Hailing from Long Beach, CA, The Nuclear Boyz were a post-modern, new wave, surf punk band that left an indelible mark on the Southern California music scene of the early 1980’s. Formed in 1981 by guitarist/vocalist James Thompson, bassist/vocalist Richard Berger, and drummer Rob Kirby, the group quickly made waves with their energetic and boundary-pushing sound. The lineup expanded with the addition of lead vocalist David Salzberg, whose dynamic stage presence became central to their live shows.

The Nuclear Boyz became a mainstay in legendary Southland venues like Radio City, Madame Wong’s, The Woodstock, The Concert Factory, and The Golden Bear, amassing a fiercely loyal fan base. Their eclectic mix of surf punk and new wave sounds, along with their unique fashion sense, made them trendsetters in the burgeoning Southern California music scene. Their music and their lyrics personified both the fun Southern California lifestyle, and the geopolitical tensions of the 1980’s.

In early 1982, they released their first EP on Reactor Records, featuring four iconic tracks: “Keith and the Squiddz,” “She Loves Herself,” “No Spies in London,” and “She Changed Her Mind.” Their music gained further exposure on the influential KROQ FM radio show “Rodney on the Roq” and through performances alongside acts like Josie Cotton.

However, just as their momentum was peaking, three band members enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, and one took a religious sabbatical, leading to the band’s dissolution in the mid-1980s.