Poison Idea

Poison Idea
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1980 in Portland, Oregon, United States
Founder	Jerry A., Chris Tense, Henry Bogdan
Headquarters	Portland, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Jerry A. (vocalist), Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts (guitarist/bassist), Eric "Vegetable" Olson (lead guitar), Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford (drums)
Products	Hardcore punk music, albums, EPs
Number of employees	N/A (band members)

Poison Idea was a hardcore punk group originating from Portland, Oregon in 1980.

Origins, 1980s, and 1990s

The band Poison Idea came together in 1980, founded by vocalist Jerry A. (also known as Jerry Lang) alongside Chris Tense on bass and Henry Bogdan on drums. This initial formation, with Jerry additionally handling saxophone duties, performed only a handful of shows. Subsequently, Jerry and Tense brought in Glen Estes to play bass and Dean Johnson on drums. Drawing inspiration from bands such as Black Flag, Discharge, and the Germs—particularly influenced by Germs' frontman Darby Crash—Poison Idea embraced a fiercely intense punk philosophy. Within their first year, Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts joined initially as guitarist before switching to bass to replace Estes.

Their debut EP in 1983, Pick Your King, showcased an unpolished hardcore style paired with controversial artwork. The 1984 release Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes marked the band's early experimentation with rock influences. They also contributed tracks to compilations like Drinking is Great and Cleanse the Bacteria in 1985.

By the time Kings of Punk was released in 1986, Poison Idea had developed a more complex blend of hardcore and hard rock that maintained both intensity and accessibility. Following this album, Eric "Vegetable" Olson (lead guitar) and Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford (drums), members of the local thrash outfit Mayhem, joined the lineup. Their 1987 album War All the Time further expanded their fusion of rock and hardcore elements. Bassist Craig "Mondo" Lower later replaced Chris Tense amid additional lineup shifts.

Subsequent EPs such as Getting the Fear and Filthkick refined their musical approach, culminating in the highly regarded 1990 full-length Feel the Darkness. In 1989, Poison Idea established their own record label named American Leather—taking its name from a Germs track—and issued a demo re-release along with the Discontent EP.

Throughout the early 1990s, the band experienced various personnel changes including departures and returns of members like Mondo and Vegetable. Albums released during this period included Blank Blackout Vacant (1992) and We Must Burn (1993). However, struggles with alcohol impacted their live performances and touring schedules; Pig Champion notably stopped touring due to health complications. The final hometown concert featuring Pig Champion was recorded as Pig's Last Stand (1996). After continuing briefly as a quartet, Poison Idea disbanded. Jerry A. went on to form The Gift with Thee Slayer Hippy and May May Del Castro.

In 1998, Jerry resurrected Poison Idea with Dean Johnson, Chris Tense, and new guitarist Ian Miller for the release of the Learning To Scream EP before disbanding once more.

Reunion and recent developments

In 2000, Jerry A. and Pig Champion revived Poison Idea with fresh members, eventually releasing new material in 2006 through the LP The Latest Will and Testament. Shortly before this album's launch, guitarist Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts passed away at age 47 in Portland.

On October 6, 2008, Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford was arrested by Portland authorities at age 39 in connection with multiple pharmacy robberies.

Poison Idea issued the LP Confuse & Conquer in 2015 via Southern Lord Records, featuring the return of former guitarist Eric "Vegetable" Olsen. As of 2022, this remains their most recent studio album.

After a break lasting nineteen months, the band performed on July 21, 2018, at Portland's Bossanova Ballroom celebrating the twenty-eighth anniversary of Feel the Darkness. This album was re-released by American Leather / TKO Records with remixed and remastered tracks including B-sides, alternate versions, outtakes, and a Live in London recording.

In December 2018, Metallica covered Poison Idea’s song "Taken By Surprise," originally from Feel the Darkness.

During Portland’s Northwest Hesh Fest held September 19–21, 2019, Poison Idea reportedly played their final hometown show.

Former drummer Steven "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford died from a heart attack at age 50 on May 22, 2020.

In 2022, Jerry A. Lang published a three-volume autobiography entitled Black Heart Fades Blue through Rare Bird Books.

Final lineup

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

Past members

Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts – guitar (deceased 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 (deceased 2020)
Craig "Mondo" Lower – guitar, bass
Kevin "Kid Cocksman" Sanders – guitar
Aldine Strycnine – guitar
Matt Brainard – guitar
Ian Miller – guitar
Andy Kessler (Joe Spleen) – guitar
Rob "Rawbo Nox" Hume – bass (deceased 2021)
Natalie Lucio – bass
Gordon Scholl – drums
Nathan "Skinny" Richardson – drums
Alexa "Barbie" Grey – drums, live performances (2016)
Eric "Vegetable" Olson – guitar
Brandon Bentley – guitar
Mickey Widner – drums
Eric Roll – guitar

Studio albums

1986 Kings of Punk LP (Pusmort Records)
1987 War All the Time LP (Alchemy Records)
1990 Feel the Darkness LP (Vinyl Solution, American Leather)
1992 Blank Blackout Vacant LP (Taang Records, Vinyl Solution)
1993 We Must Burn LP (Vinyl Solution, Tim/Kerr)
2006 Latest Will and Testament CD/LP (Farewell Records / Network of Friends)
2015 Confuse & Conquer CD/LP (Southern Lord Records)

Singles and EPs

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

Collections

1988 Get Loaded and Fuck Cassette (independently released) - reissued under the title "Ian MacKaye" in 1989
1992 Pajama Party Covers Album Picture Disc & LP (released by Vinyl Solution and Tim/Kerr)
1993 Dysfunctional Songs for Codependent Addicts CD (issued by Tim/Kerr)
1994 The Early Years CD (distributed by Bitzcore)
2000 Best of Poison Idea CD (published by Taang! Records)
2002 Kings of Punk / Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes CD (Rhythm Vicar release)
2005 Pick Your King / Learning to Scream LP (Reflex/Wolfpack collaboration)
2017 Legacy of Dysfunction LP (American Leather Records)

Kings of Punk reissue series

2011 Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Years demos and rare tracks CD/LP (jointly released by TKO Records and Southern Lord Records)
2012 The Fatal Erection Years compilation of rarities and early material CD/LP (TKO Records & Southern Lord Records)
2013 Expanded reissue of Kings of Punk as a double CD/double LP (TKO Records & Southern Lord Records)
2016 Tenth Anniversary reissue of Latest Will And Testament CD/LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
2016 Reissue of War All The Time CD/LP (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
2018 Expanded double LP reissue of Feel The Darkness (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
2019 Reissue of Pig's Last Stand as a double LP and DVD package (TKO Records & American Leather Records)
2020 Double LP expanded reissue of Blank Blackout Vacant (TKO Records & American Leather Records)

Live recordings

1991 Live in Vienna 7-inch EP (American Leather)
1991 Dutch Courage available on LP and CD (Bitzcore)
1992 Bootleg 7-inch EP titled Keep Warm, Burn the Rich
1993 Bootleg LP called Record Bootleggers Are Potential Millionaires
1995 Live album Your Choice Live Series released on LP and CD (Your Choice Records)
1996 Pig's Last Stand issued on both LP and CD (Sub Pop)

External links

Poison Idea: Still the Kings of Punk – feature story from the July 1992 edition of Portland’s Paperback Jukebox
Official merchandise store