The Ace Faces of LA: The Question’s Mod Masterpiece Returns
Getting Through, restored and reissued by Oglio Records
In the early ’80s, while the Sunset Strip was chasing hair metal, a sharp-dressed mod revival was taking over the streets of Los Angeles. At the center of it all was The Question, the trio hailed as LA’s answer to The Jam. Their seminal 1985 EP, Getting Through, has now been restored and reissued by Oglio Records, cementing their legacy as the premier architects of the L.A. Mod scene of the 80s.
A Defining Force
The Question was more than a band, they were a movement. A staple of the underground, grounded in mod, but blending power pop urgency and ‘60s R&B influence in a way that set them apart from everyone else at the time. Widely regarded as the first and most significant Mod band to emerge from the City of Angels, they built a devoted following of scooter-riding devotees through explosive live shows and a presence on the landmark garage/paisley underground compilation Wharf Rat Tales.
This restless musicality ensured they were always sharp, melodic, and, as the critics noted, “impossible to pin down”. The lineup featured: Tony Rugolo (Lead Vocals/Bass) who forged the bands identity through his bass-driven songwriting and distinct vocal style, Phil Cusimano (Guitar) was the band’s secret weapon with his Rickenbacker jangle, bringing a sharper, more aggressive edge to the Mod sound and David White (Drums) who provided the forceful, kinetic energy that kept their live sets packed and high-voltage.
The Remastered 1985 Sessions
Recorded on an 8-track in the summer of 1985 and produced by Vitus Mataré, Getting Through captures the band at “full stride”. While heavily influenced in the Mod tradition, the EP shows a band willing to bend genres.
The title track and “On the Right Track” are quintessential mod anthems, but the band also looked back to the ‘60s R&B roots that inspired the original Mods with their gritty take on “Daddy Rolling Stone”. On this track, Cusimano swapped his RIC for a Stratocaster, adding a more aggressive edge to their palette. The EP also leans into the darker tones of the scene with tracks like “Move Around in the Dark” and “Gone Forever”.
Should have been a household name
The influence of The Question on the L.A. music landscape is undeniable. Gabriel Gonzalez of the original No Doubt lineup famously stated that the band “motivated the f*ck outta No Doubt” during their early years. Jack Rabid of The Big Takeover has long maintained that this power pop powerhouse “should have been a household name”.
Decades after these tracks were first cut, Getting Through remains a vibrant, immediate reminder of a time when “scooters were gods” and The Question ruled our city’s underground.
The Getting Through reissue is part of an ongoing archival series from Oglio Records, restoring the full catalog of LA’s definitive mod pioneers.
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*Special thanks to our friends at Earshot Media. Check out their website at EarshotMedia.com
