Silke Berlinn, retro-punk vocalist known for her exceptional vocal range and the famous bands with whom she has been associated: Mink deVille, The Germs, Blondie, Fast Floyd, FANG, The Sleepers, The Offs, Paul Roessler (Screamers,) The Mutants, The Victims, Johnny Thunders, TSOL, Heartbreakers, NY Dolls, Cheetah Chrome, Rikk Agnew (Adolescents, Christian Death, The Ramones. Berlinn began singing in a Catholic girls' choir at the age of 6, later copying the vocal calisthenics of 60s Girl Groups. Compared to Ronnie Ronette, Berlinn has been called "the Janis Joplin of punk rock"
At 15, she formed her first band in NYC, leaving soon after for San Francisco to work with Robbie McKenzie of Mink deVille, a band started by McKenzie who recruited Willie Borsey as its lead singer. McKenzie & Berlinn later formed Fast Floyd & the Firebirds.
Berlinn’s first recording, "Bizarre” was produced by Bill Graham with Brad Samuelson (Rolling Stones) engineering. Berlinn & McKenzie were romantically involved & split up after McKenzie began stalking her and threatening her life after leaving him for Addictions guitarist Keeth Paul (David Bowie, New York Dolls.)
Silke returned to NYC, followed shortly by Spike and the other members of The Addictions, which included, at various times Brendan Earley (Mutants); Steve Berman (Victims); Jerry Nolan (NY Dolls, Heartbreakers); Frank Infante (Blondie); Clement Burke (Blondie); Clarence Clemmons (E Street Band); The Hooters, Robbie Spinoza; Luigi Scorcia (Johnny Thunders Band); and Manhattan Rob Walsh. Silke had a three-record contract with Columbia Records negotiated with former Blondie manager, Gino Riccardi, which she failed to fulfill due to having had a nervous breakdown in the late eighties.
Silke went on to write her as-yet unpublished memoirs of her times as a NYC Underground Punk figure entitled "Queen of the Underground." She currently seeks representation.
She has been linked romantically with Cheetah Chrome of The Dead Boys, DeeDee Ramone, Luigi Scorcia of The Johnny Thunders' band & La Cosa Nostra; Jerry Nolan of The New York Dolls, Fast Floyd, and Keith Dailidenas of David Bowie, The New York Dolls & The Addictions
She had frequently warned romantic interests that "most of the men I become involved with die."
Silke has recorded with all of the above-mentioned artists.
Here is a passage from her book:
Cheetah Chrome: "What's this?"
Silke Berlinn: "it's my wrist after the other love of my life slashed it with a straight-edge razor & i went to the hospital & got 60 stitches when my roommate at A-hole said i was bleeding to death because i went to sleep after he slashed my wrist (& it was just a little love bite anyway & we lived happily ever after for another 5 yrs in our band together just writing & whiling the days away) but it ended my guitar career & it was a good thing too because it never even started so i have to sit around practicing anymore trying to be the hardcore patti smith-- what a relief
i always fall in love with the weirdest people"
INFLUENCES
Velvet Underground, Iggy Pop, Mink deVille, Bush, John Murry, Biggie Smalls, Cypress Hill, Naughty by Nice, GG Allin, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Contours, Flamin' Groovies
Worked with Cheetah Chrome (in a manner of speaking), DeeDee Ramone, Jerry Nolan, Frank Infante, Clarence Clemmons, Ruben Siguenza (Mink deVille), Johnnie Opat (Etta James), The Hooters, Billy Bacon, The Dangerous Birds (drummer), Luigi Scorcia, Steve Berman, Manhattan Rob Walsh, Steve McKay (Iggy Pop), Brendan Earley (The Mutants), Franko St Andrew (The Offs, Fast Floyd and The Famous Firebirds), Richie Spinosa, Spike Mayfield (David Bowie, NY Dolls), Keith Dailidenas, Keeth Paul, Keeth Mayfield, Joann Berman, John Eppstein (Fast Floyd, T.B. Slick Revue) among others I don't have amnesia about
Damn Kids/HAMMERBRAIN/ AL LANDESS-PAUL ENA KOSTABI-GLENN KEARNEY-DAVE LINDSAY-NED LINSAY
HAMMERBRAIN
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photo by Katrina Del Mar

Formed on the Lower East Side, NYC, by Al Landess guitar and lead vocals originally from Texas who was highly influenced by old school punk rock (ala Social Distortion and Stiff Little Fingers). Ned Lindsay on bass from South Carolina, who pummels the heavy famous blown out sound with fury reminiscence of those early 80's bands such as Weirdo's, Germs, and 45 Grave. Glenn Kearney on drums, from New Jersey, who moves the band with his galloping beats that make you want to do the 2-step on 2 cups of double expresso. And later joined by by Paul Kostabi on guitar and backing vocals from California who has been in such critically acclaimed bands as White Zombie and Youth Gone Mad.
These guys are the real thing, not just some art school outsiders looking in with bleeding hearts sympathy or pseudo angst rehash of Poli-Sci 101, but brash survivors. Having been through the grind of New York City's streets and lived to tell about it. Dubbed "New York's Best Unsigned Band", we encourage you to check them out Live when you get a chance. But for now we invite you to pop in their new CD Blanche, let your hair down, toss back a few and forget that sometimes life can be a Pain In The Ass.....
Featuring the Songs:
KILLER IN YOUR RADIO, HOLLYWOOD, THRILL KILL, START IT OVER
BLANCHE, THERE YOU GO, DON'T EVEN THINK OF IT, COMMUNICADE
JOHNNY THE FISH, ARIANNA SEVENTEEN

PRODUCED BY GINO RICCARDI & HAMMERBRAIN