Benedict Arnold & The Traitors

BENEDICT ARNOLD
& THE TRAITORS
Originally formed out of the Los Angeles "Rock Against Racism" chapter in late 1979, Benedict Arnold and The Traitors released their first (now rare and collectible) single, "Kill the Hostages" b/w "Red Alert," in 1980. "Kill the Hostages" was based on the still (then) unfolding "Iranian Hostage Crisis" that started during the end of the Carter Administration, and ended (strangely enough) on the 444th day of the hostages' captivity, which was (not so coincidentally) at the same moment Ronald Reagan, the 40th U.S. President, was sworn into office. Rodney Bingenheimer played "Kill..." and the B side "Red Alert" on his popular and influential "Rodney on the ROQ" radio show (on KROQ 106.7 FM, when it was a good station). "Kill..." also received airplay nationally on the syndicated "Dr. Demento" radio show, and at numerous indie college radio outlets. The band appeared live on the groundbreaking "New Wave Theater" television show, hosted by the (now late) actor, Peter Ivers. In 1982, the band released a 7-inch ep, "No More Heroes or Gods," which was again played heavily by Rodney on his show. "I Hate Sports" featured guest musicians Don Preston (Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention) and a sax solo by Sam "Sluggo" Phipps (Oingo Boingo), but Rodney played the songs "Hollywood" and "White Boy Singing Ska" on his show regularly, and "White Boy..." was picked up for airplay by a couple of the other KROQ jocks. CONTINUED>>