The Missing 23rd

It began in the Summer of 1995 in an Oxnard delapitated tool shed. Four dudes musically harking back to the days of early DC-Hardcore spiked with Nardcore nostalgia and powered by youthful exhuberance. THE MISSING 23RD was born...the goal was to make noise that paid homage to our early punk heroes and possibly open some minds along the way. No visions of grandeur, no label signing fantasies or tour bus pipe dreams, just tunes. If we never made it out of that tool shed it didn't matter. The songs just felt right and refreshing in a punk world that was being dominated by extreme sports soundtracks.

It didn't take long for M23's fiery brand of old-school hardcore blasts to catch on with the locals. Soon enough and exceeding all expectations, a rabid regional following took root and stayed intact for nearly a decade. M23 went on to tour 9 different countries, put out several records, and share the stage with countless punk hall-of-famers both past (Bad Religion, Circle Jerks, 7 Seconds, TSOL, GBH, etc...) and present (AFI, Good Riddance, Earth Crisis, Propaghandi, etc...).

Throughout the years, M23's music blurred the lines of punk rock...balancing old school aggression with modern day twist making it difficult to categorize. The band's adventurous output proved to be both a blessing and a curse. Are they hardcore? Crusty? Straight-Edge? Drug-edge? Gay? Straight? New school? Old school? Heads were definitely scratched. Kids and record labels alike could not put a finger on em. On one hand the band's refusal to be pigeon-holed embraced the true punk ethic of reinvention and thinking outside the box. But on the other hand kids searching for identity in one of punk's cookie-cutter subsects were turned off as were some of the punk rock business community's power players. How do you market a band you can't classify?

Even as the revolving door member policy continued as years passed it really did not make a difference. Cause it was always about the music, the message. The band's Anti-conformity, anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, DIY, pro-positivity, pro-individuality, pro-education ethos prevailed no matter who was manning the dials. This message will continue to prevail long after the bands demise.

My heart bleeds with gratitude for the members of this band. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to be a part of the Missing 23rd family not only as an original member but as a fan and spectator as well. - Eddie Burgos