3rd Strike (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Jim Korthe, Todd Deguchi |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Nu metal music, albums, EPs, singles |
3rd Strike was a nu metal group from the United States, consisting of Jim Korthe on vocals, Todd Deguchi and Erik Carlsson on guitars, PJ McMullan on drums, and Gabe Hammersmith handling bass duties. Their songwriting drew heavily from the band members’ personal histories. In May 2002, they launched their sole album, Lost Angel, and supported it with tours on Ozzfest and Warped Tour before ultimately dissolving. Their song "Into Hell Again" was featured on the soundtrack for Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life.
Origins and Dimestore Hoods era (1988–2000)
The band initially formed in 1988 under the name Dimestore Hoods, created by vocalist Jim Korthe and guitarist Todd Deguchi alongside Tom McNerney (guitar), Joe Puccio (bass), and Mike Russo (drums). They secured a deal with MCA Records in 1995 and released a self-titled album. When MCA requested additional material during their touring phase, the band chose to end their contract amicably and received a settlement.
Despite changes in personnel, Korthe and Deguchi remained the core members. Eventually, they reemerged as 3rd Strike with Erik Carlsson, PJ McMullan, and Gabe Hammersmith completing the lineup. The band's name is inspired by the US three strikes legislation and reflects Korthe’s encounters with former gang affiliates who were serving sentences under this law.
"The name relates to the 'three strikes you're out' felony statute. Accumulating three felonies means life imprisonment. I used to be involved with a gang in LA from about '88 to '95, and many of my friends are now serving time on their third strike for various offenses. I've witnessed people getting third strikes for minor infractions like smoking a cigarette in county jail—that’s considered a felony... that’s why we chose this name." – Jim Korthe explaining the origin of the band's name.
Recording Lost Angel and eventual dissolution (2001–2004)
3rd Strike started creating demo recordings at a studio owned by Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge, who had prior connections with Korthe and Deguchi from their Dimestore Hoods days. Dragge was impressed by their track No Light and forwarded the demo to his manager, which led to the band signing with Hollywood Records following a showcase at Los Angeles’ Whisky a Go Go.
To increase their exposure, 3rd Strike participated in several dates of the 2001 Warped Tour. They worked alongside producer Mudrock to record their debut album, Lost Angel, during late 2001. At Hollywood Records’ request, they recorded a cover of Black Sabbath's Paranoid for inclusion in the film Ultimate X. This led them back into the studio with producer Toby Wright, who had been their initial choice. Although the film’s soundtrack ultimately featured Black Sabbath’s original version of Paranoid, 3rd Strike’s rendition was added as a bonus track on Lost Angel.
In 2001, Hollywood Records issued a four-song sampler titled Selections from Lost Angel as promotional material for their upcoming album. When Lost Angel was released in May 2002, it included singles such as No Light and Redemption. The band supported the album through tours across the United States on both the Warped Tour and Ozzfest, followed by performances in Europe.
Several of 3rd Strike’s tracks were incorporated into the 2002 PlayStation title Delta Force Urban Warfare, featuring instrumental and remixed versions.
In 2003, they put out an EP exclusive to Japan called Barrio Raid, which contained B-sides from Lost Angel, a live recording of "All Lies" captured during Ozzfest, plus a demo version of its title track.
By 2004, 3rd Strike had ceased activity for reasons that have not been publicly disclosed.
Reunion and the Passing of Jim Korthe (2007–2010)
In early 2007, 3rd Strike revealed intentions to enhance their live show repertoire, indicating a revived commitment to performing on tour. That same year, they issued the single Battlecry, accompanied by the B-side track Life Goes On. It is worth noting that a Discogs entry mistakenly attributes the release to Hollywood Records.
"Battlecry" was made available on Myspace by August 2007, soon followed by promotional material for "Life Goes On." By June 2008, Nick Manning had taken over drumming duties from Sean McCormick. During this period, the band also shared a preview of "Revolution," part of a three-song demo recorded in pre-production for an upcoming album.
Frontman Jim Korthe passed away in January 2010 at the age of 39. Having been unwell since Christmas and receiving medical attention, the specific cause of his death was not publicly disclosed.
Studio Albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Peak Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US | ||
| Lost Angel |
|
72 |
Extended Plays (EPs)
- 2003 – Barrio Raid EP (exclusive to Japan)
- 2007 – Battlecry EP
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Positions | Album Name | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Active |
US Mainstream |
US Modern Rock | |||
| "No Light" | 2002 | 17 | 23 | 36 | Lost Angel |
| "Redemption" | 31 | 40 | — | ||
| "—" indicates tracks that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||