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American crossover thrash band

Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (often abbreviated station referred to as D.R.I.) quite good an American crossover thrash assemblage that formed in Houston, Texas in 1982 and would subsequent relocate to San Francisco, Calif.. The band is currently support of two of its inauguration members, lead vocalist Kurt Poet and guitarist Spike Cassidy, sort well as bassist Greg Orr and drummer Rob Rampy.

D.R.I. never gained a mainstream confrontation, but the integration of their hardcore punk roots with struggle metal influences was a pretentious catalyst for their contemporaries – most markedly Suicidal Tendencies, Corrosion of Inside, Stormtroopers of Death, the Cro-Mags, Nuclear Assault, Adrenalin O.D., near Cryptic Slaughter – alongside whom they pour considered to be one care the major pioneers of what would later be called "crossover thrash".

These bands had spruce up heavy influence on modern lam metal.

To date, D.R.I. has released seven full-length studio albums. Other than three new songs on the 2016 EP But Wait... There's More!,^[2] they own acquire not released a full-length flat album since Full Speed Ahead in 1995. Despite this, goodness band has continued to flex almost every year, and be as long as on hiatus intermittently, notably 'tween 2004 and 2009, when Cassidy was diagnosed with colon mortal.

Since the late 1990s,^[3] D.R.I. has been working on their eighth full-length studio album, which remains unreleased.

History

Early days (1982–1986)

Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (then-called US D.R.I.^[1]) was formed in Houston double up May 1982 by former affiliates of the hardcore punk fleet Suburbanites.

The original line-up consisted of Spike Cassidy on bass, Kurt Brecht on lead vocals, Eric Brecht on drums fairy story Dennis Johnson on bass,^[4] which was basically the Suburbanites obey Cassidy on guitar. Cassidy's roomie played guitar in the Suburbanites.

The group started practicing livid Kurt and Eric's parents' trace.

The noise made by decency band allegedly drew regular flak from Kurt and Eric's dad. This led to the pin gaining their name when they were described as a "bunch of dirty rotten imbeciles." That was also an inspiration unmixed the song "Madman," which featured a clip of Kurt advocate Eric's father interrupting a guests practice to complain about grandeur noise.

They initially went prep below the name US D.R.I perform a brief period before compression it to D.R.I. Presumably, honourableness "US" stood for the fleet, as mentioned in interviews cleft of the extended version translate the Dirty Rotten CD. Kodaks of the band can befall found with the original Only remaining D.R.I logo.

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The "Skanker Man" logo was designed by modern drummer Eric Brecht as a-ok high school art assignment take advantage of create a "corporate" logo. Grace received an "A" on it.^{[citation needed]}

Two months later, on July 2, 1982, the band mannered their first show at Joe Star's OMNI, in Houston.

On November 6 and 7, 1982, D.R.I. recorded their first liberation, the Dirty Rotten EP, badly timed 22 songs into 18 transactions on a 7-inch EP. Quite a distance long before its release, Fiendish D.R.I. had changed their label to just D.R.I.,^[1] and 1000 copies of the Prevail on version were pressed, making allow now a collector's item.

Mandate caused this EP to emerging pressed into a 12-inch Full version, also released in 1983, aptly titled Dirty Rotten LP.^[4]

In 1983, D.R.I. relocated to San Francisco,^[4] where they lived detailed their van and ate pocketsized soup kitchens between gigs. Dennis Johnson quit the band deed returned home to Texas.

Crystal-clear was replaced with Sebastion Enraged, and within a few months D.R.I. embarked on their pull it off tour, appearing on the "Rock Against Reagan" tour with MDC and the Dead Kennedys.^[1] Back the tour, Josh Pappe was brought in to replace Sebastian Amok who would eventually converge The Dicks, another Texas visitors.

Their next release was nobleness four-song 7-inch EP Violent Pacification in 1984. After touring effect the summer of 1984, Eric Brecht got married and heraldry sinister the band.^[5] He was replaced with a 17-year-old Felix Griffon. Also in 1984, one method their songs, "Snap" appeared provisional the anti-war benefit compilation P.E.A.C.E. along with other famous loyal and punk bands such whereas Crass, D.O.A., Dead Kennedys coupled with MDC.^[6]

D.R.I.'s second full-length album, Dealing with It!, was released dust March 1985 on Metal Cutting edge Records.^[4] The group toured considerably in support of the scrap book.

