The “Skank Kid,” an emblematic figure in punk rock culture, was created by American cartoonist Shawn Kerri. Born Shawn Maureen Fitzgerald in 1958, Kerri was an influential artist in the late 1970s and 1980s Southern California punk scene. She contributed artwork for several bands, including the Germs and the Circle Jerks.
Kerri’s “Skank Kid” illustration, depicting a punk enthusiastically performing the skank dance, became synonymous with the Circle Jerks’ identity. The band adopted this image as their logo, leading to its widespread recognition within the punk community.
In 1986, as the Circle Jerks gained mainstream success, their management asserted ownership over the “Skank Kid” image. To avoid legal disputes and preserve her friendship with the band members, Kerri signed over her rights to the artwork to vocalist Keith Morris.
Despite her significant contributions, Kerri’s work did not receive the same level of recognition as some of her contemporaries. Her decision not to engage in legal battles over her creations may have contributed to this relative obscurity. Kerri’s “Skank Kid” remains a lasting symbol of the punk era, reflecting the energy and ethos of the movement.
01 - Skank Kid illustration with the band’s logo.
02 - Dance instructions in six steps as a space filler on the lyrics sheet of the Circle Jerks’ “Group Sex”, 1980.
03 - Concert flyer from 1985.
04 - Skank Kid coloured version taken from “Wild in the Streets” back cover, 1982.
05 - Kerri’s concert flyer from 1981.
