Wikipedia

Poison Idea

Poison Ideawas an Americanpunk rockband formed inPortland, Oregon,in 1980.

Poison Idea
Poison Idea performing in Germany, 2012
Poison Idea performing in Germany, 2012
Background information
OriginPortland, Oregon,U.S.
GenresPunk rock,hardcore punk
Years active1980–1993, 1998–2017, 2018–2019
Labels
  • Fatal Erection[1]
  • Pusmort Records[2]
  • Your Choice
  • Alchemy
  • American Leather[1]
  • TKO[1]
  • Southern Lord[1]
Members
  • Jerry A (vocals)
  • Jeff Walter (guitar)
  • Brandon Bentley (guitar)
  • Chris "Spider" Carey (bass)
  • Mickey Widmer (drums)[1]
Past membersSee below
WebsitePoison IdeaonFacebookEdit this at Wikidata

History

edit
The group's logo

Formation, 1980s, and 1990s

edit

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 ofHelmet) on drums. Jerry described this early version of the band, in which he sang and played sax, as a "kind ofPILthing "and only lasted a few shows.[3]Jerry and Tense (now on guitar) then hooked up with Glen Estes (bass), and Dean Johnson (drums).[4]Inspired byBlack Flagand other early Southern California hardcore acts, they were further influenced byDischargeandLos Angeles'sGerms.Germs singerDarby 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 bandFinal Warning).

Poison Idea's debut, 1983'sPick Your KingEP, was a short, lo-fi blast of hardcore fury. The jacket featured a "choice" of two kings,Jesus(front cover) andElvis Presley(back cover).[4]

In 1984, the group released theRecord Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes12-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 theDrinking is GreatEP (on which appeared other Oregon punk bands Final Warning, Lockjaw and E-13), and "Typical" and "Die on Your Knees" on theCleanse the BacteriaLP (compiled byPusheadfor his own Pusmort label).

With the release of 1986'sKings of PunkLP,[4]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 ofKings of Punk,the lineup changed again and the band added lead guitarist Eric "Vegetable" Olsen and drummer Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford from local thrash metal band Mayhem. The band then releasedWar All the Time[4](named for theCharles Bukowskibook) in 1987. After the release ofWar All The Time,Chris Tense departed and was replaced by Craig "Mondo" Lower, also formerly of Mayhem.War All the Timeand the EPs that followed (theGetting the Fear12-inch and theFilthkick7-inch) found them further developing the rock/hardcore sound first established onKings of Punk,which they would hone in 1990 withFeel 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 demoDarby Crash Rides Againand theDiscontent7-inch.

In 1990, the band releasedFeel the Darkness.[4]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 releasedBlank Blackout Vacantin 1992, andWe Must Burnin 1993.[4]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.[5]After the release ofWe 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 thePig's Last StandCD bySub Popin 1996. The group continued on briefly as a 4-piece (as documented on the 1995Your Choice Liverelease) 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'sLearning To Scream7-inch but the band dissolved shortly afterwards.

Reformation and recent events

edit

Jerry and Pig Champion resurrected Poison Idea again with new members in 2000 to record new material. This material was released in 2006 asThe Latest Will and TestamentLP. Prior to the album's release, on January 31, 2006, Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts was found dead in his home.[6]

On October 6, 2008, Portland police arrested Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford, 39, in connection with a string of pharmacy robberies in late summer.[7][8]

In 2015, Poison Idea released the LPConfuse & ConqueronSouthern 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 theBossanova Ballroomin Portland, Oregon. It was in celebration of the release ofFeel the Darkness28 years prior. A remixed and remastered album includingB-sides,outtakes, alternate mixes, plusLive in London,has been re-issued by American Leather / TKO Records.

In December 2018,Metallicaperformed a cover of Poison Idea's "Taken By Surprise," a track fromFeel the Darkness.[9]

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."[10]

Steven "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford, the band's former drummer, died of heart attack at age 50 on May 22, 2020.[11][12]

In 2022, Jerry A. Lang released a three-part autobiography entitledBlack Heart Fades BluethroughRare Bird Books.[13]

Members

edit

Last lineup

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

Former

edit
  • 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)[11][12]
  • 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[14]
  • 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

