Among the pioneers of the post-
garage rock, post-
acid rock, glam-theater era of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Pure Hell was among the first of its kind, comparable to the
MC5,
Sex Pistols, and
Dead Boys. Commercially, the band had little success and only released one single, "
These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" backed with "No Rules") and one album,
Noise Addiction, which was unreleased for 28 years. They played a high power, energy-driven punk rock with more than a slight Hendrix-influenced guitar at some points. Some of their tracks, particularly "The Girl With The Hungry Eyes", (about Nancy Spungen, who charismatic lead singer Kenny Gordon knew from his schooldays) verge on proto–
hardcore punk. The band proved influential on the emerging
CBGB-based New York punk scene. In 2016, an acetate record with two of their songs, "Wild One" and "Courageous Cat" went for sale on eBay, where it was purchased by
Henry Rollins and released on his label. Kenny has since stated that he doesn't want to be "remembered just because we were black," but also as being a part of the first tier of punk in the '70s. Most recent live performances include select venues and events on the East Coast, including AfroPunk Festival at the
Brooklyn Academy of Music,
WFMU radio in
Jersey City, New Jersey, and the
Brighton Bar in
Long Branch, New Jersey. Pure Hell reformed to perform at the Mosswood Meltdown Festival, in Oakland, California, on July 7, 2024. ==Members==