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Darby Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) (September 26, 1958 – December 6, 1980)^[1][2] was an American^[3] punk musician who, along with long time friend Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg), co-founded The Germs. He died of an overdose of heroin.^[4]

Early life

Beahm had a troubled childhood: The man he grew up believing was his biological father left the family and his older brother died of a drug overdose. When in his teens, his sister revealed in an argument that his biological father was really a Swedish sailor named William Björklund. Beahm attended IPS (Innovative Program School), a school within University High School in Los Angeles. The IPS program combined elements of Erhard Seminars Training and Scientology.^[5]

Before the Germs, Beahm and Pat Smear called themselves "Sophistifuck and the Revlon Spam Queens", but had to shorten this name because they didn't have enough money to put the full name on a t-shirt.^[6] After a short stint under the name Bobby Pyn, Beahm changed his name to Darby Crash. The Germs can be seen in the 1981 film The Decline of Western Civilization, directed by Penelope Spheeris. Crash discussed taking drugs onstage to avoid feeling injuries from fan violence and "creeps out there with grudges".

Later life and suicide

Shortly after the Germs split, Darby went on to form the short-lived Darby Crash Band. Circle Jerks drummer Lucky Lehrer joined the band on the eve of their first (sold-out) live performance, when during soundcheck, Darby kicked out the drummer they'd rehearsed with and convinced Pat Smear to help out on guitar. The band, described by Smear as "like the Germs, but with worse players", played only a few gigs before splitting up.

On December 3, 1980, an over-sold Starwood hosted a final live show of the reunited band, including drummer Don Bolles.

Crash committed suicide by drug overdose on December 6, 1980.^[7]

What We Do Is Secret

Crash and The Germs are the subject of the 2007 biopic film What We Do Is Secret which stars Shane West as Crash, Bijou Phillips as Lorna Doom, Rick Gonzalez as Pat Smear, and Noah Segan as Don. The theatrical release was dated for August 8, 2008. There is also a book by the same name, by Kief Hilsbury, a novelization of a young contemporary of Darby Crash who is consumed by his memories of the singer.

References

External links

• Darby Crash's Gravesite