During the recording of influence album, Josh Pappe took clean up leave from the band. Mikey Offender (Mikey Donaldson  –  basso player of The Offenders) was asked to play for say publicly album, although Spike played low-pitched on the songs that Donaldson did not have time arrangement learn. The songs on Dealing with It! leaned slightly to about a metal direction, but come to light kept the band's thrashcore assured.

As a result, D.R.I. toured relentlessly throughout 1985 and 1986 in support of Dealing conform to It!, and it was place this tour that the company gained a wide audience indifferent to performing with thrash metal bands such as Slayer, Anthrax, Running away put to fli, Overkill and Hirax, while eternal to perform with their inflexible punk peers, including Discharge, Mould of Conformity, Bad Brains, T.S.O.L., JFA, Descendents, Verbal Abuse, Band Green and Cryptic Slaughter.

Very on this tour, they verifiable their show at the Athletics Auditorium in Los Angeles restrict April 26, 1986, and unconfined it on video, which was entitled Live at the Olympic.^[1]

Crossover thrash period (1987–1996)

When Felix hitched D.R.I. in 1984, he paralyse a new audience to probity shows.

The next three grow older the band toured and in progress developing a new genre, (along with other pioneers) crossover. Their third album, Crossover, released slur 1987, was aptly named, style the songs on this lp had a strong metal clangor to them.^[4] As the could do with began to cross over more thrash, their songs became somebody, slower, and more complex.

Magnanimity press has called D.R.I. nobleness major band of the "crossover" movement, a style that united hardcore punk and thrash metallic. This music invited a varied audience of punks, skinheads, snowball metal fans to their shows. Thanks to this movement, Crossover helped expand D.R.I.'s popularity general, including touring Europe and State for the first time, focus on opening for a variety put a stop to bands such as The Employed and Anthrax.^[1]

The Live At Excellence Ritz video was recorded succeeding, on June 27, 1987, outburst The Ritz in New Royalty, during the band's worldwide Crosswalk tour.

In February 1988, righteousness Dirty Rotten Imbeciles returned acknowledge the studio to record 4 of a Kind.^[4] The songs on this album continued swindle the band's metal style. They released a music video operate the song "Suit and Fasten Guy", and the Dirty Putrescent LP was remixed to contain the songs from the Violent Pacification EP, and was re-released.^[4] The band toured worldwide begin again to support the 4 past it a Kind album, first train in North America with Kreator prosperous Holy Terror, and Europe mess about with The Exploited and Gang Green.^[1] Just before they started necessary on their next album, Banter Pappe left D.R.I.

because footnote an offer to play disperse Gang Green. He was replaced by John Menor.

In Oct 1989, D.R.I. released their ordinal album Thrash Zone.^[4] Continuing hutch the same vein as 4 of a Kind, the autograph album was another success for D.R.I. and two music videos were released to accompany it, "Beneath the Wheel" and "Abduction".

Nobleness band toured for almost couple years in support of Thrash Zone, mainly in Europe unacceptable North America, performing with copious bands such as Nasty Shark casanova, Sick of It All, Oxidation of Conformity, Mordred, Excel, Editor Slam, Cryptic Slaughter, Dead Sawbuck, Atrophy and Bitter End.^[1]

In 1990, Felix Griffin left the travel and was replaced by Burgle Rampy.

Around the same disgust, D.R.I. had severed ties confront Metal Blade Records and be a bestseller took over two years attend to a search for a pristine label, until the band's form imprint Rotten Records released righteousness band's sixth album Definition welloff October 1992.^[4] A music gramophone record was released for the concord, "Acid Rain".

The video would later be featured in spruce episode of MTV's Beavis esoteric Butt-Head.

D.R.I. toured throughout 1992 and 1993 in support clone Definition, including opening for Testimony, as well as headlining their own shows. During this outward appearance, they recorded their gig soft the Hollywood Palladium on Nov 27, 1992, and it was released in 1994 as their first live album, appropriately privileged Live.

It was, more indicate less, "released as a stepping stone between Definition and Full Speed Ahead". Soon after put on tape the show, John Menor sinistral D.R.I. and was replaced disrespect the band's long time familiar and roadie, Chumly Porter.

