D.I. (band)

D.I. is an American punk rock band formed in 1981 in Fullerton, California. It was founded by vocalist and primary songwriter Casey Royer, after previously playing drums in the bands Adolescents and Social Distortion.

Since its formation, D.I. has had many line-up changes over the years with Royer being the only constant member of the band. The band has continued to work, although they have had inactive periods, which include the band going on hiatus between albums. During their years of touring and recording albums, D.I. have never gained a huge mainstream success, but they have influenced many of the 1990s era melodic hardcore punk and punk rock revival bands, including Face to Face, Guttermouth, Jughead's Revenge, The Offspring, and Pennywise. Members of the band also joined up with Daddy X and the Dirtball of the Kottonmouth Kings, to create the punk rock band the X-Pistols, in 2010.

History

Early history (1981–1986)

D.I. was formed in 1981 after the Adolescents' first break-up. The band's name initially stood for "Drug Ideology", but now, the initials no longer have any meaning. Their original line-up consisted of Casey Royer on vocals, Tim Maag on guitar, Fredric Taccone on bass guitar, and Derek O'Brien on drums. The band combined the Orange County hardcore punk sound with a decidedly surf and new wave style on their debut self-titled EP. The EP featured five songs, including "Richard Hung Himself" (originally written by Casey Royer while he played for the Adolescents, recorded with the Adolescents and later re-recorded with D.I.), "Venus De Milo", "Reagan der Führer", "Purgatory", and "Guns". This EP was later reissued as ''Team Goon'' with extra tracks including versions of Gary Glitter's " Rock and Roll Part II", The Saint and Nuclear Funeral. The album was later released as a CD which added a cover of DEVO's Uncontrollable Urge which itself was originally released by XXX Records as the B-side on the 7" e.p. along with Surfing Anarchy

The band's first studio album ''Ancient Artifacts'' was a more straight ahead Orange County-sounding album that included a new version of "Purgatory" from the EP. Not long after the release of ''Ancient Artifacts'', D.I. returned to the studio to record their second album '' Horse Bites Dog Cries'', which was not released until 1986 (although the album itself has copyright date of 1985). This is generally considered their best studio album.

Two more albums and hiatus (1987–1992)

Before recording sessions for their next album commenced, guitarist Rikk Agnew left D.I. in 1987 to pursue his career with the Adolescents, who released two more albums (''Brats in Battalions'', and ''Balboa Fun*Zone'') before breaking-up again. Agnew was replaced in D.I. by Hedge on bass guitar. Alfie Agnew played guitar, and Bosco was switched from bass to second guitar. Eventually Mark "The Kid" Cerneka from Brea Olinda High School replaced Alfie. The resulting album, ''What Good Is Grief to a God?'' (1988), was a commercial failure. After the 1988 US tour, "The Kid" left and was replaced by Sean Elliot. The 7" Single. "Don't Do It" b/w "Johnny's Got a Problem" was released that year on Triple X, blue vinyl in partnership with Circle A Skateboards. This was given away as a promo with a skateboard. Some released with picture sleeves. In 1989, D.I. released their next album ''Tragedy Again''. That year another 7" Single was released on red vinyl again on Triple X records. "Surfin' Anarchy" (Beach Boys cover) b/w "Uncontrollable Urge" (Devo cover)

Return and more line-up changes (1993–2010)

A live album, ''Live at a Dive'', was released in 1993. After Stevie DRT left the band, original drummer John Knight rejoined, and their fifth album '' State of Shock'' was released the following year. Chris Roboson and Steve Lyen joined and continued playing from 1995 to 1997. The band lost their record label soon afterwards. After two years of strictly playing live shows, and original guitarist Tim Maag replacing Roboson, D.I. headed back into the studio around 1997 to record what would be their follow-up to ''State of Shock'' and shopped the tracks around to labels without finding a taker.

Numerous line-up changes went on before they solidified their line-up, consisting of Royer, Chckn (guitars), Clinton Calton (guitars), Eddie Tatar (bass) and Joey Tatar (drums). Royer remained the only constant member of the band. D.I. continued touring for years and released their first original album in eight years, titled ''Caseyology'', in 2002. ''Caseyology'' was followed up five years later by ''On the Western Front'' (2007) released on the Suburban Noize label, with all music and lyrics written by Royer and Tatar. In 2009, the band released the tracks "Potbelly", "D.I.", "The Dehumanizers", and "Embrace The Kill – Shut the Fuck Up and Listen!!!" through PB Records.

