Poison Idea

Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1980.

History

Formation, 1980s, and 1990s

Poison Idea was formed in 1980 by vocalist Jerry A. (aka Jerry Lang). The initial lineup consisted of Jerry A., Chris Tense (bass), and Henry Bogdan (later of Helmet) on drums. Jerry described this early version of the band, in which he sang and played sax, as a "kind of PIL thing" and only lasted a few shows. Jerry and Tense (now on guitar) then hooked up with Glen Estes (bass), and Dean Johnson (drums). Inspired by Black Flag and other early Southern California hardcore acts, they were further influenced by Discharge and Los Angeles's Germs. Germs singer Darby Crash's influence on singer Jerry A., vocally, lyrically, and philosophically, was considerable, and Poison Idea followed the Germs' extremist punk ethic. Tense was replaced within a year by Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts (guitar), formerly of the Imperialist Pigs but he would soon return to the band, this time on bass, replacing Glen Estes (later of Portland, Oregon punk/metal band Final Warning).

Poison Idea's debut, 1983's '' Pick Your King'' EP, was a short, lo-fi blast of hardcore fury. The jacket featured a "choice" of two kings, Jesus (front cover) and Elvis Presley (back cover).

In 1984, the group released the '' Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes'' 12-inch (the cover features Pig Champion's substantial vinyl collection). The record found the band incorporating subtle rock elements into their music, which was further honed on their contributions to two 1985 compilations, "Laughing Boy" on the ''Drinking is Great'' EP (on which appeared other Oregon punk bands Final Warning, Lockjaw and E-13), and "Typical" and "Die on Your Knees" on the ''Cleanse the Bacteria'' LP (compiled by Pushead for his own Pusmort label).

With the release of 1986's '' Kings of Punk'' LP, Poison Idea had fully moved beyond the breakneck hardcore of their early records to a potent, driving and ultimately more intricate and sophisticated hardcore/hard rock fusion that incorporated the accessibility of hard rock without sacrificing the power of hardcore.

Following the release of ''Kings of Punk'', the lineup changed again and the band added lead guitarist Eric "Vegetable" Olson and drummer Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford from local thrash metal band Mayhem. The band then released '' War All the Time'' (named for the Charles Bukowski book) in 1987. After the release of ''War All The Time'', Chris Tense departed and was replaced by Craig "Mondo" Lower, also formerly of Mayhem. ''War All the Time'' and the EPs that followed (the ''Getting the Fear'' 12-inch and the ''Filthkick'' 7-inch) found them further developing the rock/hardcore sound first established on ''Kings of Punk'', which they would hone in 1990 with ''Feel the Darkness''.

Membership in Poison Idea continued to fluctuate. Mondo and Vegetable departed. Charley "Myrtle Tickner" Nims joined on bass and on second guitar there was, briefly, Kevin "Kid Cocksman" Sanders and then Aldine Strichnine. They also established their own record label in 1989, American Leather (named for the Germs song), and released two records the same year: a reissue of their 1982 demo ''Darby Crash Rides Again'' and the ''Discontent'' 7-inch.

In 1990, the band released '' Feel the Darkness''. After the album's release, Aldine Strycnine was thrown out of the band, and Mondo returned, this time on guitar, for the 1991 tour. Poison Idea then released ''Blank Blackout Vacant'' in 1992, and ''We Must Burn'' in 1993. By this time, their drinking habits and hard living were beginning to catch up with them: the band weighed in at about 1,300 lb. collectively, and Pig Champion in particular was very fat, often having to play sitting down. After the release of ''We Must Burn'', Pig Champion announced he was no longer willing to tour. The band's final hometown show with Pig Champion was recorded and released as the ''Pig's Last Stand'' CD by Sub Pop in 1996. The group continued on briefly as a 4-piece (as documented on the 1995 ''Your Choice Live'' release) before calling it quits. Jerry and Thee Slayer Hippy would soon form a short-lived band with Jerry's wife, May May Del Castro, called The Gift. A few years later, Jerry resurrected Poison Idea with Dean Johnson, Chris Tense and new guitarist Ian Miller. This lineup appeared on 1998's ''Learning To Scream'' 7-inch but the band dissolved shortly afterwards.