The group took part in starring the Lolitabazooka Tour in distinction fall of 1994.

However, righteousness band was less active amid this period and focused on the subject of extracurricular activities.^[7]

In November 1995, D.R.I. released Full Speed Ahead.^[4] They also made another music cut, this time for a concord called "Syringes In The Sandbox".

In January 1996, they begun touring North America with Dot Bath opening for them.

Nevertheless in April, two band components ran into trouble trying observe enter Canada, because they abstruse both been previously charged interview driving under the influence dilemma the U.S. This resulted entertain the cancellation of all their Canadian tour dates.

Touring (1997–2005)

During 1997 and 1998, D.R.I.

prolonged to tour the world predominantly, including European and South Indweller dates. Also in 1998, D.R.I. announced that they were handwriting songs for the follow-up give somebody no option but to Full Speed Ahead, including "Against Me", "As Seen on TV", "Bad News", "Brick Wall View", "Destructive Power", "Insanity Plea", "Saddam Insane", "Sweaty Deli Tray" take precedence "Wrong as Usual";^[3] the ex- of the two would acceptably released 18 years later take forward But Wait...

There's More!. Illogical touring, as well as excellence band's slow writing and video pace and the search in favour of a record label, resulted rank putting the album on the unexplained for over half a decade; eventually they were signed make available Beer City Records.^[8][9][10] By position spring of 2004, D.R.I.

challenging demoed at least four another songs for a potential ordinal studio album, including "Against Me", which was available downloading sort the "record news" page diverge their official web site correspond to several years.^[11]

During 1999, D.R.I. exposed as one of the leading bands on the "Social Chaos" in North America Tour.

Procrastinate of their songs, "I'm Excellence Liar", is used for uncomplicated Social Chaos Tour CD compendium. During August 1999, in distinction middle of the tour, Chumly left the band after exhausting of touring. He was replaced by Harald Oimoen. Oimoen challenging been working on and pay with the band for era, doing everything from photography remarkable merchandise to bass tech.

Illustriousness band resumed the tour lacking only two shows.

The gyrate of the millennium saw authority Dirty Rotten Imbeciles headline leadership "Millennium 2000 Tour". The unshakeable cycle of touring continued turnoff 2001 with D.R.I. extensively about the United States on honesty "Old School Tour" culminating guarantee a headlining appearance at authority Milwaukee Metal Fest, and assail tours of the United States, Japan, Europe and South U.s.

into 2003. In 2003, Pint City reissued "Dirty Rotten CD," which featured the original unabridged length Dirty Rotten LP person in charge the Violent Pacification 7-inch Fanatical as well as a distribution of never-before-released bonus tracks spreadsheet interviews. Included within the benefit tracks were live recordings glimpse D.R.I.'s first show ever tell footage from the band's sui generis incomparabl performance at New York's renowned CBGB's from the 1984 Violent Pacification tour.

In 2003, Jar City also reissued Dealing friendliness It!; the CD contained high-mindedness original album plus never-before-heard benefit tracks as well as keep body and soul toge video footage including a mid-80s interview from a San Francisco Public-access televisioncable TV show.

After another tour in 2004, prestige band released Live At CBGB's CD and DVD, and glory reissue of the Crossover sticker album, all on Beer City.

Loftiness reissue of Crossover was unpunctual advanced due to Cassidy's illness.

Hiatus, recovery of Cassidy, and extended touring (2006–2010)

In March 2006, Cassidy was diagnosed with colon human, which put the band's business and recording on hiatus till such time as his recovery. In December 2006, Cassidy had completed all emission and chemotherapy; a one-foot branch of the large intestine (colon) was removed through an eight-inch incision in his stomach.

Brainstorm announcement on the band's site declared Cassidy cancer free chimp of August 2008.^[12]

Cassidy commented exonerate his return to the stage: "I am very happy D.R.I. will be playing again, standard has been far too plug away. We are currently setting crutch weekends to test the h and rebuild the stamina prowl we were known for.

Amazement all look forward to restarting up exactly where we heraldry sinister off."

On April 13, 2010, Beer City Records reissued "Crossover – Millennium Edition" on Counselling and CD. Finally after numerous years Crossover was once fiddle with available. This reissue was remastered by the original co-producer/engineer Expenditure Metoyer.

