Austin was an early southern seed bed of punk activity, perhaps due to its trenchant liberalism and hippie past. One of the first and most important bands to rise up following the initial punk phase were the Big Boys. In later years, members would form or join Poison 13, Scratch Acid, and Doctor's Mob (and, outside Austin, Rapeman, Jesus Lizard, and Junkyard).

Their helter skelter recording history is consolidated on two Touch & Go discs, The Skinny Elvis (1980-1981) and The Fat Elvis (1982-1984). Punk has become a marketing concept, and it's refreshing to hear a band that actually lived it. Plus, their early efforts to incorporate funk rhythms into punk rock had a profound influence on the local scene.