Reformation and recent events

Jerry and Pig Champion resurrected Poison Idea again with new members in 2000 to record new material. This material was released in 2006 as ''The Latest Will and Testament'' LP. Prior to the album's release, on the night of January 30, 2006, guitarist Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts died in his home in Portland, Oregon, at age 47.

On October 6, 2008, Portland police arrested Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford, 39, in connection with a string of pharmacy robberies in late summer.

In 2015, Poison Idea released the LP ''Confuse & Conquer'' on Southern Lord Records. The album featured the return of former guitarist Eric "Vegetable" Olsen and is, as of 2022, their last studio LP.

After a 19 month absence, the band returned for one show on July 21, 2018, at the Bossanova Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. It was in celebration of the release of ''Feel the Darkness'' 28 years prior. A remixed and remastered album including B-sides, outtakes, alternate mixes, plus ''Live in London'', has been re-issued by American Leather / TKO Records.

In December 2018, Metallica performed a cover of Poison Idea's "Taken By Surprise," a track from ''Feel the Darkness.''

It was stated that in Portland, at the Northwest Hesh Fest, September 19–21, 2019, the band would, "reportedly play their last-ever hometown show."

Steven "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford, the band's former drummer, died of heart attack at age 50 on May 22, 2020.

In 2022, Jerry A. Lang released a three-part autobiography entitled ''Black Heart Fades Blue'' through Rare Bird Books.

Members

Last lineup

* Jerry A – vocals
* Jeff Walter – guitar
* Andrew "The King Slayer" Stromstad – guitar
* Chris "Spider" Carey – bass (died 2022)
* Chris Cuthbert – drums

Former

* Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts – guitar (died 2006)
* Chris Tense – bass
* Glen Estes – bass
* Dean Johnson – drums
* Henry Bogdan – drums
* Jim Taylor – guitar
* Charley "Myrtle Tickner" Nims – bass
* Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford – drums (died 2020)
* Craig "Mondo" Lower – guitar, bass
* Kevin "Kid Cocksman" Sanders – guitar
* Aldine Strycnine – guitar
* Matt Brainard – guitar
* Ian Miller – guitar
* Andy Kessler (a.k.a. Joe Spleen) – guitar
* Rob "Rawbo Nox" Hume – bass (died 2021)
* Natalie Lucio – bass
* Gordon Scholl – drums
* Nathan "Skinny" Richardson – drums
* Alexa "Barbie" Grey – drums, live (2016)
* Eric "Vegetable" Olson – guitar
* Brandon Bentley – guitar
* Mickey Widner – drums
* Eric Roll – guitar

Discography

Studio albums

* 1986 '' Kings of Punk'' LP (originally released on Pusmort Records)
* 1987 '' War All the Time'' LP (originally released on Alchemy Records (U.S.))
* 1990 '' Feel the Darkness'' LP (originally released on Vinyl Solution and American Leather)
* 1992 '' Blank Blackout Vacant'' LP (originally released on Taang Records and Vinyl Solution)
* 1993 ''We Must Burn'' LP (originally released on Vinyl Solution and Tim/Kerr)
* 2006 ''Latest Will and Testament'' CD/LP (originally released on Farewell Records / Network of Friends)
* 2015 '' Confuse & Conquer'' CD/LP (released on Southern Lord Records)