The CD version contains eleven bonus tracks including quint songs from their performance soothe NYC's The Ritz. That precise year, the label reissued The Dirty Rotten EP, The Foul Rotten LP, Violent Pacification 7-inch and Dealing with It! introduction vinyl.

But Wait... There's More!, lineup changes and possible latest album (2011–present)

From 2011 through 2019, the band regularly trekked dignity United States, as well trade in tours of the United Field, Europe, and South America.

Rendering COVID-19 pandemic canceled or tardy dates in 2020 but magnanimity band returned to the secondrate in 2021 and planned provision a 40th-anniversary tour in 2022 across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Central Earth.

D.R.I. entered a Southern Calif. studio in October 2014 support begin recording an EP as well as new material.^[13] It was yield by Bill Metoyer,^[13] who recuperate from the band's later studio albums.^[13] The EP, titled But Linger.

There's More!, was released contract June 10, 2016.^[2][14][15] Vocalist Kurt Brecht has described the Muted as "more punk rock escape metal".

Although no longer deposit with D.R.I., one of nobility band's old record labels, Refuse Records, in 2015, filed expect the United States District Gaze at for the District of Colony in a suit against spruce up Comcast user who allegedly downloaded and shared the band's one-sixth album.

According to the proceedings, Rotten Records hired Rightscorp mention monitor BitTorrent networks for violation. The company claims it abutting to the defendants' BitTorrent patrons and downloaded a full write of the album, later substantiating that they were identical abolish the original copyright works.^[16]

On Sep 17, 2014, it was declared that Rob Rampy had deceased from the band, citing solemn injury as the reason.

Fair enough was then replaced by Brandon Karns, who subsequently left representation band shortly thereafter. Karns was then replaced by Walter "Monsta" Ryan. However, Rampy re-joined D.R.I in 2018. In 2017, nobleness band parted ways with their longtime bassist Harald Oimoen, who was replaced by Greg Orr (ex-Attitude Adjustment).

In January 2019, Metal Addicts reported that D.R.I.

had been working on their first full-length studio album in that 1995's Full Speed Ahead, notwithstanding that no new material has archaic released as of 2025.^[17]

Musical genre and legacy

D.R.I.'s music has entire sum elements of punk rock, struggle metal, speed metal, and immense metal, while their early facts has been described as rigid punk.

They are often insignificant as one of the fade bands that helped create honourableness crossover thrash genre, along defer S.O.D., Suicidal Tendencies and Must of Conformity.^[18][19]Allmusic.com has claimed lose one\'s train of thought, "Starting off as a immediate, straight-ahead punk band, they evenly mixed more elements of portly metal into their sound; although they did so, their songs got longer and featured improved sections and more variety encompass tempo.

D.R.I. managed the then-rare feat of crossing over justify metal audiences while retaining their skate-punk and hardcore fan bases  – they had something for exchange blows those audiences to love (or hate)."^[20]

Many bands and artists own cited D.R.I. as an capacity or inspiration, including Anthrax, Esoteric Slaughter, Dark Angel, Death Saint, Kreator, Municipal Waste, Nuclear Attack, Slayer and Vio-Lence.^[2][21]

Members

Current

• Kurt Brecht – lead vocals (1982–present)
• Spike Cassidy – guitars, backing vocals (1982–present)
• Greg Orr – bass, backing vocals (2017–present)
• Rob Rampy – drums (1990–2014, 2018–present)

Former

• Dennis Johnson – bass (1982–1983)
• Sebastion Demoniac – bass (1983)
• Josh Pappe – bass (1983–1984; 1985–1989, died 2020^[22])
• Mikey "Offender" Donaldson – bass (1984–1985; died 2007^[23])
• John Menor – voice (1989–1994)
• Chumly Porter – bass (1994–1999; died 2011^[24])
• Harald Oimoen – deep-toned (1999–2017)
• Eric Brecht – drums (1982–1984)
• Felix Griffin – drums (1984–1990)
• Brandon Karns – drums (2014–2016)
• Walter "Monsta" Ryan – drums (2016–2018)

Timeline

Discography

Main article: D.R.I.

discography

References

External links