D.R.I.

line up: Kurt Brecht (vocals)
	 Spike Cassidy (guitar)
	 Josh Pappe (bass)
	 Felix Griffin (drums)

The Texan hardcore-band D.R.I. is founded in april 1982 in Houston. Besides
Kurt Brecht also his brother Eric Brecht (drums) and Dennis Johnson (bass) play
in the group. For guitar, they got contact with Spike Cassidy's roommate, but
they end up with Spike himself. Daddy Brecht is responsible for the bandname:
one time when he became abusive, he called them 'dirty rotten imbeciles' which
is (in short form: D.R.I.) annexated by the band. In 1983 the first album is
released, "Dirty Rotten LP". The album, full with 23 furious hardcore-songs, is
a big success in the underground-scene and a source of inspiration for many new
bands. The press calls them the major band of the 'crossover'-movement, a style
that combinates punk, hardcore and metal. The mixed public of skinheads, punks
and metal-fans introduces things like 'stage-diving' and 'slam-dancing'. After
a big American tour, they move to San Francisco and bassplayer Josh Poppe joins
the band. With him, the "Violent Pacification"-recordings are made, four songs
that only can be ordered by mail. After the summertour of '84, Eric Brecht
marries and leaves the band (later he will be spotted with Death and Hirax).
He's replaced by Felix Griffin. The second album, "Dealing with It" is released
now: a follow up of the first album, with 25 songs this time. Nevertheless, the
songs have a bit more structure and point more towards a metal-direction.
Almost legendary is the "Mad Man"-recording, in which dad Brecht is mad and
disturbes a rehearsal. D.R.I. is touring fanatic through the U.S. and gets a
real cult-status, supported by fans like Dave Lombardo (Slayer) who tells
everyone that he's influenced by D.R.I. The band releases the third album
"Crossover", even more directed towards metal, with only 12 songs, of which
some even reach the 4-minutes limit. In the summer of '87 the video "Live at
the Ritz" is recorded and in the fall they tour in Europe. In the spring of '88
they are again in the studio, to record with producer Bill Metoyer the next
album "Four of a Kind". At the same moment the "Dirty Rotten LP" is remixed and
completed with the "Violent Pacification"-recordings, it's re-released. With 26
songs on just one LP, they deserve a place in the Guinness Book and they give
fans all over the world a chance to complete their collection. On the fourth
album "Four of a kind" they play tighter than before and is again a bit more
towards metal. Compositions have more depth and Metoyers production is good.
They tour through Europe again, but when they return in the U.S., bassplayer
Josh Pappe leaves the band.

albums: Dirty Rotten LP (Roadrunner '83/'88)
	Dealing with it (Death Records/Enigma '85 / Roadrunner '88)
	Crossover (Metal Blade/Roadrunner '87)
	Four of a kind(Metal Blade/Roadrunner '88)

video:	Live at the Ritz
.