Bio

The DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES' history begins on May 2, 1982 around 4:00pm, in the city of Houston, TX. It was on this day that the musically aggressive quartet we now know as D.R.I. made their first Dirty Rotten noise and called it a song. Back then it was Spike Cassidy (guitar), Kurt Brecht (vocals), Eric Brecht (drums), and Dennis Johnson (bass). The group started practicing at Kurt and Eric's parents home, where the brothers lived amongst the "Madman" (their father).They practiced a few nights a week around 5:00pm, just as the Madman would be on his way home from a hard day at work. He would open his front door only to be blasted with 120db of the band's horrendous attempt to make music. The Madman would then pound on their jam room door until he was let in so that in turn, he could throw them out of his house calling them such things as " you bunch of dirty rotten imbeciles ". This is how D.R.I. got their name.

2 months later, on July 2, 1982, the band played their first show at Joe Star's OMNI, in Houston. On November 6th & 7th of 1982 D.R.I. recorded their first release, the Dirty Rotten EP, stuffing 22 songs into 18 minutes on a 7" EP that played at 33 rpm's. Only 1000 copies of this EP version were pressed, making it now a very rare collector's item. Demand caused the EP to be pressed into a 12" LP version, released in 1983, appropriately called Dirty Rotten LP. Leaving the underground music scene thriving for more. The DRLP became a major success and also an inspiration for many new bands at the time. Soon after that D.R.I. was labeled the fastest band in the world.

In 1983 D.R.I. moved to San Francisco, where they lived in their van and ate at soup kitchens in between gigs. Dennis Johnson quit the band and returned home to Texas. He was replaced with Sebastian Amok, and within a few months D.R.I. found themselves on the "Rock Against Reagan" tour with the Dead Kennedy's. At the conclusion of this tour, they replaced Sebastian Amok with Josh Pappe`.

Their next release was the 4 song, 7", Violent Pacification EP, in 1984. After touring in the summer of 1984, Eric Brecht got married and left the band. He was replaced with Felix Griffin.

D.R.I.'s second full length release, Dealing With It , came in March 1985. The group toured extensively in support of the album. Sometime during the recording of the album, Josh took a leave from the band. Mikey Offender (bass player of the Offenders) was asked to play for the album, although Spike played bass on the songs that Mikey didn't have time to learn. The songs on DWI pointed slightly towards a metal direction, but still remained very hardcore. Almost legendary is the band's recording of "Madman", where Kurt's dad is mad and disturbs a rehearsal. The band gains a real cult status, supported by such fans as Dave Lombardo (Slayer), who tells everyone he's influenced by D.R.I.

On April 26th, 1986, they recorded their show at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, and released the video, which was entitled Live At The Olympic.

Their third album, Crossover, released in 1987, was perfectly named since the songs on this album had a strong metal sound to them. As the band began to "crossover" to thrash, their songs became longer, slower, and more complex. The press has called D.R.I. the major band of the "crossover" movement, a style that combined punk, hardcore and metal. This music invited a mixed audience of punks, skinheads, and metal fans to their shows, who introduced things like stage diving and slam dancing.

The 'Live at the Ritz' video was recorded next, on June 27th 1987, at 'the Ritz' in New York, during the band's worldwide Crossover tour. Also in 1987, one of their songs, 'Snap' appeared on a compilation (with other bands supporting some cause) entitled P.E.A.C.E.

In February of 1988, the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles returned to the studio to record Four Of A Kind. The songs on this album have even more of a metal sound to them, and production is the best it's ever been. They even released a music video for the song 'Suit and Tie Guy'. At the same time, the Dirty Rotten LP was remixed to include the songs from the Violent Pacification EP, and was re-released. The band toured Europe again to support the Four of A Kind album, then once home in the U.S., Josh Pappe` leaves the band to play for Boston's Gang Green. He is replaced by John Menor.

September 1989 brought the release of Thrash Zone. Two music videos were released from this album. One for 'Beneath the Wheel' and the other for 'Abduction'. Sometime after this, Felix Griffin leaves the group and is replaced by Rob Rampy.

During the spring of 1992, Definition was released on Spike Cassidy's own label, Rotten Records. A music video was released for the song 'Acid Rain', and later was even featured in an episode of MTV's "Beavis and Butthead". D.R.I. toured in 1992, opening for Testament, as well as headlining their own shows. They recorded their gig at the Hollywood Palladium on November 27th, 1992, and it was released in 1994 as their first live album, appropriately entitled Live. It was, more or less released as a stepping stone, between Definition and Full Speed Ahead. Soon after recording the show, John Menor leaves D.R.I. He is replaced by one of the band's long time friends and roadie, Chumly Porter.

In the fall of 1994 D.R.I. Headlined the international Lolitabazooka tour in Canada & the USA.

In 1995, D.R.I. released their newest album called Full Speed Ahead. They also made another music video, this time for a song called 'Syringes in the Sandbox'.