Recent activities (2011–present)

In March 2011, Casey Royer was arrested for child abuse, child endangerment and overdosing on heroin in the presence of his 12-year-old son. The child abuse and child endangerment charges were dropped, but he was sentenced to a 90-day jail term and placed on probation for three years for the substance abuse misdemeanor. After this, Royer got clean and sober, and D.I. returned to touring and playing live shows.

In 2012, the band released a new 7" EP, ''United We Slam '' through Hand Grenade Records.

Line-ups

Timeline

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id:Guitars value:Green legend:Guitars
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:StudioAlbums value:Black legend:Studio_albums
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at:01/01/1986 color:black layer:back
at:08/08/1988 color:black layer:back
at:01/01/1989 color:black layer:back
at:01/01/1994 color:black layer:back
at:05/21/2002 color:black layer:back
at:08/14/2007 color:black layer:back
at:08/14/2020 color:black layer:back

color:eps
at:01/01/1983
at:01/01/2012

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bar:Maag text:"Tim Maag"
bar:Roberts text:"Steve Roberts"
bar:Alfie text:"Alfie Agnew"
bar:Cerneka text:"Mark "The Kid" Cerneka"
bar:Elliot text:"Sean Elliot"
bar:Calabro text:"Michael Calabro"
bar:Roboson text:"Chris Roboson"
bar:Calton text:"Clinton Calton"
bar:Chckn text:"Chckn"
bar:Trevor text:"Trevor Lucca"
bar:Taccone text:"Fredrick Taccone"
bar:Walston text:"Wade Walston"
bar:Bosco text:"John "Bosco" Calabro"
bar:Hedge text:"Hedge"
bar:Colburn text:"Dan Colburn"
bar:Pifer text:"Lisa "Lisafer" Pifer"
bar:Eddie text:"Eddie Tater"
bar:OBrien text:"Derek O'Brien"
bar:Rikk text:"Rikk Agnew"
bar:Knight text:"John Knight"
bar:Stevie text:"Stevie DRT"
bar:Lyen text:"Steve Lyen"
bar:Guevara text:"Steve Guevara"
bar:Joey text:"Joey Tater"

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bar:Maag from:start till:01/01/1983 color:Guitars
bar:Roberts from:01/01/1983 till:06/01/1983 color:Guitars
bar:Maag from:06/01/1983 till:06/01/1984 color:Guitars
bar:Rikk from:06/01/1983 till:01/01/1987 color:Guitars
bar:Alfie from:06/01/1984 till:01/01/1987 color:Guitars
bar:Bosco from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1990 color:Guitars
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bar:Elliot from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1992 color:Guitars
bar:Alfie from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1992 color:Guitars
bar:Calabro from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:Guitars
bar:Roboson from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1997 color:Guitars
bar:Maag from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1997 color:Guitars
bar:Calabro from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:Guitars
bar:Chckn from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/2008 color:Guitars
bar:Elliot from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:Guitars
bar:Elliot from:09/01/2000 till:01/01/2001 color:Guitars
bar:Chckn from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/2008 color:Guitars
bar:Calton from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Guitars
bar:Trevor from:04/13/2018 till:end color:Guitars

bar:Taccone from:start till:06/01/1983 color:Bass
bar:Walston from:06/01/1983 till:01/01/1984 color:Bass
bar:Bosco from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1987 color:Bass
bar:Hedge from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1990 color:Bass
bar:Colburn from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1992 color:Bass
bar:Taccone from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/2000 color:Bass
bar:Pifer from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2001 color:Bass
bar:Eddie from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Bass

bar:OBrien from:start till:01/01/1983 color:Drums
bar:Rikk from:01/01/1983 till:06/01/1983 color:Drums
bar:OBrien from:06/01/1983 till:01/01/1984 color:Drums
bar:Knight from:01/01/1984 till:06/01/1986 color:Drums
bar:Stevie from:06/01/1986 till:01/01/1992 color:Drums
bar:Knight from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:Drums
bar:Lyen from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1997 color:Drums
bar:Knight from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2000 color:Drums
bar:Guevara from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2003 color:Drums
bar:Joey from:01/01/2003 till:end color:Drums

Discography

Studio releases

EP, compilation and live albums

References

External links

D.I.
on Myspace
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{{Authority control
Musical groups established in 1981