Negative Trend

Negative Trend was a short-lived but influential punk band that erupted from San Francisco's late '70s underground scene. Fronted by the charismatic Rozz Rezabek, the band’s raw, confrontational sound—captured on their self-titled 1978 EP—helped define the abrasive edge of West Coast punk. Tracks like “Mercenaries” and “Black and Red” became local anthems, blending Rezabek’s sneering vocals with guitarist Craig Gray’s jagged riffs. Though they disbanded by 1979, their chaotic live shows and minimalist aggression left a mark, influencing the transition from punk’s first wave to hardcore. After Negative Trend’s breakup, Rezabek and Gray later joined the seminal noise-punk act Flipper, cementing their legacy as SF punk pioneers. The “Pop Sessions” release (credited to Rozz and Negative Trend) likely compiles early demos or rehearsals, offering a scrappy snapshot of their brief, fiery existence.

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