Middle Class from Santa Ana, California, were one of the first "hardcore" bands in history. Debate continues to this day as to whether Middle Class were the first hardcore band or if Black Flag or Bad Brains were. (It is unlikely that Bad Brains were aware of the Middle Class, however, as they were unknown outside of California.) Their sound evolved from being a blistering, shouted, arty version of punk which would be extremely influential to the hardcore sound that would emerge in the years following their first release