Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, or simply D.R.I., is a crossover thrash band that formed in 1982.

History

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The band ironically received their name from the father (known to the group as "the Madman") of brothers Kurt and Eric Brecht. The band would rehearse in one of the rooms at the Brecht residence, and Mr. Brecht would often burst in on them and demand that they stop. In the process, he would call them whatever insulting name came into his mind. One of the names he called them was "you dirty, rotten imbeciles!" They initially went under the name U.S.D.R.I for a brief time before shortening it to D.R.I., with the U.S. meaning us, as in "Us, D.R.I."

On July 2, 1982, they played their first show at Joe Star's OMNI in Houston.

In 1983, they moved to San Francisco, living in a van and eating at soup kitchens. They soon found themselves playing the Rock Against Reagan tour with the legendary Dead Kennedys. They continued to achieve success as they progressed musically, with more metal influences. The Thrash Metal Band Slayer credits D.R.I. with influencing them heavily in the way they play their music.

The D.R.I. song "Couch Slouch", from the album "Dealing With It", appears on the popular video game "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland".

Spike has recently been diagnosed with colon cancer, putting the band's current tour and future performances on hiatus until his recovery.

Members

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Current members:

• Spike Cassidy - guitars
• Kurt Brecht - vocals
• Rob Rampy - drums
• Harald Oimoen - bass

Previous members:

• Chumly Porter - bass (1995-1999)
• Josh Pappe - bass (1984-1989)
• Eric Brecht - drums (1982-1984)
• John Menor - bass (1990-1994)
• Felix Griffin - drums (1985-1990)
• Dennis Johnson - bass (1982-1983)

Discography

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• (1982) Dirty Rotten - EP
• (1984) Violent Pacification - EP
• (1985) Dealing With It
• (1987) Crossover
• (1988) 4 of a Kind
• (1989) Thrash Zone
• (1992) Definition
• (1994) D.R.I. Live
• (1995) Full Speed Ahead

External links

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• Dirty Rotten Imbeciles.com - The official DRI website

American punk rock groups

Dirty Rotten Imbeciles