News
17 October 2026 – Josh Brolin Is Making a Documentary About His Teenage Punk Band and the Origins of Rich Kids On LSD
By Editorial Team - October 17, 2026
Summary
Actor Josh Brolin is developing a documentary with Amy Berg exploring his teenage punk group Cito Vice Squad and the birth of skate-punk icons Rich Kids On LSD.
Key Facts
- Josh Brolin developing documentary on his early 1980s teen punk group Cito Vice Squad and skate-punk icons Rich Kids On LSD.
- Collaborating with Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Amy Berg to chronicle the Santa Barbara and Southern California hardcore scenes.
- Tribute to late musicians Jason Sears and Richard Manzullo, capturing rare archival footage and DIY gig artifacts.
- Entities: Josh Brolin, Cito Vice Squad, Rich Kids On LSD, RKL, Jason Sears, Richard Manzullo, Amy Berg, Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Minutemen, Cathay de Grande
- Tags: josh-brolin, cito-vice-squad, rich-kids-on-lsd, rkl, punk-documentary, hardcore-punk, amy-berg
Acclaimed Hollywood actor Josh Brolin has revealed that he is developing a feature documentary exploring his teenage punk band Cito Vice Squad and the vibrant Southern California underground music community that gave birth to legendary skate-punk pioneers Rich Kids On LSD (RKL). Brolin detailed the project during an in-depth retrospective interview revisiting his youth in the early 1980s Los Angeles and Santa Barbara hardcore scenes.
Decades before starring in No Country for Old Men and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brolin sat behind the drum kit for Cito Vice Squad alongside close childhood friend Jason Sears. Drawing inspiration from British punk pioneers like the Sex Pistols and early American hardcore heavyweights, Brolin frequented foundational venues like the Cathay de Grande, witnessing blistering sets by Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and the Minutemen.
While Brolin subsequently pursued acting, Sears and bandmate Richard Manzullo went on to co-found Rich Kids On LSD, whose blistering velocity, technical musicianship, and irreverent humour left an indelible mark on 1980s and 90s skate punk, directly inspiring Epitaph and Fat Wreck Chords acts. Both Sears and Manzullo tragically passed away in 2005, giving the film poignant emotional urgency.
Brolin is developing the documentary alongside acclaimed non-fiction filmmaker Amy Berg, blending unseen home recordings, flyposters, and interviews with surviving peers. It promises to celebrate the unruly teenage garages where independent subcultures are genuinely born. Read more punk history across our punk music hub.