Mad Parade

Mad Parade Re-Launch CD

Foregoing the fashion of the era, old school act MAD PARADE opted to play first-wave-inspired music in Fullerton at the dawn of hardcore! While fast and punchy SoCal bands like the CIRCLE JERKS were on the come-up, these rebels had a sound along the lines of ANGELIC UPSTARTS or COCKSPARRER—a rocking and poppy kind of punk with sing-along choruses and a commercial sensibility. Compiling the group’s 1987 full-length debut A Thousand Words (their best stuff, in my opinion) and the career-spanning History 1982–2017 anthology, this CD has all the MAD PARADE you can handle. Recommended for fans of 999, GENERATION X, and the like.

• Reviewer Jason Harding
• Label Gutterwail
• Issue MRR #496 • September 2024

Mad Parade A Thousand Words LP

Is there such a thing as getting “BYOed”? While their latest release is pretty decent pop punk (at best they sounds like an American NEUROTICS), it’s a bit weak compared to the previous 7″. All the tunes are mid-to-slow paced, have very good lyrics, and I bet they really rock live. But at this point, they seem to be going the way of the RED ROCKERS.

• Reviewer Tim Yohannan
• Label BYO
• Issue MRR #49 • June 1987

Mad Parade Right is Right EP

Some really cool, driving punk rock—like a more melodic early TOXIC REASONS. Two originals as well as a punky cover of the STONES’ “Mother’s Little Helper.” Good.

• Reviewer Tim Yohannan
• Label Toxic Shock
• Issue MRR #37 • June 1986

Mad Parade Mad Parade 12″

They sound like they come from Ireland (S.L.F., UNDERTONES), but actually it’s Covina, California (they appeared on Barricaded Suspects comp). Lots of excellent pop/punk with good hooks and choruses, with more of a SoCal not-quite-thrash rush. They look like poseurs, though, and while they might give SOCIAL DISTORTION a run for their money in that field, I hope they don’t end up like the RED ROCKERS (you gotta check the cover of their latest LP!)

• Reviewer Tim Yohannan
• Label Important
• Issue MRR #19 • November 1984