San Diego Reader

Dan McLain: Drums | Shawn Kerri: Bass guitar | Joyce Rooks: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Jolie Gardener: Drums | Doriot Negrette: Vocals

Genre: Punk

RIYL: The Dinettes, the Runaways

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Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 1976

Influences: The Runaways, Suzi Quatro, Patti Smith, Blondie

Background:

The Cockpits were an all girl new wave/punk band, featuring Shawn Kerri (later known as a cartoonist) and guitarist Joyce Rooks, a local black girl. "I joined the Cockpits in 1978 by answering a Reader ad," recalled Rooks in 2010. "I had a guitar and amp and a cello, which I kept hidden as it didn't seem punk rock enough at the time. The Cockpits played their first gig at Porter's Pub at UCSD, opening for the Alley Cats, one of the coolest L.A. punk bands."

Later becoming co-ed, they recruited drummer Dan McClain, aka Country Dick Montana. They played punk-friendly venues like the North Park Lions Club, opening for headliners like the Penetrators and DFX2, though the band ultimately only lasted around three years.

The Cockpits essentially changed members and morphed into a new group called the Dinettes, also originally an all-girl lineup.