Tearing Down the Orange Curtain

“In their exhaustive history of the scene, authors Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn trace the rise of the Orange County sound from house shows and dive bars to arenas and stadiums through interviews with its key players, including members of No Doubt, the Offspring, Sublime, the Adolescents, and the Vandals. Social Distortion, godfathers of gritty SoCal punk, figure prominently, including tattooed leader Mike Ness, who wrote the book’s foreword: ‘When I got into punk, ’ he said, ‘I finally found my voice and my place in the world.’ With Tearing Down the Orange Curtain, Jackson and Kohn help that voice carry.”–Rolling Stone, best music books of 2025“A spirited portrait of an influential subculture.”–Publishers Weekly

Nate Jackson was born in Orange County and came up in the local punk scene, playing in bands and rumbling through the mosh pit in warehouses, DIY venues, and clubs across SoCal. He is currently the Deputy Editor of entertainment at the L.A. Times. He was previously the Music Editor for OC Weekly and also worked as a staff writer for the L.A. Times. His work has also been featured in the Village Voice, LA Weekly, VICE/Noisey, Dope Magazine, and others. He currently lives in Long Beach with his wife.

Daniel Kohn was born in New York City and grew up in Long Island but has long been mesmerized by Orange County punk rock. He lived in Southern California for nearly two decades, covering many of the artists featured in this book. Kohn’s work has been featured in SPIN, OC Weekly, Rolling Stone, Billboard, VICE, Noisey, SF Weekly, MLB, LA Weekly, and Village Voice. He currently lives in Nashville with his wife and son.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.