The Prodigal Rogerson: The Tragic, Hilarious, and Possibly Apocryphal Story of Circle Jerks Bassist Roger Rogerson in the Golden Age of LA Punk, 1979- [Paperback]

The definitive account of one of hardcore punk's most enigmatic figures. Lucky Lehrer, Circle Jerks drummer

In 1983, Circle Jerks bassist Roger Rogerson stole the band’s van and dropped off the face of the earth. Thirteen years later, he came back, demanded that his bandmates reunite so they could become “bigger than the Beatles,” and promptly dropped dead. Though he was a founding member of the band and played on three of their best albums, Rogerson was lost to history.

Woven from interviews of people who knew him,The Prodigal Rogersonexplains what happened to Rogerson, where he went, and who he was—all against the backdrop of the Los Angeles punk scene in its prime.

“With a taste for the ironic and a relentless eye, Hunter Bennett provides the definitive account of one of hardcore punk’s most enigmatic figures, Roger Rogerson. Rare recollections and rich reporting reveal a rock rebel running rapidly from reality and at war with himself.” —Lucky Lehrer, Circle Jerks drummer

“Hunter Bennett has burrowed deep into the punk rock substrata to uncover the story of the mercurial and mysterious Roger Rogerson. In doing so he illuminates the madness, the audacity and the danger that fueled the early hardcore scene in Southern California.”—Mike Stax,Ugly Things Magazinepublisher

J. Hunter Bennettwrites for the music magazineUgly Thingsand plays bass guitar in the band Dot Dash. In his spare time, he practices government contracts law at a large law firm in Washington, DC.