Lower Class Brats Reissue Classic Album “Rather Be Hated Than Ignored” Via TKO Records

Street punk mainstays Lower Class Brats have announced the reissue of their debut album Rather Be Hated Than Ignored, available now via TKO Records. Originally released in 1997 by GMM Records, the LP has been remastered, repackaged, and restored with the label’s signature attention to detail, including—for the first time—the original track sequence on vinyl.

Formed in the ’90s, the Lower Class Brats helped define the American Street Punk movement alongside bands like The Templars. Their debut fused influences from ’70s UK punk, Oi!, UK82, and California hardcore, carving out a style heavy on melody, attitude, and defiance.

The reissue underlines the album’s lasting influence as a foundational entry in American punk history. More than two decades later, Rather Be Hated Than Ignored continues to embody the Brats’ uncompromising fight against false punk and poserdom.