The first recorded use of the term was by the Reverend Sydney Smith in 1845, where opposition was expressed to the idea of equal rule for "all units of society"; Smith noted that the young should not have the same authority as the old and challenged isocrats to support voting and political rights for women, which was considered an extremist position at the time.
During Stikky's active years it was common for them, Crimpshrine, Isocracy, Operation Ivy, Corrupted Morals, Sweet Baby Jesus, or The Lookouts to open a bill for a touring punk band almost every weekend at 924 Gilman Street.