Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...

, 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 A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protect ...

) 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 Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

's Germs. Germs singer

Darby Crash Jan Paul Beahm (better known by his stage name Darby Crash, formerly Bobby Pyn; September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980) was an American punk rock vocalist who, along with longtime friend Pat Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg), co-founded the punk ro ...

'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 Final Warning was a Portland, Oregon-based hardcore punk band active in the Pacific Northwest from 1982 to 1986. The band was notable for their anti-war political themes and as one of the early hardcore bands to incorporate heavy metal into the ...

). Poison Idea's debut, 1983's ''

Pick Your King ''Pick Your King'' is the title of American hardcore punk band Poison Idea's debut EP, released in 1983 viFatal Erection Records The album jacket featured a "choice" of kings (hence the title), one side had an image of Jesus Christ, the other si ...

'' EP, was a short, lo-fi blast of hardcore fury. The jacket featured a "choice" of two kings,

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

(front cover) and

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

(back cover). In 1984, the group released the ''

Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes ''Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes'' is hardcore punk band Poison Idea's second EP. It was released in 1985 through Fatal Erection Records. The back cover of the album contained a picture of Elvis Presley with the words "The King" b ...

'' 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 Brian Schroeder, better known as Pushead, is an American graphic artist. He is best known for his album covers and other merchandise for bands in the hardcore punk and heavy metal genres. Career Originally from Boise, Idaho, Schoeder formed t ...

for his own Pusmort label). With the release of 1986's ''

Kings of Punk ''Kings of Punk'' is the third release and first LP by hardcore punk band Poison Idea, released in 1986 through Pushead's Pusmort Records label. It was re-released by Reflex/Wolfpack Records in 2003 on a limited vinyl pressing. Track listing All ...

'' 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" Olsen 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 Henry Charles Bukowski ( ; born Heinrich Karl Bukowski, ; August 16, 1920 – March 9, 1994) was a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural, and economic ambience of his adopted ...

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 ''Feel the Darkness'' is an album released by the American hardcore punk band Poison Idea in 1990 as a joint release between Vinyl Solution and the band's own American Leather Records. The album has subsequently been reissued by a number of dif ...

''. 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 Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are often ...

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 January 31, 2006, Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts was found dead in his home. 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 Southern Lord is an American heavy metal record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson. It specialized in experimental metal: particularly doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal. The label later expanded its line-up to include arti ...

. 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 Bossanova Ballroom is an event space and former theater located at 722 East Burnside Street in Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Orego ...

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 The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...

, outtakes, alternate mixes, plus ''Live in London'', has been re-issued by American Leather / TKO Records. In December 2018,

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

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 Rare Bird Books is an American publishing house. It was founded by Tyson Cornell, the former director of publicity and marketing at Book Soup. Rare Bird has five imprints: California Coldblood, which is focused on sci-fi and similar genres; A Bar ...

Members

Last lineup

* Jerry A – vocals * Jeff Walter – guitar * Andrew 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" Olsen – guitar * Brandon Bentley – guitar * Mickey Widner – drums * Eric Roll - guitar

Discography

Studio albums

* 1986 ''

'' LP (originally released on Pusmort Records) * 1987 '' War All the Time'' LP (originally released on Alchemy Records (U.S.)) * 1990 ''

'' LP (originally released on

Vinyl Solution Vinyl Solution was a record label of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the offshoot of an independent London-based record store based at 231 Portobello Road (now known as Intoxica Records). The label signed many unconventional acts in a number of unc ...

and American Leather) * 1992 ''

Blank Blackout Vacant ''Blank Blackout Vacant'' is the fourth studio album by Poison Idea. It was released in 1992 by Vinyl Solution in the UK and Taang! Records in the US. An expanded double LP version was released by TKO Records and the band's American Leather Recor ...

