Castration Squad, The Band That Cut Punk's Balls Off

In a world overrun by serious rock stars and sweaty punk dudes, six fearless women emerged from the shadows, armed with instruments they hadn’t mastered.

Together, they formed one of the most confusing groups in L.A.—Castration Squad, the band that took punk, cut off its balls, and laughed about it.

While English bands were just starting to shape the goth sound, this all-female group was like if The Slits, Joy Division, Robert Smith, and a Vincent Price horror film had a baby.

The L.A. punk scene was already a freak show, but they looked like undead beauty queens—smudged lipstick, funeral dresses, and sometimes even military uniforms.