From 1982 to 1986, American rock band Yanks were one of the hardest hitting acts touring North America. Based in San Francisco, Yanks emerged from the vibrant and seedy San Francisco punk scene of the late 70’s/early 80’s with a fresh take on music; creating an edgy hybrid sound that deftly mashed AM pop, post-punk, metal and hard rock into a unique sound all their own. Yanks drew on vocal influences of The Everly Brothers and The Beatles, mashed in with the dual guitar attack of The Clash, The Plimsouls, The Replacements, and added the recklessness of The Ramones and The New York Dolls. Yanks band broke up in ’86 and its members went their separate ways but the music they created stands the test of time and sounds as fresh today as it did in the mid ‘80s.

Yanks recorded two acclaimed EPs, Only Lovers Left Alive, and Made In The States, both on the DTI label. These EPs were combined and licensed to Lolita Records, Paris, France and released as a full length album in ’85 under the title Tell Me No Lies along with a 45RPM of “I Don’t See Her Anymore” as the A-side, backed with “Made In The States.” 

A third full length album was in pre-production but sadly, was never released before the band broke up. In 2020, the recordings have been unearthed, remastered and will be digitally released, including the previously unreleased “third album”.

Yanks: Owen Masterson, singer/songwriter guitarist; Jack Johnson, lead guitar/vocals; Paul Zahl, drums/vocals; Steve Aliment, bass/vocals.