When I was in high school, white faux fur was totally in. Totally. White faux fur! What’s up with the spiral perm? Sigh. I digress… high school, what a long, confusing and socially awkward time in my life. I can’t remember much about that time and I was drug-free! I must have suppressed a lot of my memories for a good reason.

Exhibit A. Hi-Five – She’s Playing Hard To Get

I was a fan of R&B pop music like the rest of the world in the early ’90s. It was mandatory in jr. high and well, once 9th grade came ‘a knockin’ on my door, so did the backwards overalls.

Exhibit B. Kris Kross – Warm It Up

I may have frowned upon shaving lines in my brows and braiding my hair, but yes, I did dare the backwards overalls. Didn’t look quite as cool with a push-up bra.

Ninth grade SUCKED balls and 10th grade wasn’t any better for me. I struggled to find out who I was, where I was headed, and what color to dye my hair. I was certainly not a social butterfly, and I think I might have spent many a lunch breaks behind the auditorium. Oh, like you didn’t.

Luckily, I met some really cool greasers in Spanish class that looked like they walked off the set of Happy Days who introduced me to The Smiths, The Cure, and Joy Division. They also provoked a lot of my ditch days, which ultimately led to transferring to another high school soon after 10th grade.

The Smiths – This Charming Man

Joy Division – Disorder

Once I came to terms with my affinity for alternative music, I ditched my yellow Cross Colours pants, threw away all my New Edition tapes (except the self titled album), and gave my Doc Martens a good beat down before diving head first into everything punk and rock ‘n roll.

Misfits – Die, Die, Die My Darling

Slaughter and the Dogs – Situation

The Damned – New Rose

Channel 3 – You Make Me Feel Cheap

Journey – Wheel in the Sky

Oh, you bet Steve Perry was punk as fuck!

I remember going through a Danzig phase and the only other goth kid at my school looked like a meth head, so I didn’t procure a friendship. But I did wear my Danzig shirt proudly.

Danzig – Sistinas

I didn’t really learn to appreciate The Cure or Bauhaus as much as I do now. But Sisters of Mercy was pretty cool on occasion.

Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia, My Reflection

By the time 1995-1996 rolled around, Third Wave Ska was the new scene. This was a very fun time in my life. This new genre in music was like the perfect elixir of ska, punk, soul, and nonsense. I was totally into everything 3WSka and I loved wearing my Moon Ska Records shirt. I adored bands like The Slackers, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Skankin’ Pickle, and The Aquabats to name a few. It was also a great time for local punk rock bands to flourish in my collection.

Skankin’ Pickle – Pabu Boy

The Slackers – Have the Time

Voodoo Glow Skulls – Drunk Tank

The Aquabats – Martian Girl

Schleprock – No Heroes

Face to Face – A-OK

So there you have it. Are you dry heaving yet? Are you gouging your eyes out? It’s amazing to travel back in time and recall certain episodes of my high school career. I had some pretty questionable moments and some awesome ones as well. But overall, I always had my music and that’s one thing I am grateful for. WHITE FAUX FUR FOR LIFE!!!

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