'' LP (originally released on Taang Records and

) * 1993 ''We Must Burn'' LP (originally released on

and

Tim/Kerr Tim/Kerr (also known as T/K) was an American independent record label in Portland, Oregon, United States, run by Thor Lindsay and Thomas "Tim" Kerr IV from 1985 until 1999. Between 1978 and 1984 Lindsay and Kerr were also co-owners of an independ ...

) * 2006 ''Latest Will and Testament'' CD/LP (originally released on Farewell Records / Network of Friends) * 2015 '' Confuse & Conquer'' CD/LP (released on

)

Singles and EPs

* 1983 ''

7-inch In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separate ...

EP (Fatal Erection, American Leather,

TKO Records TKO Records is an independent punk rock record label in Portland, Oregon. The label is primarily known for its role in the late 1990s American street punk scene and has continued its notability as a source of new releases, reissues, and archival ...

) * 1984 ''

'' 12-inch EP (Fatal Erection) * 1988 ''Filthkick'' 7-inch EP (Shitfool,

) * 1988 ''Getting the Fear'' 12-inch, 7-inch EP (Rockport,

) * 1989 ''Just to Get Away'' 7-inch Picture Disc Single (American Leather) * 1989 ''Darby Crash Rides Again'' 7-inch EP (American Leather,

) * 1989 ''Plastic Bomb'' Cassette Single (self-released) * 1990 ''Taken By Surprise'' 7-inch (

) * 1990 ''Discontent'' 7-inch (American Leather) * 1991 ''Punish Me'' 7-inch, 12-inch & CD EP (

, American Leather) * 1991 ''Dead Boy – A Tribute to Stiv'' w/

Jeff Dahl Jeff Dahl (born 1955, Stuttgart, Germany) is an American musician. In 1960, the Dahl family relocated to Hawaii. Dahl recorded his first single, "Rock N Roll Critic", in 1977, which was released on the Doodley Squat label. Dahl later performed ...

, 7-inch Single (

Triple X Records Triple X Records was a Los Angeles-based record company started by three former employees of the bankrupt Greenworld Distribution: Dean Naleway, Peter Heur and Charley Brown. The label was known for "a fearlessly eclectic catalogue that broke away ...

) * 1991 ''Official Bootleg'' 2×7″ EP (

, American Leather) * 1992 ''Return of the Rat/Up Front'' w/ Nirvana 7-inch (

) * 1993 ''Religion & Politics Part 1 & 2'' 2×7″, 10-inch & CD EP (Insipid Vinyl,

) * 1993 ''Single at X-mas'' w/ Ray & Grover 7-inch Single (

) * 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 Taang! Records is an independent record label with a roster of hardcore punk, punk rock, Oi!, power pop, ska, indie rock, psychedelic, and ambient artists and bands founded by Curtis Casella in Boston, Massachusetts in 1983. History Taang! ...

) * 2007 ''Bipolar Hardcore Split'' 7-inch Picture Disc Single w/

Kill Your Idols Kill Your Idols is an American hardcore punk band from New York, active from 1995 through 2007 and again from 2013 to the present. They were signed to SideOneDummy Records. Their releases on SideOne were Funeral for a Feeling (2001), a split w ...

(

) * 2013 ''2013 Black Friday X-mas Split'' w/Angry Snowmans 7-inch Single (

) * 2014 ''Triple Chocolate Penetration'' 7-inch Single RECORD STORE DAY 2014 ( Voodoo Donut) * 2014 ''The Badge'' w/

Pantera Pantera () is an American heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas formed in 1981, and currently comprised of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The group's best-kn ...

Split 7-inch Single RECORD STORE DAY 2014 (

Rhino Records A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species o ...

) * 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 (

) * 1993 ''Dysfunctional Songs for Codependent Addicts'' CD (

) * 1994 ''The Early Years'' CD (Bitzcore) * 2000 ''Best of Poison Idea'' CD (

) * 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 (

) * 2012 ''The Fatal Erection Years'' collection of rarities and early releases CD/LP (

) * 2013 ''

'' expanded reissue 2×CD/2×LP (

) * 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 (

)

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