.
CD Track Listings:
- “Detention Home” – 3:41
- “3rd Generation Nation” – 2:59
- “All This & More” – 3:05
- “Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth” – 2:27
- “Tell Me” – 2:43
- “Catholic Boy” – 3:06
- “I Won’t Look Back” – 2:52
- “Ain’t It Fun” – 4:21
- “What Love Is” – 2:19
- “Ain’t Nothing to Do” – 2:45
- “I Need Lunch” – 3:44
- “Son of Sam” – 5:40
- “Sonic Reducer” – 3:01
The Return of the Living Dead Boys (1987)
Released: 1987
The Return of the Living Dead Boys was released by Revenge Records, primarily targeted for the French market as an import. It features recordings from a performance on July 22, 1977, at CBGB, showcasing the band’s legendary live presence.
Liver Than You’ll Ever Be (1988)
Released: 1988
Liver Than You’ll Ever Be, released by various labels and available as imports, captures a live performance from December 26, 1987, at the Ritz in New York City. This album demonstrates the band’s continued relevance and dynamic stage energy well into the 1980s.
Track Listings:
- “Sonic Reducer”
- “All This and More”
- “Caught with the Meat in Your Mouth”
- “Calling on You”
- “I Won’t Look Back”
- “What Love Is”
- “I Need Lunch”
- “Ain’t Nothin’ to Do”
- “Down in Flames”
- “Son of Sam”
- “Search and Destroy”
- “Ain’t It Fun”
- “Tell Me”
- “3rd Generation Nation”
- “Catholic Boy”
Twistin’ on the Devil’s Fork: Live At CBGB’s (1998)
Released: 1998
Twistin’ on the Devil’s Fork: Live At CBGB’s was released by Hell Yeah Records / Bacchus Records and comprises live recordings from two different shows: October 2, 1977, and August 31, 1978, at CBGB. This album captures the quintessential raw punk sound of The Dead Boys in their prime New York punk scene habitat.
CD Track Listings:
- “Sonic Reducer” – 2:59
- “All This and More” – 2:56
- “High Tension Wire” – 2:53
- “Son of Sam” – 4:27
- “(I Don’t Wanna Be No) Catholic Boy” – 3:24
- “Hey Little Girl” – 2:46
- “I Won’t Look Back” – 2:48
- “Flame Thrower Love” – 3:00
- “3rd Generation Nation” – 3:25
- “Ain’t Nothin’ to Do” – 2:37
- “Down in Flames” – 2:15
- “What Love Is” – 2:30
All This and More (1998)
Released: 1998
All This and More, another release from Bomp! Records, includes live recordings from the late 1970s across multiple dates and locations, including performances at CBGB and in San Francisco. This collection offers a broad spectrum of live experiences, featuring some of the bandās most iconic tracks.
Return Of The Living Dead Boys – Halloween Night 1986 (2024)
Released: April 26, 2024
Return Of The Living Dead Boys – Halloween Night 1986 presents the original Dead Boys lineup of Stiv Bators, Cheetah Chrome, Jimmy Zero, Jeff Magnum, and Johnny Blitz performing at The Ritz in New York City on October 31, 1986. The reunion show was introduced by Joey Ramone.
CD Track Listings:
- “Sonic Reducer” – 3:23
- “All This and More” – 2:51
- “Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth” – 2:11
- “Calling On You” – 3:56
- “I Won’t Look Back” – 2:42
- “What Love Is” – 2:43
- “I Need Lunch” – 4:29
- “Ain’t Nothing To Do” – 2:37
- “Down In Flames” – 2:12
- “Son of Sam” – 4:27
- “Detention Home” – 3:55
- “3rd Generation Nation” – 3:01
- “Tell Me” – 2:36
- “Search and Destroy” – 3:43
- “Flamethrower Love” – 2:07
- “High Tension Wire” – 3:04
- “Sonic Reducer ā Encore Version” – 4:58
Live In San Francisco (2024)
Released: November 27, 2024
Live In San Francisco presents a 1977 performance by The Dead Boys at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco. The archival release captures the band during its original era and was issued by Cleopatra Records.
