The Reactors – Meltdown – First sleeve version Nuclear Waste Records ‎– NW-1 ‎– 1979 – 7″ – Mono

In March 1979 the nuclear power station, Three Mile Island, outside Harrisburg (PA) blew up. In the psychotronic movies nuclear has been a theme since the 50’s, mainly with freak monsters average Joe getting super powers. Echoing the Harrisburg crisis a “No Future” attitude spread and a few punk-Reactors popped up. The New York version put out the excellent I want sex 45 in 1979, Austin was represented by the It’s Not Important / Cold Eyes and there was a Los Reactors out of Tulsa as well. The later put out a couple of 45s in 79-80.

This The Reactors, fronted by female vox Elizabeth “Dash” Frost sprung out of San Bernardino in Southern California. They were formed in 1978 with one foot in garage rock this 4 member gang played with bands like Fear and Alley Cats. In 1979 they released this EP on the own label Nuclear Waste Records. I was pressed in 300 copies. According to Ryan Richardson It Never Ends series the sleeve came in two “official” versions. This one being the first having the radioactive symbol on the rear – the later sleeve version had a city skyline on the rear sleeve. I was lucky to score this copy at Ryebreadrodeo. Recorded in mono, it features 5 punk songs just like I like it. No fancy-patsy as some of other KBD releases. Just plain punk rock the way it was meant to be. When I bought the record I really like the A-side, having a weak spot for the Cramps as well. It took a while before the B-side grew on me.

There is a nice re-issue from Artifix Records as well. The first song ♬ Meltdown (MP3 320 kbps) seems to have the same intro as the their fellow Reactors from New York by the way

The band put out an LP on the same label a year later. Of some strange reason it got the same catalogue code: NW-1

♬ Full 5 song EP (MP3 320 kbps). Songs: Meltdown / L.A. Sleeze / Red Is Red / To The Core / Sabotage.

By the way – I am also looking for the New York Reactors first 7″ “I want Sex”.

Click on the images to expand them to higher resolution. The rips and images are from my record.

Front and rear sleeve

Fold out Sleeve

Labels

Original label shipping box