Tearing Down the Orange Curtain: How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World

— —

Nate Jackson Daniel Kohn

Tearing Down the Orange Curtain

How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World

Nate Jackson, Daniel Kohn

$55

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Da Capo Press Inc
12 August 2025

Music; Punk, New Wave & Indie; Individual composers & musicians, bands & groups; History of the Americas; History: specific events & topics

The untold story of OC punk-the loud, rebellious force behind the '90s explosion of the Orange County music scene, featuring stories about legendary bands like Social Distortion, The Offspring, No Doubt, Sublime, The Adolescents, The Vandals, and many more

When it comes to punk communities across the world, the Orange County punk scene stands out as an undeniable trendsetter that helped define the sound and style of the rapidly evolving genre. From hard luck storytellers Social Distortion and multi-platinum sellers like The Offspring (one of the highest-grossing punk rock bands of all time) to cult heroes like The Adolescents (one of the former band's greatest influences) and T.S.O.L., there's so much insight to gain from the story of this widely-popular-though-often-misunderstood music scene.

In TEARING DOWN THE ORANGE CURTAIN, journalists Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn explore the trajectory of punk and ska from their humble beginnings to their peak popularity years, where their cultural impact could be felt in music around the world. Delving deep into the personal and professional lives of bands like Social Distortion, The Adolescents, The Offspring, and their ska counterparts No Doubt, Sublime, Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, and more, this book gives readers a deeper look into the very human stories of these musicians, many of whom struggled with acceptance, addiction, and brutal teenage years in suburbia.

Through many exclusive and first-hand interviews with the principal personalities, TEARING DOWN THE ORANGE CURTAIN brings the 20-year period of OC punk and third-wave ska (1978-2000) to life, focusing specifically on the historical and musical roots of this creative explosion. Thought-provoking, meticulously researched, and refreshingly candid, this book presents a compelling narrative of how a suburban wasteland turned into a hub for rock-n roll culture, just over 30 miles away from the bright lights of LA.

By: Nate Jackson, Daniel Kohn
Imprint: Da Capo Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 232mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 38mm
Weight: 630g
ISBN: 9780306832963
ISBN 10: 0306832968
Pages: 400
Publication Date: 12 August 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Nate Jackson was born in Orange County and came up in the local punk scene, playing in bands and rumbling through the mosh pit in warehouses, DIY venues, and clubs across SoCal. He is currently the Deputy Editor of entertainment at the L.A. Times. He was previously the Music Editor for OC Weekly and also worked as a staff writer for the L.A. Times. His work has also been featured in the Village Voice, LA Weekly, VICE/Noisey, Dope Magazine, and others. He currently lives in Long Beach with his wife. Daniel Kohn was born in New York City and grew up in Long Island but has long been mesmerized by Orange County punk rock. He lived in Southern California for nearly two decades, covering many of the artists featured in this book. Kohn's work has been featured in SPIN, OC Weekly, Rolling Stone, Billboard, VICE, Noisey, SF Weekly, MLB, LA Weekly, and Village Voice. He currently lives in Nashville with his wife and son.