What??!!? Sixteen year old Diane Lane as Corinne “Third-Degree” Burns, a troubled girl who teams up with her friend played by Laura Dern to start a punk band? Cameo appearances from The Sex Pistols, The Clash and Fee Waybill of the Tubes? Ya gotta be shittin’ me! Oh, but it’s all true! I’m talking about Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, a highly influential, very hard to find 80’s movie about the ridiculously accelerated rise and fall (they end up playing a shopping mall) of a proto-riot grrrl band once (hardly) known as The Fabulous Stains.

A friend sent me a link to the website, where I watched a clip documenting the film. Ever since, I have been dying to see it. Hell, even Black Randy makes an appearance, and that’s sayin’ something…though I’m not sure what exactly. Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill called it “the most realistic and profound film I have ever seen”. It’s gotta be worth the rummage, wouldn’t you say?

Watch the YouTube version of “Behind the Movie” or check out the Quicktime version on the site and decide for yourself.

Part One:

Part Two:

Now, please excuse me while I scour the web for a bootleg and wait patiently for the DVD release.

The Fabulous Stains – The Professionals

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