With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Founder Of Slash Records, Bob Biggs, Dies At 74
Bob Biggs was the publisher of Slash magazine, which spawned the record label of the same name. He's seen here in a still from "The Decline of Western Civilization," which was directed by his former wife, Penelope Spheeris.
()
The founder of the iconic Slash record label has died. Bob Biggs was an artist who became involved in the 1970s with an L.A. punk rock magazine called Slash. He then founded the record label in 1978 and it became home to such seminal L.A. bands as The Germs, X, The Blasters and Los Lobos.
Biggs would soon branch out of L.A. to add bands such as Violent Femmes, Dream Syndicate and Faith No More.
Louie Pérez of Los Lobos says the band owes everything to Biggs because he was the only one to take a chance on them:
"There was a lot of press going around [about us], but nobody really stepped up because everybody figured, What are going to do with this band, [which] plays rock and roll and traditional Mexican music played like, way too fast? He was the one person who actually knew what to do and that was simply put us in the studio and then send us off on the road."
Support for LAist comes from
Biggs' first wife, journalist Leslie Ward, says Biggs was the first art major at UCLA to also receive a football scholarship there. He was later married to filmmaker Penelope Spheeris. According to Variety, Biggs, who was living in Tehachapi, died from Lewy body dementia. The Whittier native was 74 years old and is survived by his wife, Kim, and their son, Monty.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist