Recorded at Black in Bluhm Music in Denver, Colorado, with Chris Fogal (The Gamits, The Lillingtons) and Kyle Tilev (with additional tracking by Frank Josephs in Santa Clarita).

Santa Clarita, CA — October 31, 2025 — Southern California punks Moonraker have dropped a surprise Halloween single: a fiery, harmony-laced cover of the Smoking Popes classic ‘Rubella’. The digital-only track arrives today across all streaming platforms. The cover injects band’s trademark blend of grit and heart into the 1995 Popes favorite — reimagining its bittersweet melody with punchy guitars, soaring dual vocals, and a raw emotional undercurrent.

“We’ve always really loved this song. It’s for sure my favorite Smoking Popes song” says drummer/vocalist David Green. “A couple years ago at Fest our buddy Scotty said he was putting together a Smoking Popes tribute comp and asked if we’d want to be on it. I told him we were in as long as we could do ‘Rubella.’ We worked it out, tracked it, and… the comp never ended up happening, haha. All good — we love you, Scotty! So we figured it’d be a fun surprise single for Halloween. Hope you like it as much as we do!”

Formed in Southern California’s vibrant punk scene, band has earned a reputation for their rambunctious live shows and sharp, self-aware songwriting. The new single sets the stage for a busy stretch ahead — including a Los Angeles show at The Escondite on November 7 with Stoke Signals, Bad Fatale, Empired — and the first hint of what’s to come from the band’s next recording chapter.

Upcoming Show
November 7, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Escondite
w/ Stoke Signals, Bad Fatale, Empired

#punkrock #california #socal #sandiego #moonraker #smokingpopes