There are many names tied to the punk/hardcore scene, but there’s one name that has left a mark not only on the music that defines the genre but also the look, feel, and overall vibe that makes punk… well, punk. That name is Brian Walsby.
Stretching back to the early ‘80s, Walsby created a following with his cartoons and drawings for underground zines like Maximum Rock and Roll, Flipside, XXX, and Suburban Voice to name a few. His punk art then extended to the album and single covers for Seven Seconds, The Melvins, Psycho, and others prominent in the punk scene of the decade. But art wasn’t the only thing Walsby wanted to contribute to the punk culture. His passion for music shifted his focus, pushing him to hone his drumming skills and get involved with a bunch of bands from 1984 on, like Scared Straight, WWAX, and Patty Duke Syndrome, a project tied to songwriter Ryan Adams. He even joined Polvo for their final album and tour, and most recently shows his drumming talent with Double Negative.
Art was still on his mind, and even though the music had taken him away from his drawing, it was obvious by the end of the ‘90s that he needed to go back to it. A new desire to tighten up his art skills along with fresh inspiration led to a whole new generation of punk fans following his art in magazines like The Hit List and Decibel. Finding his artistic voice again allowed Walsby to explore what would become Manchild, at first a collection of art that eventually turned into an ongoing comic that would speak to young and old punk fans.
