The Unknowns were a rock group from San Diego, California, formed in 1979. The band was known for their high-energy live performances and raw garage rock sound, which featured abrupt guitar riffs contrasting with melodic vocals. Their debut release was the EP Dream Sequence, released on September 15, 1981, through Bomp! Records. The EP, recorded in just one week using basic equipment like Ampex 300 and Revox A77 magnétophones, included six tracks that highlighted the band's unique style. Despite receiving negative reviews from music critics, their live shows were highly acclaimed; historian Ray Brandes remarked that everyone who saw them perform had a memorable experience. The Unknowns' sole studio album, The Unknowns, was released later in 1981 on Bomp! Records. The band's recording process was notably minimalist, with their second album, Southern Decay (released in 1991), recorded in an airplane hangar serving as a makeshift studio. The group was also known for using only Mosrite guitars, a detail prominently mentioned on their records and a nod to the Ventures, who similarly highlighted their guitar brand. Semie Moseley, the founder of Mosrite, was even thanked on the back cover of Dream Sequence. In addition to their original lineup, Bruce Joyner & the Unknowns released an album in 1994 under that name.
