The Controllers were formed in July 1977 by Kidd Spike, Johnny Stingray, and Gaye Austin. The band continues with Kidd Spike and Johnny Stingray as principal members and songwriters. They were joined later that summer (1977) by D.O.A. Dan Davis.The Controllers, and Hillary Dillary on drums.
In September 1977, they became part of the rapidly growing punk rock community centered around Brendan Mullen

Brendan Mullen

Brendan Mullen was born in Paisley, Scotland and moved to Manchester, England when he was 8. He spent his early teen years writing for various British music magazines. In 1973, Mullen moved to the United States where he remained for the remainder of his life. Mullen had just started working toward...

's underground club, The Masque

The Masque

The Masque was a small punk rock club in central Hollywood, California which existed intermittently from 1977 to 1979. It is remembered as a key part of the early L.A. punk scene.-History:...

. The Controllers were the first band to play an advertised show at The Masque and the last to play there in any form in 1996 at a record release party, held by Exene Cervenka

Exene Cervenka

Exene Cervenka is an American writer, musician and artist, most famous as the co-lead vocalist of the Los Angeles punk rock band X.-Career:...

 for the release of the Masque Benefit Tapes.

The band line-up for the fall of 1977 consisted of Kidd Spike, guitar, Johnny Stingray, guitar, D.O.A. Dan, bass, Charlie Trash, drums. They were contracted to produce a record with legendary punk producer, Chris Ashford for his seminal punk label, What? Records in December 1977.

They were managed by the fluxus artist Al Hansen

Al Hansen

Alfred Earl "Al" Hansen was an American artist considered as one of the most important Fluxus figures. He was a Norwegian American....

, known for pushing a piano out a window in wartime France.