MDC, or Millions of Dead Cops, began in 1979 in Austin, Texas as The Stains. They released the classic John Wayne was a Nazi 7 in 1980, half of the pressing was under the Stains name, half MDC-Stains. That year MDC relocated to San Francisco, following the lead of fellow leftist Texans the Dicks. Witnessing a violent police riot at their show with Flag in Orange County inspired the new name (the change was necessitated by fellow opening band the Stains from LA).