In January of 1996, they started touring North America with Acid Bath opening for them. But in April, Rob and Spike ran into some trouble trying to cross the Canadian border because they had both been previously charged with 'Driving Under the Influence' in the U.S. Needless to say, all of their Canadian dates had to be cancelled. And as much as they tour even today, I still don't think Canada will let them in! 1996 also was the release of Slayers Undisputed Attitude Album, witch covered the D.R.I. song 'Violent Pacification'.

During 1997-98 D.R.I. continued to tour the world extensively, including European & S.American dates. In March of 1998 D.R.I. launched their Official Web site (www.DirtyRottenImbeciles.com). Also in 1998, NYC's own Metal Thrashers 'Athrax' also covered 2 DRI songs, 'Snap' and 'Id Rather be Sleeping' on their release "Inside Out'.

During 1999, D.R.I. appears as one of the headlining bands on the Social Chaos Tour in North America. One of their songs, 'I'm the Liar', is used for a Social Chaos Tour compilation CD, containing one song from each band that appeared on the tour. During August of 1999, in the middle of the Social Chaos Tour, Chumly leaves the band because he is burnt out on touring, and is replaced by Harald Oimoen. Harald had been working on and off with the band for years, doing everything from photography and merchandise to Bass Tech. The band resumed the tour, only missing 2 shows replacing Chumly.

In the year 2000, D.R.I. Founder/Guitarist, Spike Cassidy, loses Rotten Records to D.R.I. Manager, Ron Peterson in a partnership backstabbing, and a long court battle is sure to commence. D.R.I. fired their money hungry, backstabbing, rip off manager Ron Peterson, took its catalog of CD's, and left Rotten Records in search of a new record label. The band is said to be entertaining a few good offers. The year also saw the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles headlining their own 'Millennium 2000 Tour' which had been broken into two halves, taking place in the spring and fall of 2000.

In 2001 D.R.I. signs with the Independent Label, Beer City Records. D.R.I. is scheduled to embark once again, this time on the "Old School Tour" in the spring of 2001!

In 2002 D.R.I. celebrates it 20th year anniversary, kicking off of a world tour named 20 Dirty Rotten Years. The tour is so successful additional legs and shows are added till the tour winds up going well into 2003. The tour covers north and South America, Europe and the UK, Japan and hopes of Australia. 2002 also sees the Bands first release with new and current record label Beer City Records. D.R.I. and Beer City records release the millennium enhanced re-issue of the Dirty Rotten CD that now has 22 bonus tracks, including radio interviews and live video from CBGB's in 1984. 44 tracks in all.

Beer City records continues to reissue D.R.I.'s old catalog, and in 2003 they release the millenium enhanced version of the Dealing With it CD. It also has many bonus tracks added to it, along with video clips from a cable tv interview in 1986. D.R.I. also releases a new Skate Board Deck on the sister company, Beer City Skateboards.

Its 2004 and the Imbeciles are still at it. Another long world tour that covers over 23 countries, including some places the band has never played before, if you can believe that. After the tour is over, Original Band Members Kurt Brecht and Spike Cassidy work outside the band. Kurt Brecht sings a song on Dave Grohl's solo project 'Probot". the song is track 6 and is called 'Silent Spring'. Spike Cassidy continues to record, engineer & produce bands for other labels. His latest project was the second release "Death Toll' from the Oklahoma based 'Earth AD'. Spike has produced the bands Acid Bath, Deface, STG, and Kiss the Clown, to name a few, as well as all D.R.I. records.

' 2005 sees D.R.I. songs appear on a multiple releases. Two DRI songs are used on the Video Games 'Back Yard Wrestling 2' and 'Tony Hawks American Wasteland'. Another Song is said to be used in the upcoming surf Film titled 'Bruce the Movie'. Lastly the infamous 'Punk Rock Orchestra' should be covering a DRI song on its next release.

In Early 2006 Spike Cassidy, guitarist and Original Founder of D.R.I., was diagnosed with Cancer. He underwent surgery, radiation and chemotherapy and is said to be winning the battle against cancer. Spike is expected to make a full recovery within a year, but will have to be scanned and tested for a few years to help prevent a relapse.

2007 rings in D.R.I.'s 25th anniversary and the bands hopes to tour are foiled by Spikes ongoing cancer battle. Spike is said to be in good spirits and health but is still unable to tour due to complications.

2008 D.R.I. appears on the soundtrack for the independent short film, "Vampire Hunter Hank," starring Don "Chile" Ortega!

In 2009 yet another D.R.I. song makes an appearance on the new 'Skate 2' Video Game. This time its the bands pounding grind of 'Beneath the Wheel'. Also, Decibel Magazine plans to induct the 1985 D.R.I. release "Dealing With It' into its Album Hall of Fame.

For the past 27 years, D.R.I. has been the epitome of the aggressive, hardcore-punk thrash sound that we've all become accustomed to hearing. Throughout this time, they've been one of the few genuine underground bands to remain true to their pure punk roots. Still actively touring and recording, the only thing that may have changed is that they're a little older now, but time hasn't gotten the best of the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles. They're still thrashing just as hard, and just as loud as ever, continuing to overload our senses with the sound that is, and will always remain, uniquely D.R.I.