Nyna Crawfor (1956 - 2000) is the singer of the
American punk band from San Francisco, California. VKTMS. The band got together in 1978 when Mohammed Obead introduced Louis Gwerder
(drums) to Jay Davis (guitar). After rehearsing for a while with various
people and using a different name they added George Ritter (bass) and
began searching for a singer. Nyna Crawford answered a bulletin board ad
placed at Aquarius Records. Her intense energy (she cracked a solid
concrete floor) and already developed lyric skills impressed them
immediately.
The band began gigging and shortly after put out what has become to be called the "Midget" EP , a fairly collectible 4 song record including My Baby’s a Midget which has been often covered.
Few bands played the Mabuhay Gardens more times and VKTMS played every single other club in town and in the Bay Area. Playing gigs with the Dead Kennedys, DOA, Flipper, Mutants, and so forth at the legendary Mab, around the San Francisco Bay area, and up and down the coast helped establish the VKTMS sound and style. Shows with the Ramones, Johnny Thunders and other godfathers toughened the music even more. VKTMS also became the ritual sacrificial offering for many touring acts (Stranglers, Roky Erikson, 999, Killing Joke, Wall of Voodoo, Bush Tetras, Fear, Psychedelic Furs, Delta 5, and many others) when they came through town. Of course, there were many, many shows with friends and peers such as the Dead Kennedys, The Nuns, DOA, Crime, SVT, Romeo Void, Agent Orange, TSOL, No Alternative and so many others.
Nyna left in 1982 and played in Murder (w/ Bob Clic of the Lewd) and in Smashed Weekend (with Ben Cohen of Sister Double Happiness) then she dropped out of music until VKTMS started getting renewed attention from a new generation.
The band got together and played new material almost immediately; like in the old days. It was so much fun playing together that VKTMS threw a few private parties (at Lennon Studios) and to their surprise the response was great. After that the band began performing in public at clubs like the Paradise Lounge,Transmission Theater, Gilman Street, El Rio; and also for events like BAM magazine's 20th Anniversary Party and the Vibe-O-Thon Benefit for Kathy Peck's (from The Contractions) H.E.A.R. project. There were many other shows later in the second phase. VKTMS last played at the Club Boomerang in San Francisco (1840 Haight), Bottom of the Hill, and (especially!) 924 Gilman Street.
Nyna passed away from cancer in 2000 after a very brave five year battle.
