Poison Idea

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Poison Idea
Logo poison idea.svg
Background information
OriginPortland, Oregon, U.S.
GenresPunk rock, hardcore punk
Years active1980–1993, 1998–2017, 2018
Labels
  • Fatal Erection[1]
  • Pusmort Records[2]
  • Your Choice
  • Alchemy
  • American Leather[1]
  • TKO[1]
  • Southern Lord[1]
WebsitePoison Idea on Facebook Edit this at Wikidata
Members
  • Jerry A (vocals)
  • Eric "Vegetable" Olson (guitar)
  • Brandon Bentley (guitar)
  • Chris "Spider" Carey (bass)
  • Mickey Widmer (drums)[1]
Past membersSee below

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 (guitar), Glen Estes (bass), and Dean Johnson (drums).[3] 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, who previously had played with Jerry in a group called the Stand, was replaced within a year by Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts (guitar), formerly of the Imperialist Pigs.

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).[3]

In 1984, Chris Tense returned to the band, this time on bass, replacing Glen Estes (later of Portland, Oregon punk/metal band Final Warning), and the group released the Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes 12" (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,[3] 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 band went through several rapid lineup changes (mostly in the rhythm section), and then added lead guitarist Eric "Vegetable" Olson, a gifted musician who wrote many Poison Idea tunes during his tenure in the band (even contributing a piano vamp on one track). The band then released War All the Time[3] (named for the Charles Bukowski book) in 1987. War All the Time and the EPs that followed (the Getting the Fear 12" and the Filthkick 7") found them further developing the rock/hardcore sound first established on Kings of Punk, which they would hone in 1990 with Feel the Darkness.

Around this time, after numerous lineup changes, Poison Idea had convened one of their more stable lineups in Jerry A., Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts, Charley "Myrtle Tickner" Nims (bass) and Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford (drums), with Kid Cocksman and then Aldine Strichnine on second guitar. 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.[4] 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".

In 1990, the band released Feel the Darkness.[3] After the album's release, Aldine Strychnine 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, before seemingly splitting in 1993, they released We Must Burn.[3]

Reformation and recent events[]

On October 6, 2008, Portland police arrested Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford, 39, in connection with a string of pharmacy robberies in late summer.[5][6]

All the original members except for Jerry A have been replaced in the two years leading up to October 2013 and Eric the "Vegetable" who has been absent since 1989 was brought back on board.[7]

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.[8]

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."[9]

Steven "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford, the band's former drummer, died of heart attack at age 50 on May 22, 2020.[10][11]

Members[]

Last lineup[]

  • Jerry A – vocals
  • Jeff Walter – guitar
  • Andrew Stromstad – guitar
  • Chris "Spider" Carey – bass
  • Chris Cuthbert – drums

Former[]

  • Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts – guitar (died 2006)
  • Chris Tense – bass
  • Glen Estes – bass
  • Dean Johnson – drums
  • Jim Taylor – guitar
  • Charley "Myrtle Tickner" Nims – bass
  • Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford – drums (died 2020)[10][11]
  • Mondo – guitar, bass
  • Kid Cocksman – guitar
  • Aldine Strichnine – guitar
  • Matt Brainard – guitar
  • Andy Kessler (a.k.a. Joe Spleen) – guitar
  • Rob "Rawbo Nox" Hume – bass (died 2021)
  • Natalie Lucio – bass[7]
  • Gordon Scholl – drums
  • Nathan "Skinny" Richardson – drums
  • Eric "Vegetable" Olsen – guitar
  • Brandon Bentley – guitar
  • Mickey Widner – drums
  • Eric Roll - guitar

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Singles and EPs[]

  • 1983 Pick Your King 7" EP (Fatal Erection, American Leather, TKO Records)
  • 1984 Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes 12" EP (Fatal Erection)
  • 1988 Filthkick]' 7" EP (Shitfool, TKO Records)
  • 1988 Getting the Fear 12", 7" EP (Rockport, TKO Records)
  • 1989 Just to Get Away 7" Picture Disc Single (American Leather)
  • 1989 Darby Crash Rides Again 7" EP (American Leather, TKO Records)
  • 1989 Plastic Bomb Cassette Single (self-released)
  • 1990 Taken By Surprise 7" (Sub Pop)
  • 1990 Discontent 7" (American Leather)
  • 1991 Punish Me 7", 12" & CD EP (Vinyl Solution, American Leather)
  • 1991 Dead Boy – A Tribute to Stiv w/ Jeff Dahl, 7" Single (Triple X Records)
  • 1991 Official Bootleg 2x7" EP (Vinyl Solution, American Leather)
  • 1992 Return of the Rat/Up Front w/ Nirvana 7" (Tim/Kerr)
  • 1993 Religion & Politics Part 1 & 2 2x7", 10" & CD EP (Insipid Vinyl, Tim/Kerr)
  • 1993 Single at X-mas w/ Ray & Grover 7" Single (Tim/Kerr)
  • 1993 Split Single w/ Babes In Toyland 7" Single (Insipid Vinyl)
  • 1993 Feel the Darkness (Remix) 7" Single (Dirter Promotions)
  • 1998 Learning to Scream 7" EP (Taang! Records)
  • 2007 Bipolar Hardcore Split 7" Picture Disc Single w/ Kill Your Idols (TKO Records)
  • 2013 2013 Black Friday X-mas Split w/Angry Snowmans 7" Single (TKO Records)
  • 2014 Triple Chocolate Penetration 7" Single RECORD STORE DAY 2014 (Voodoo Donut)
  • 2014 The Badge w/ Pantera Split 7" Single RECORD STORE DAY 2014 (Rhino Records)
  • 2015 Rövsvett 7" (Just 4 Fun)
  • 2016 Calling All Ghosts 12" (American Leather)
  • 2016 Something Better Single (self-released)

Collections[]

  • 1988 Get Loaded and Fuck Cassette (self-eleased)
  • 1989 Ian Mackaye 12" (In Your Face)
  • 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)
  • 1994 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)

Kings of Punk reissue series[]

Live recordings[]

  • 1991 Live in Vienna 7" EP (American Leather)
  • 1991 Dutch Courage LP & CD (Bitzcore)
  • 1992 Keep Warm, Burn the Rich 7" 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[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Poison Idea – About". Facebook. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  2. ^ "Pusmort Records Discography", pusfan.com, retrieved May 11, 2020
  3. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 279/80. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  4. ^ Kelefa Sanneh (February 9, 2006). "Requiem for a Hero of Punk". The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Ezra Ace Caraeff (October 9, 2008). "Former Poison Idea Drummer Steve Hanford Arrested for Robbery". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Simms, Jason (October 23, 2013). "Poison Idea: the Portland punk act sobers up, introduces new lineup for Halloween show". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  8. ^ "Metallica's Portland Show Was a Reminder of Why They're Still the Biggest-Ticket Metal Band in the World". Wweek.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  9. ^ "Festival Northwest Hesh Fest at Bossanova Ballroom, Dante's, and Star Theater". Vortex Music Magazine. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Noah Yoo (May 22, 2020). "Former Poison Idea drummer Steven "Three slayer hippy" Hanford dead at 50". Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Nathan Carson (May 21, 2020). "Poison Idea Drummer Steven Hanford Has Died". Retrieved May 22, 2020.

External links[]

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