Toxic Reasons
Encyclopedia
Toxic Reasons are an American
hardcore punk
/ punk rock
band.
, Ohio
in 1979. The founding members were Bruce Stuckey (bass guitar & vocals), Joel Agne (guitar & vocals), Ed Pittman (lead vocals), and Mark Patterson (drums). In 1980, Joel Agne left the band and was replaced by Greg Stout on bass, and Bruce Stuckey switched to lead guitar. In 1981, Mark Patterson left the band and was replaced by James J. (J.J.) Pearson on drums. Rob Lucjak ("Snott") also joined on rhythm guitar.
They recorded their first LP, Independence, at Keystone Recording in Indianapolis
, Indiana
, then went on tour and moved to San Francisco, where their label Risky Records was located. David "Tufty" Clough joined the band on bass guitar.
Ed Pittman left the group following the release of Independence. During this time the band created a logo showing the U.S., Canadian, and British flags joined together. The symbol not only represented their tri-national roots (J.J. from Canada, Tufty and Rob from England, and Bruce from the U.S.), but also came to symbolize the diversity of their sound, which mixed fast U.S. hardcore with melodic Canadian guitar lines and British influences like reggae-punk plus more mid-tempo anthems.
They have made over 40 recordings to date, including eight full-length albums.
The band has played some reunion shows with Independence-era members in Dayton and Indianapolis. Later, Bruce played a few shows with J.J. Pearson and new members Kurt Harley and Jason Pizzleman, performing at the Midwest Music Seminar (Indianapolis), 30 Years of Punk Rock (Chicago), two Spike Fest benefits (Chicago and Indianapolis). This lineup was also duped into playing the sham benefit for the Children of the World Trade Center Relief Fund in New York City called Unity Fest.
Bruce continues to write music, Tufty plays with Zero Boys
and Bigger Than Elvis, and J.J. Pearson has released a solo project CD titled Only One Reason, recently supported by a Midwest and European tour in August and September 2008, and continuing to play shows.http://www.myspace.com/jjspenis
Kill By Remote Control (Sixth International Records, 1984)
Re-released in Europe
on Alternative Tentacles
with two bonus tracks:
Within These Walls (Treason Records, 1985)
Bullets For You (T-reason Records, 1986)
Re-released in Europe
on Alternative Tentacles
with "God Bless America", "Can't Get Away", and "Do What You Can" replaced by:
Dedication 1979-1988 (SPV, 1988; Funhouse Records; recorded at Hit City Studios Indianapolis)
Anything For Money (SPV/Hellhound
, 1989)
In The House Of God (Bitzcore, 1993)
No Peace In Our Time (Bitzcore, 1995)
This was the first ever punk rock CD ROM released for Mac and Windows
. It has short videos of the band, the band's history as told by Bruce Stuckey, and a karaoke
competition of "White Noise".
Several songs from No Peace In Our Time appeared in the feature film The Waiter, directed by G. Allen Johnson and released in Indianapolis in August 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
/ punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band.
History
Toxic Reasons formed in DaytonDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1979. The founding members were Bruce Stuckey (bass guitar & vocals), Joel Agne (guitar & vocals), Ed Pittman (lead vocals), and Mark Patterson (drums). In 1980, Joel Agne left the band and was replaced by Greg Stout on bass, and Bruce Stuckey switched to lead guitar. In 1981, Mark Patterson left the band and was replaced by James J. (J.J.) Pearson on drums. Rob Lucjak ("Snott") also joined on rhythm guitar.
They recorded their first LP, Independence, at Keystone Recording in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, then went on tour and moved to San Francisco, where their label Risky Records was located. David "Tufty" Clough joined the band on bass guitar.
Ed Pittman left the group following the release of Independence. During this time the band created a logo showing the U.S., Canadian, and British flags joined together. The symbol not only represented their tri-national roots (J.J. from Canada, Tufty and Rob from England, and Bruce from the U.S.), but also came to symbolize the diversity of their sound, which mixed fast U.S. hardcore with melodic Canadian guitar lines and British influences like reggae-punk plus more mid-tempo anthems.
They have made over 40 recordings to date, including eight full-length albums.