edit

Studio albums

edit

Singles and EPs

edit
  • 1983Pick Your King7-inchEP (Fatal Erection, American Leather,TKO Records)
  • 1984Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes12-inch EP (Fatal Erection)
  • 1988Filthkick7-inch EP (Shitfool,TKO Records)
  • 1988Getting the Fear12-inch, 7-inch EP (Rockport,TKO Records)
  • 1989Just to Get Away7-inch Picture Disc Single (American Leather)
  • 1989Darby Crash Rides Again7-inch EP (American Leather,TKO Records)
  • 1989Plastic BombCassette Single (self-released)
  • 1990Taken By Surprise7-inch (Sub Pop)
  • 1990Discontent7-inch (American Leather)
  • 1991Punish Me7-inch, 12-inch & CD EP (Vinyl Solution,American Leather)
  • 1991Dead Boy – A Tribute to Stivw/Jeff Dahl,7-inch Single (Triple X Records)
  • 1991Official Bootleg2×7″ EP (Vinyl Solution,American Leather)
  • 1992Return of the Rat/Up Frontw/ Nirvana 7-inch (Tim/Kerr)
  • 1993Religion & Politics Part 1 & 22×7″, 10-inch & CD EP (Insipid Vinyl,Tim/Kerr)
  • 1993Single at X-masw/ Ray & Grover 7-inch Single (Tim/Kerr)
  • 1993Split Singlew/Babes In Toyland7-inch Single (Insipid Vinyl)
  • 1993Feel the Darkness (Remix)7-inch Single (Dirter Promotions)
  • 1998Learning to Scream7-inch EP (Taang! Records)
  • 2007Bipolar Hardcore Split7-inch Picture Disc Single w/Kill Your Idols(TKO Records)
  • 20132013 Black Friday X-mas Splitw/Angry Snowmans 7-inch Single (TKO Records)
  • 2014Triple Chocolate Penetration7-inch Single RECORD STORE DAY 2014 (Voodoo Donut)
  • 2014The Badgew/PanteraSplit 7-inch Single RECORD STORE DAY 2014 (Rhino Records)
  • 2015Rövsvett7-inch (Just 4 Fun)
  • 2016Calling All Ghosts12-inch (American Leather)
  • 2016Something BetterSingle (self-released)

Collections

edit
  • 1988Get Loaded and FuckCassette (self-released) - reissued as "Ian MacKaye" in 1989
  • 1992Pajama PartyCovers Album Picture Disc & LP (Vinyl Solution,Tim/Kerr)
  • 1993Dysfunctional Songs for Codependent AddictsCD (Tim/Kerr)
  • 1994The Early YearsCD (Bitzcore)
  • 2000Best of Poison IdeaCD (Taang! Records)
  • 2002Kings of Punk / Record Collectors Are Pretentious AssholesCD (Rhythm Vicar)
  • 2005Pick Your King / Learning to ScreamLP (Reflex/Wolfpack)
  • 2017Legacy of DysfunctionLP (American Leather Records)

Kings of Punkreissue series

edit
  • 2011Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Yearsdemos and rarities collection CD/LP (TKO Records&Southern Lord Records)
  • 2012The Fatal Erection Yearscollection of rarities and early releases CD/LP (TKO Records&Southern Lord Records)
  • 2013Kings of Punkexpanded reissue 2×CD/2×LP (TKO Records&Southern Lord Records)
  • 2016Latest Will And Testament "10th Anniversary reissue CD/LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
  • 2016War All The Timereissue CD/LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
  • 2018Feel The Darknessexpanded reissue 2×LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
  • 2019Pig's Last Standreissue 2×LP & DVD (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
  • 2020Blank Blackout Vacantexpanded reissue 2×LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)

Live recordings

edit
  • 1991Live in Vienna7-inch EP (American Leather)
  • 1991Dutch CourageLP & CD (Bitzcore)
  • 1992Keep Warm, Burn the Rich7-inch EP (Bootleg)
  • 1993Record Bootleggers Are Potential MillionairesLP (Bootleg)
  • 1995Your Choice Live SeriesLP & CD (Your Choice Records)
  • 1996Pig's Last StandLP & CD (Sub Pop)

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^abcde"Poison Idea – About".Facebook.RetrievedMay 22,2020.
  2. ^"Pusmort Records Discography",pusfan.com,retrievedMay 11,2020
  3. ^Thorn, Michael."Poison Idea's Jerry A. on His Forthcoming Autobiography, the Germs, New Projects + More".NoEcho.net.
  4. ^abcdefColin Larkin,ed. (1995).The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal(Second ed.).Guinness Publishing.pp. 279/80.ISBN0-85112-656-1.
  5. ^Kelefa Sanneh (February 9, 2006)."Requiem for a Hero of Punk".The New York Times Company.RetrievedMay 6,2020.
  6. ^https://production.blabbermouth.net/news/former-poison-idea-guitarist-pig-champion-found-dead/[dead link‍]
  7. ^The Oregonian– Portland Man, 39, is arrested in pharmacy robberies Tips to Crime Stoppers helped Portland police arrest Steven Judd Hanford, 39, in connection with a string of pharmacy robberies in late summer. Hanford was arraigned Tuesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. His next court date is October 15.
  8. ^Ezra Ace Caraeff (October 9, 2008)."Former Poison Idea Drummer Steve Hanford Arrested for Robbery".RetrievedMay 21,2020.
  9. ^"Metallica's Portland Show Was a Reminder of Why They're Still the Biggest-Ticket Metal Band in the World".Wweek.com.RetrievedNovember 19,2019.
  10. ^"Festival Northwest Hesh Fest at Bossanova Ballroom, Dante's, and Star Theater".Vortex Music Magazine.RetrievedMay 6,2020.
  11. ^abNoah Yoo (May 22, 2020)."Former Poison Idea drummer Steven" Three slayer hippy "Hanford dead at 50".RetrievedMay 22,2020.
  12. ^abNathan Carson (May 21, 2020)."Poison Idea Drummer Steven Hanford Has Died".RetrievedMay 22,2020.
  13. ^"Black Heart Fades Blue Three-Volume Bundle w/ T-Shirt [signed] by Jerry A. Lang".
  14. ^Simms, Jason (October 23, 2013)."Poison Idea: the Portland punk act sobers up, introduces new lineup for Halloween show".The Oregonian.RetrievedMay 22,2020.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Poison_Idea&oldid=1256193471"