Mike Atta, guitarist and founding member of seminal first wave Santa Ana punkers, The Middle Class, has passed away. Atta died on Sunday night after suffering for four years with liver cancer. Atta's mark has been indelible on punk rock, as many people claim that The Middle Class were the first hardcore band. Even more claim that the band was extremely influential. After the band broke up in 1982, Atta opened a vintage store called "Out of Vogue," named after a Middle Class song, and ran it until his demise. We send condolences to Atta's family and friends.

You can click read more to hear The Middle Class' debut EP.