Reagan Youth is a legendary political hardcore punk rock band from Queens, New York, that embraces the “Anarchy + Peace & Unity” school of thought.

Formed in 1980, Reagan Youth was born out of frustration and resistance as it became clear that Ronald Reagan was set to become the next president of the United States. Lead singer Dave Insurgent and guitarist Paul Cripple created a band that would use satire and raw aggression to attack the systems they saw destroying society — Republicanism, the Religious Right, racism, and of course, Reagan himself.

The band’s name — a play on Hitler Youth — was meant to provoke. It drew a direct comparison between Reagan’s policies and fascist ideology, calling out the authoritarian tendencies of the Republican Party. Their lyrics didn’t just rebel — they exposed, confronted, and challenged.

Dave and Paul started their first punk band, PUS, at Russell Sage Junior High School. After moving on to Forest Hills High School, they met drummer Charlie Tripper, who introduced them to bassist Andy Apathy. Together, they formed the early incarnation of Reagan Youth, aiming to create a loud, fast, anarchist punk band that called out the evils of society.

As Reagan took office, Dave, Paul, Charlie, and Andy played their first show as Reagan Youth on August 21, 1981, at A7 club. The sound was raw — like The Who’s rhythm section fused with fuzzed-out, feedback-drenched guitar, while Dave delivered his message of anarchy, peace, and unity.

But the original rhythm section couldn’t keep up. Al Pike replaced Andy on bass, and after a few rehearsals, Charlie quit and was replaced by Steve Weissman on drums. This new lineup — Dave, Paul, Al, and Steve — became the band’s most stable, tearing through CBGB’s matinee shows and gigs all over NYC.

They played countless shows alongside bands like Beastie Boys and Bad Brains.

Their only true roadie — and spiritual guide — was Jack DePalma, Paul’s high school physics teacher. Jack’s influence and support were massive; his quote, “What’s Johnny doing out on a Tuesday night?”, became the iconic opening line of the song “Degenerated.” Jack DePalma was essential to Reagan Youth in its earliest days and should never be forgotten.

From spring 1983 to spring 1984, they recorded and released their debut 12-inch EP, a fierce seven-track release that included songs like “USA,” “New Aryans,” “Go Nowhere,” and “I Hate Hate.”

In 1984, Reagan Youth toured the West Coast for two months, performing at free political festivals alongside Rock Against Racism (R.A.R.). They frequently shared the stage with influential bands like the Dead Kennedys. When Steve left to attend graduate school and Al declined to take time off from his mail route, they were replaced by Rick Royale on drums and Victor Venom on bass.

As their music evolved, so did their message — with tracks like “Jesus Was a Communist” and “What Will the Neighbors Think?” pushing their political and philosophical edge further. But by 1985, with Rick gone and the NYC punk scene shifting away from peace punk, Dave and Paul began focusing on a new project: House of God — a band meant to confront organized religion just as Reagan Youth had tackled politics, with a sound best described as "Neo Classic Rock".

The band continued with Javier Madariaga AKA Johnny Aztec on drums in '85 when Rick left after one year. The band went out to the West Coast in 1987 as the gigs were bigger and better over on the California coast as the N.Y.H.C. scene became less to do with peace punk. So they carried on playing free festivals and when Ronald Reagan nearing the end of his presidency, Dave and Paul considered one final Reagan Youth show. They reached out to Victor, but he refused, saying he’d never play with Reagan Youth again.

For Dave and Paul HOUSE OF GOD became the priority when they brought in Chris Simunek. Their new band only played a few shows before they were approached by Nicky Garratt of New Red Archives who offered a deal to re-release the band's only recording with new songs making it album-length. 

Dave insisted on recording and releasing all of the band's unreleased material. After expanding Volume I with new material like “Anytown,” “No Class,” and “In Dog We Trust,” they moved on to record Volume II.

Paul Cripple and Johnny Aztec recorded all the music for Volume II with Paul playing both guitar and bass. Dave I, who was suffering from the disease of addiction, ceased to show up after the music was recorded. Paul and Nicky Garratt made sure Dave ended up singing all 11 songs, with two vocal tracks on each song. When Dave was finished, he swore he'd come back and fix up his weak spots and then do the all-important mix. But Dave never did and when Nicky asked Paul what to do, Paul answered "If Dave doesn't give a shit, then neither do I". What no one outside Dave's family knew at that time was that Dave wasn't able to do anything as he was attacked and sent to a hospital literally hours after he sang. And so Volume II was released and due to the circumstances described above, it is an unmixed demo of the band's leftover songs. And with all the guitar solos not getting removed because there was no final mix, it alienated some fans who ended up thinking the band released a heavy metal record. And so the band ceased to exist after Ronald Reagan's departure and there was to be no new band HOUSE OF GOD because the wounds Dave had suffered from being violently attacked over a drug debt would never heal.

House of God never came to fruition. Dave’s injuries — both physical and emotional — remained unresolved.

On July 3, 1993, Dave Insurgent (Rubinstein) tragically took his own life following the deaths of his girlfriend Tiffany Bresciani and his mother Giza Rubinstein, who died just three days apart.

Dave Insurgent: you will always be remembered, always be missed. You were the voice of a movement, and the band will forever be in your debt.

Charlie “Tripper” Bonet never stopped playing drums — keeping the beat going long after his time with Reagan Youth.

In the summer of 2002, Andy “Apathy” Bryan tragically died of an overdose, shortly after reaching out to Paul about reforming the band — a moment filled with hope that quickly turned into heartbreak.

Al Pike never left his day job as a mailman, and Steve Weissman stepped away to become a family man. Props to Steve — without a doubt, the most talented musician Reagan Youth ever had.

Rick “Royale” Griffith vanished after telling friends a drug dealer had pulled a gun on him over unpaid debt. After that, he was never seen or heard from again.

Viktor “Venom” Dominicis, who always preferred guitar to bass, found his true voice playing with bands like Nausea, Chaos U.K., and The Coffin Daggers.

Javier Madariaga, a.k.a. Johnny Aztec, played drums with A.P.P.L.E. for a time and continues to hold out for something big with his former bandmate Jesse Malin — and he’s still waiting.

In 2006, Paul “Cripple” Bakija reformed Reagan Youth, recording new material and touring extensively across the U.S. and Europe. Despite constant lineup changes, Paul remained the heart of the band.

In 2019, he released “Punk Rock Christmas,” his first original song since Volume II.

In 2023, Paul began work on Volume III — a concept album about Dave Insurgent’s life: his beliefs, struggles, love, addiction, and defiance. Joined by singer Beatrice Demesier and drummer Mark Zapata, the album was finished in 2024 while Paul was in hospice at Calvary Hospital.

Paul “Cripple” Bakija passed away on September 21, 2024, after a long battle with cancer.

His work with Reagan Youth left a permanent mark on punk rock. His fight against bigotry, fascism, and political oppression still echoes — and always will.