Members
- Bruce Stuckey: Guitars, vocals (1979–present)
- Jimmy Joe "J.J." Pearson: Drums, vocals (1981–1988, 1991–1995)
- David "Tufty" Clough: Bass, vocals (1982–1995)
- Rob "Snot" Lucjak: Bass, guitar, vocals (1981–1985)
- Ed Pittman: Lead vocals (1979–1983)
- Joel Agne: Guitar, vocals (1979–1980)
The band has played some reunion shows with Independence-era members in Dayton and Indianapolis. Later, Bruce played a few shows with J.J. Pearson and new members Kurt Harley and Jason Pizzleman, performing at the Midwest Music Seminar (Indianapolis), 30 Years of Punk Rock (Chicago), two Spike Fest benefits (Chicago and Indianapolis). This lineup was also duped into playing the sham benefit for the Children of the World Trade Center Relief Fund in New York City called Unity Fest.
Bruce continues to write music, Tufty plays with Zero Boys
Zero Boys
The Zero Boys are a hardcore punk quartet from Indianapolis, Indiana fronted by Paul Mahern. Other members include bassist David "Tufty" Clough, drummer Mark Cutsinger and guitarist Vess Ruhtenberg....
and Bigger Than Elvis, and J.J. Pearson has released a solo project CD titled Only One Reason, recently supported by a Midwest and European tour in August and September 2008, and continuing to play shows.http://www.myspace.com/jjspenis
Discography (albums)
Independence (Risky Records, 1982; re-released in 1989, 1994, and 2002)- Mercenary
- Drunk and Disorderly
- War Hero
- Riot Squad
- Noise Boys
- Ghost Town
- Killer
- Somebody Help Me
- How Do You Feel?
- White Noise
- The Shape of Things to Come
- Rally 'Round the Flag Boys
Kill By Remote Control (Sixth International Records, 1984)
- Stuck in a Rut
- Destroyer
- JRS Friends
- Revolution?
- Powercrazed
- No Pity
- Limited Nuclear War
- Looking at the World
- Break the Bank
- Harvest
Re-released in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
with two bonus tracks:
- God Bless America
- Can't Get Away
Within These Walls (Treason Records, 1985)
- Then Came the Rain
- It's So Silly
- Party's Over
- Guns of September
- Dreamer
- Too Late
- Sons of Freedom
- All Known Confusion
Bullets For You (T-reason Records, 1986)
- Tomorrow Tonight
- We're the Revolution
- Get Out the Gun
- Never Give In
- It's a Lie
- Killing the Future
- Breaking Down the War Machine
- God Bless America
- Can't Get Away
- Do What You Can
- Gotta Believe
Re-released in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
with "God Bless America", "Can't Get Away", and "Do What You Can" replaced by:
- Too Late
- Party's Over
Dedication 1979-1988 (SPV, 1988; Funhouse Records; recorded at Hit City Studios Indianapolis)
- Payback
- Apes of Wrath
- Killing Game
- Your Perfect World
- Goin'Nowhere
- Ohio (Neil YoungNeil YoungNeil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
cover) - Turn the Screw
- Justifiable Homicide
- Us & Them
- Critical Condition
- I'm Ready
- Whole World's on Fire
Anything For Money (SPV/Hellhound
Hellhound Records
Hellhound Records was a German record label during the late 80s and 90s, self-described as "The Heaviest Label On Earth". They became known for putting out doom metal, with artists such as Saint Vitus and The Obsessed. In the early 90s Hellhound signed a number of Maryland doom bands such as...
, 1989)
- Just Another Day
- Shoot to Kill
- Screamin'
- Shut You Down
- Bad Georgia Road
- Committed
- Take This City
- Anything for Money
- Swingin' the Hammer
- Wildin'
In The House Of God (Bitzcore, 1993)
- Road Kill
- Time
- Head First
- In the State of Grace
- Show No Mercy
- Liar
- No Entry
- Wasteland
- Last Man Standing
- Gone Forever
- Virtual Overdrive
No Peace In Our Time (Bitzcore, 1995)
- Mark 13
- Armageddon Night
- Up Ahead and Around the Corner
- Friends
- Third World America
- No Peace in Our Time
- Whipping Boy
- Plant a Seed
- Die Kristallinacht
- Mousetrap
- Wah Tuka Way a Son
- White Noise
This was the first ever punk rock CD ROM released for Mac and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. It has short videos of the band, the band's history as told by Bruce Stuckey, and a karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
competition of "White Noise".
Several songs from No Peace In Our Time appeared in the feature film The Waiter, directed by G. Allen Johnson and released in Indianapolis in August 1995.
External links
- Recording of the 20-year reunion available for purchase here
- Toxic Reasons biography
- The Waiter on IMDB.com