CD Track Listings:
- “Sonic Reducer” – 2:56
- “All This And More” – 3:31
- “Caught With The Meat In Your Mouth” – 2:20
- “I Won’t Look Back” – 2:44
- “Not Anymore” – 3:42
- “What Love Is” – 2:11
- “Flame Thrower Love” – 2:47
- “Son Of Sam” – 4:30
- “Down In Flames” – 3:26
- “Search And Destroy” – 3:41
Night Of The Living Dead Dolls (2025)
Released: January 20, 2025
Night Of The Living Dead Dolls documents a 1978 benefit performance held after drummer Johnny Blitz was seriously injured. The concert brought the Dead Boys together with guests including New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan and John Belushi.
CD Track Listings:
- “Looking For A Kiss” – 3:33
- “Bad Girl” – 3:24
- “Tell Me” – 3:22
- “All This And More” – 2:42
- “Trash” – 3:19
- “Calling On You” – 3:55
- “Pills” – 3:21
- “I Need Lunch” – 3:55
- “(There’s Gonna Be a) Showdown” – 4:06
- “Sonic Reducer” – 3:39
- “Hey Little Girl” – 2:49
- “Hard Headed Woman” – 3:01
- “It’s All Over Now” – 3:50
Down On The Bowery From The Sleaziest Catacombs (2026)
Released: May 22, 2026
Down On The Bowery From The Sleaziest Catacombs collects two archival Dead Boys performances recorded at CBGB, presenting twenty-six live tracks from the band’s classic era.
CD Track Listings:
- “Calling On You” – 3:42
- “(I Don’t Wanna Be No) Catholic Boy” – 2:49
- “Ain’t Nothin’ To Do” – 2:40
- “Ain’t It Fun” – 4:19
- “Son Of Sam” – 4:25
- “Tell Me” – 2:41
- “All This And More” – 2:59
- “3rd Generation Nation” – 2:46
- “Dead And Alive” – 2:06
- “Hey Little Girl” – 2:41
- “Flame Thrower Love” – 2:09
- “I Won’t Look Back” – 2:24
- “What Love Is” – 2:16
- “Calling On You” – 3:34
- “Search & Destroy” – 3:27
- “Sonic Reducer” – 3:08
- “All This & More” – 2:56
- “High Tension Wire” – 3:15
- “Caught With The Meat In Your Mouth” – 2:24
- “Ain’t Nothing To Do” – 2:51
- “Down In Flames” – 2:54
- “Search & Destroy (Still Searching)” – 3:36
- “Not Anymore” – 3:28
- “Hey Little Girl” – 2:39
- “What Love Is” – 2:12
- “Flame Thrower Love” – 2:48
Time Warp Baby (2026)
Released: June 12, 2026
Time Warp Baby is an archival live Dead Boys release featuring the band performing at CBGB. Issued by Cleopatra Records, it became the latest Dead Boys album release as of August 2026.
CD Track Listings:
- “Sonic Reducer” – 2:59
- “All This And More” – 2:56
- “High Tension Wire” – 2:53
- “Son Of Sam” – 4:27
- “(I Don’t Wanna Be No) Catholic Boy” – 3:24
- “Hey Little Girl” – 2:46
- “I Won’t Look Back” – 2:48
- “Flame Thrower Love” – 3:00
- “3rd Generation Nation” – 3:25
- “Ain’t Nothin’ To Do” – 2:37
- “Down In Flames” – 2:15
- “What Love Is” – 2:30
- “Death May Be Your Santa Claus” – 4:10
Read More: Complete List Of The Dead Boys Band Members
Updated August 23, 2026.
Complete List Of The Dead Boys Albums And Songs article published on ClassicRockHistory.com Ā© 2026



























