Movies

New documentary shows how a trio of brothers were instrumental in shaping SoCal punk

BBG News

The first occasion Frank Agnew attended a punk concert was when he was approximately thirteen years old. Despite being underage, he managed to gain entry into the Whisky a Go Go to witness performances by the Bags, Black Randy and the Metrosquad, as well as the Weirdos. It was the year 1978, and he went with his elder brother, Rikk.

Frank exclaimed, “When the Weirdos began performing, it was an extraordinary moment that profoundly impacted my life as their music was simply amazing.” He continued, “Ever since witnessing the Weirdos at the Whisky, I found myself reflecting, ‘I aspire to create music as impressive and tight-knit as theirs.’ So, that’s what I strive for.

I, along with my brothers Rikk and Alfonso “Alfie” Agnew, spent a significant chunk of the past decade playing in some of the most influential punk bands, such as Adolescents, the Detours, Social Distortion, Christian Death, TSOL, and D.I., to name a few. Now, our story as punk rock musicians is being shared for the first time in the new documentary “Agnew: The Story of a California Family,” which will be screened on April 12 at the Fox Theatre in Fullerton.

Our musical journey has also been exhibited recently as part of the new exhibit “Punk OC — From the Streets of Suburbia” at the Fullerton Museum Center, which opened last week. A while ago, my brothers and I visited the museum to pose for photos and reminisce about our punk rock days through artifacts from our youth.

Alfie, a mathematical physicist at Cal State Fullerton, shared, “I’m often asked questions about my family, Rikk D.I., Adolescents, and such topics. It astounds me how many people not only recognize but genuinely care about these matters. This isn’t just about the Orange County scene, but also the people who have supported it throughout the years – from the late ’70s and ’80s right up to today. So, I see this as more of a celebration for us all.

The Gabriel Zavala Jr.-directed documentary, spanning approximately 2018 to 2024, reminisces about the brothers’ early days and their legendary music careers. It also features the brothers performing at different shows and managing their personal lives’ complexities, as Zavala was inspired to make it after witnessing a powerful performance by the Agnews at Santa Ana’s Observatory.

That evening held a thrilling energy as punk rock had sparked renewed enthusiasm among people, and Rikk and Frank’s rendition of the Adolescents was electrifying. Zavala commented, ‘I proposed to them, ‘What if we created a documentary about your family?”

Rikk, Frank, and Alfie all reached a consensus to collaborate with Zavala on creating the documentary. Without delay, Zavala started filming and conducting interviews with musicians linked to Agnews, such as Gvllow, Gitane Demone from Christian Death, Casey Royer of Adolescents and D.I.

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Rikk, Frank, and Alfie decided to work together with Zavala on the documentary project. Immediately after, Zavala commenced filming and interviewing musicians connected to Agnews, which included Gvllow, Gitane Demone of Christian Death, Casey Royer from Adolescents and D.I.

In the creation of the 2015 independent film “Rude Boy: The Movie,” Zavala, a skilled director and screenwriter, took the opportunity to speak with the parents of the brothers prior to their passing, during the documentary’s production.

Alfie remarked, “I believe they would take great pride in it. My parents were consistently proud and supportive of their children, and I think my folks were rather exceptional in their support of this activity – punk rock and music, instead of traditional careers like medicine or law. However, I eventually became a professor.

Born to parents of Irish and Mexican descent, with roots as immigrants, these brothers grew up immersed in a rich mix of music. They listened to everything from traditional Irish tunes to mariachi, although their parents weren’t musicians themselves. However, the brothers believe they inherited their musical talent from their grandfather, Alfonso Fernandez, who was a drummer by profession. He had emigrated from Guadalajara and played in a Latin jazz band known as the Latinaires, performing all over Mexico and the U.S. Southwest.

Alfie, who plays both drums and guitar, shared that he felt a strong bond when he discovered more about his grandfather, as they share the same name. Not only was he named after him, but he even started with drums as his first musical instrument. This connection made him incredibly proud.

Although Frank and Alfie were born after Fernandez had passed away in 1965, they both acknowledge that their grandfather’s impact played a significant role in shaping their musical paths.

Frank stated, “My mom undeniably would remark, ‘Your great-grandfather Alfonso was an exceptional drummer, and he was the best there ever was.’ This, along with stories about him and photos of him at his drum set, really motivated us. It made us think, ‘Wow, our grandpa was in a band, maybe we could be too.’

During their peak performance of live shows, the brothers were simultaneously filming a documentary. However, in 2020, a series of challenges emerged that delayed the project and ultimately led to its completion. Initially, the COVID-19 pandemic halted all operations, particularly after stay-at-home orders were enforced in 2020.

Zavala mentioned that COVID-19 arrived right smack in the middle of our project, leaving us in a sort of suspended state where we couldn’t film for about a month. After that period, we had to continue working with the individuals who were willing to gather and work under the imposed restrictions.

During this time, Rikk, Frank, and Alfie lost their parents to old age – first their father Richard Francis Agnew, followed by Lia Paula Fernandez six months later. In early 2021, Gabriel B. Zavala, a well-known mariachi artist and instructor, passed away due to COVID-19 complications.

Zavala stated that it was both deep and sad, but he felt certain that he should carry on with the project as his subject would have wanted. So, we persevered, working diligently, and in some sense, this process served as a form of healing. I didn’t dwell on the difficulties, instead, I kept my focus on completing the documentary no matter what challenges it presented emotionally, financially, or with just a small team.

Despite numerous challenges, Zavala managed to complete the long-awaited documentary after over six years of work, and the siblings express their gratitude and remain astonished that people find them intriguing enough for a full-length movie.

Quite frequently, I’m told by folks how our work has significantly impacted them in a positive manner, and if that’s the sole outcome, I find it pretty awesome,” I said. “Our actions seem to have uplifted spirits, stirred emotions, or resonated with them in a way that makes them feel less alone, and I just think that’s terrific and commendable. I hope our documentary captures some of this impact.

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2025-04-09 13:35

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