The Rok Tots is/was one of the most intimidating drug-laced garage punk-blues bands ever — perhaps second only to Laughing Hyenas in pure junkie desperation that translated into furious guitar chords and angry lyrics. This — the Rok Tots first 7" single, self-recorded and self-released — was at the time of its release in 1983 a monsterous fucker that squashed the wannabe intensity of hardcore punk like a rock dinosaur risen from a primordial swamp. Yes, that same primordial muck that gave rise to what later became known (and quickly co-opted) as "grunge." But, when guitarist/vocalist Jimmy West first put razor to wrist and penned "Suicide Weekend" there was no intent other than harvesting pure dope sick hostility into song. The Rok Tots came like a hurricane from a historic vacuum to reclaim the fury of rock from the milquetoast suburban teens passing off energy for urgency. Its parallel to Dead Moon is striking in West’s fierce DIY home-recording, self-released ethos and diehard grassroots promotion, but the Rok Tots are anything but lo-fi.
  A very well-organized history and overview, as well as streaming audio of several other great songs, is available here. Still going (infrequently) 27 years later without any recognition outside of Denver, the Rok Tots are still the toughest punk rock band in existence, as many touring bands that played the 15th St Tavern would attest upon meeting Jimmy West as their soundman — he knows how to harness power, and does not suffer fools. After all, he’s been "on a suicide weekend, 24 hours a day" for 21 years now, and still hasn’t died. That, my friend, is tough.

(Download - "Suicide Weekend")