Singles and EPs

* 1983 '' Pick Your King'' 7-inch EP (Fatal Erection, American Leather, TKO Records)
* 1984 '' Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes'' 12-inch EP (Fatal Erection)
* 1988 ''Filthkick'' 7-inch EP (Shitfool, TKO Records)
* 1988 ''Getting the Fear'' 12-inch, 7-inch EP (Rockport, TKO Records)
* 1989 ''Just to Get Away'' 7-inch Picture Disc Single (American Leather)
* 1989 ''Darby Crash Rides Again'' 7-inch EP (American Leather, TKO Records)
* 1989 ''Plastic Bomb'' Cassette Single (self-released)
* 1990 ''Taken By Surprise'' 7-inch (Sub Pop)
* 1990 ''Discontent'' 7-inch (American Leather)
* 1991 ''Punish Me'' 7-inch, 12-inch & CD EP ( Vinyl Solution, American Leather)
* 1991 ''Dead Boy – A Tribute to Stiv'' w/ Jeff Dahl, 7-inch Single ( Triple X Records)
* 1991 ''Official Bootleg'' 2×7″ EP ( Vinyl Solution, American Leather)
* 1992 ''Return of the Rat/Up Front'' w/ Nirvana 7-inch ( Tim/Kerr)
* 1993 ''Religion & Politics Part 1 & 2'' 2×7″, 10-inch & CD EP (Insipid Vinyl, Tim/Kerr)
* 1993 ''Single at X-mas'' w/ Ray & Grover 7-inch Single ( Tim/Kerr)
* 1993 ''Split Single'' w/ Babes In Toyland 7-inch Single (Insipid Vinyl)
* 1993 ''Feel the Darkness (Remix)'' 7-inch Single (Dirter Promotions)
* 1998 ''Learning to Scream'' 7-inch EP ( Taang! Records)
* 2007 ''Bipolar Hardcore Split'' 7-inch Picture Disc Single w/ Kill Your Idols ( TKO Records)
* 2013 ''2013 Black Friday X-mas Split'' w/Angry Snowmans 7-inch Single ( TKO Records)
* 2014 ''Triple Chocolate Penetration'' 7-inch Single RECORD STORE DAY 2014 ( Voodoo Donut)
* 2014 ''The Badge'' w/ Pantera Split 7-inch Single RECORD STORE DAY 2014 (Rhino Records)
* 2015 ''Rövsvett'' 7-inch (Just 4 Fun)
* 2016 ''Calling All Ghosts'' 12-inch (American Leather)
* 2016 ''Something Better'' Single (self-released)

Collections

* 1988 '' Get Loaded and Fuck'' Cassette (self-released) - reissued as "Ian MacKaye" in 1989
* 1992 ''Pajama Party'' Covers Album Picture Disc & LP ( Vinyl Solution, Tim/Kerr)
* 1993 ''Dysfunctional Songs for Codependent Addicts'' CD ( Tim/Kerr)
* 1994 ''The Early Years'' CD (Bitzcore)
* 2000 ''Best of Poison Idea'' CD ( Taang! Records)
* 2002 ''Kings of Punk / Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes'' CD (Rhythm Vicar)
* 2005 ''Pick Your King / Learning to Scream'' LP (Reflex/Wolfpack)
* 2017 ''Legacy of Dysfunction'' LP (American Leather Records)

''Kings of Punk'' reissue series

* 2011 ''Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Years'' demos and rarities collection CD/LP ( TKO Records & Southern Lord Records)
* 2012 ''The Fatal Erection Years'' collection of rarities and early releases CD/LP ( TKO Records & Southern Lord Records)
* 2013 '' Kings of Punk'' expanded reissue 2×CD/2×LP ( TKO Records & Southern Lord Records)
* 2016 ''Latest Will And Testament" 10th Anniversary reissue CD/LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
* 2016 ''War All The Time'' reissue CD/LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
* 2018 ''Feel The Darkness'' expanded reissue 2×LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
* 2019 ''Pig's Last Stand'' reissue 2×LP & DVD (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
* 2020 ''Blank Blackout Vacant'' expanded reissue 2×LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)

Live recordings

* 1991 ''Live in Vienna'' 7-inch EP (American Leather)
* 1991 ''Dutch Courage'' LP & CD (Bitzcore)
* 1992 ''Keep Warm, Burn the Rich'' 7-inch EP (Bootleg)
* 1993 ''Record Bootleggers Are Potential Millionaires'' LP (Bootleg)
* 1995 ''Your Choice Live Series'' LP & CD (Your Choice Records)
* 1996 ''Pig's Last Stand'' LP & CD (Sub Pop)

See also

* Venomous Concept

References

External links

*

Poison Idea: Still the Kings of Punk
(cover story for the July 1992 issue of Portland's
Paperback Jukebox
')

Official merchandise website

{{Authority control

Hardcore punk groups from Oregon
Musical groups from Portland, Oregon
1980 establishments in Oregon
1993 disestablishments in Oregon
Musical groups established in 1980
Musical groups disestablished in 1993