Paul "Cripple" Bakija passed away from cancer on September 21, 2024. He was the founding member and guitarist of the influential hardcore punk rock band REAGAN YOUTH, active from 1980 to 1989, and then again from 2006 until his death in 2024. Formed alongside his friend and classmate Dave "Insurgent" Rubinstein while attending Forest Hills High School, Reagan Youth quickly became a staple in the early New York punk scene, performing at legendary venues like CBGB. Known for their anarchist, socialist, and anti-racist themes, the band used irony and provocative imagery, like Ku Klux Klan and Nazi symbols, to criticize the politics of the Reagan administration and the rise of the Christian Right. Their song "Reagan Youth" drew comparisons between Reagan supporters and the Hitler Youth, reflecting the band’s fiercely left-wing stance.

Throughout the 1980s, Paul and Reagan Youth toured extensively, releasing two albums: Volumes One and Two. Despite critical success within the hardcore punk scene, by the time Ronald Reagan left office in 1989, they disbanded. Following the breakup, Paul remained musically active, working with Dave Insurgent, bassist Chris Simunek, and drummer Javier Madriaga, on a psychedelic rock project called HOUSE OF GOD.

Paul’s playing evolved over the years from fast, raw hardcore to a more experimental style, incorporating intricate guitar solos and overdubs. By the time Reagan Youth’s second album was released in 1990, the band’s sound had drawn comparisons to Black Sabbath and other classic rock influences.

In 1993, Dave Insurgent tragically took his own life after the deaths of his girlfriend, Tiffany Bresciani, and his mother, Giza Rubinstein, who died 3 days apart. 

Bakija reformed Reagan Youth in 2006 leading to new recordings and several tours in the U.S. and Europe. Despite various lineup changes, Paul remained the constant driving force behind the band. 

It was during this period that Paul was also playing with vocalist Beatrice Demesier in the band DUST ANGEL in addition to their side project “MADAME ST. BEATRICE”. 

In 2023, Reagan Youth began recording Volume Three with singer Beatrice Demesier and drummer Mark Zapata. A concept album on the life and times of Dave Insurgent, it was completed in 2024 as Paul was in hospice care at Calvary Hospital. 

Paul’s work with Reagan Youth left an enduring mark on the punk rock community, and his activism against political oppression and bigotry remains influential today. 

Rest in Power Paul Cripple.