Tad

Led by ex-butcher Tad Doyle on vocals and guitar, TAD was formed in early 1988 by Doyle and bassist Kurt Danielson, who met at a Christian potluck dinner. They previously played together when Danielson's band Bundle of Hiss played with Doyle's previous band (in which he played drums) H-Hour. Doyle had also earlier played in a Gang of Four cover band called Red Set. They recruited drummer Steve Wied (formerly of Skin Yard and Death and Taxes) and guitarist Gary Thorstensen to complete the original lineup. TAD was among the first bands to be signed to Sub Pop Records and was possibly the first pioneer of what was to be later called grunge rock. In 1987, Doyle released the Daisy/Ritual Device Single on Sub Pop, produced by seminal Seattle producer Jack Endino, in which he wrote and performed all music. Their debut album God's Balls appeared in early 1989 and was also produced by Jack Endino. In March 1990 they released the Salt Lick EP, recorded by Steve Albini. The single "Wood Goblins" was released in the same year, but was apparently banned by MTV. After a European tour with Nirvana, Tad returned to Seattle and recorded their second album 8-Way Santa (1991), named after a type of blotter acid. Produced by Butch Vig (better known for Nirvana's Nevermind), the album was far more pop-oriented than its predecessors, featuring such songs as "Jinx", "Stumblin' Man" and "Jack Pepsi". "Jack Pepsi" would become their best-known song, but Pepsi filed a lawsuit against the band due to the cover art on the single, which was the Pepsi logo with "Tad" in place of "PEPSI." Another lawsuit was filed due to the cover of 8-Way Santa (which was a found picture of a man fondling a woman's breast). The couple in the photograph, one of whom had since become a born-again Christian and remarried, took exception and sued. Sub Pop changed the album cover. After a very brief acting stint in Singles, TAD were offered their first major-label opportunity by Giant Records. However, Steve Wied had left, joining Willard, and later Foil. Rey Washam (formerly of Scratch Acid) briefly filled on drums in 1991 but was later replaced by Josh Sinder, previously of the Accused. Sinder debuted with Tad on their last Sub-Pop release, the "Salem"/"Leper" single (which featured "Mud-Man", Josh's brother, on the cover). Their major label debut Inhaler, which is widely known as being one of the all time heaviest grunge albums to date, appeared later in the year to positive reviews. The record failed to break the band however, even though they were chosen to open for Soundgarden on their 1994 Superunknown tour. Giant Records quickly got cold feet and dropped the band when a poster promoting Inhaler surfaced featuring Bill Clinton smoking a joint with the caption reading "This is heavy shit". In 1994, the band released Live Alien Broadcasts on Futurist Records, which was a best-of live studio recording. Thorstensen left but they secured a second major-label deal with EastWest/Elektra Records in 1995 releasing their fifth album Infrared Riding Hood. TAD were dropped again in 1996 when the album received disappointing sales although this was mainly due to poor promotion by the label. They continued to gig for the remainder of the year before Sinder left to form the Hot Rod Lunatics. He was replaced on drums by Mike Mongrain of Foil. Tad's final single "Oppenheimer's Pretty Nightmare"/"Accident On The Way To Church" appeared in 1998 on Up Records. A year later the band dissolved. Following TAD's breakup, Doyle formed Hog Molly in 2001, releasing the album Kung-Fu Cocktail Grip late the same year. He later formed the band Hoof who have yet to release any recordings. Tad's Current (2008) band Brothers of the Sonic Cloth has been playing to rave reviews in Seattle Night clubs. Kurt Danielson went on to join Valis, a project which included members of Screaming Trees and Mudhoney. Then he formed The Quaranteens, a post-punk/new-wave band with Craig Paul, before moving to France. He is back in Seattle since 2008, and has started to write a novel (a new band is expected too, maybe with members of Sassy). Josh Sinder has gone on to play drums in The Insurgence and also plays with Marky Felchtone from Zeke in new band Hellbound For Glory. A documentary of the band titled Busted Circuits and Ringing Ears was released in February, 2008, and a new album with songs recorded by the band just before their split, but never released, is expected for 2008 or 2009. [edit] Band members * Tad Doyle (b. Thomas Doyle) - vocals, guitar * Gary Thorstensen - guitar (1988-1994) * Kurt Danielson - bass * Steve Wied (b. Steven Wiederhold) - drums (1988-1991) * Rey Washam - drums (1991) * Josh Sinder - drums (1992-1996) * Mike Mongrain - drums (1996-1999) [edit] Discography [edit] Albums * God's Balls (Sub Pop Records, 1989). * Salt Lick/God's Balls (Sub Pop Records, 1990). * 8-Way Santa (Sub Pop Records, 1991). * Inhaler (Giant/Warner Bros. Records, 1993). * Live Alien Broadcasts (Futurist Records, 1994). * Infrared Riding Hood (EastWest/Elektra Records, 1995). [edit] Singles/EPs * Daisy/Ritual Device (Sub Pop Records, 1988). * TAD Damaged I -- Pussy Galore Damaged II (Sub Pop Records, 1989). * Wood Goblins 12" (Glitterhouse Records, 1989). * Loser/Cooking With Gas (Sub Pop Records, 1990). * Salt Lick EP (Sub Pop Records, 1990). * Jinx/Pig Iron (Sub Pop Records, 1990). * Jack Pepsi (Sub Pop Records, 1991). * Salem/Welt/Leper (Sub Pop Records, 1992). * Lycantrope/Just Bought The Farm (Pusmort Records, 1992). * Leafy Incline/Pale Corkscrew (Giant/Warner Bros. Records, 1993). * Dementia (EastWest/Elektra Records, 1995). * Red Eye Angel/Bludge (EastWest/Elektra Records, 1995). * Obscene Hand/Kevorkian's Holiday (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1997). * Oppenheimer's Pretty Nightmare/Accident On the Way to Church (Up Records, 1998). [edit] Compilation/Soundtrack contributions * "Sex God Missy" on Sub Pop 200 (Sub Pop Records, 1988). * "Sex God Missy" on Sub Pop Rock City (Glitterhouse Records, 1989). * "Behemoth" on Crunchhouse (Glitterhouse Records, 1989). * "Habit & Necessity" on Dope, Guns N' Fucking In The Streets, Vol. 3 (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1989). * "Habit & Necessity" on Dope, Guns N' Fucking In The Streets, Vols. 1-3 (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1989). * "Ritual Device","Daisy" on Fuck Me I'm Rich (Sub Pop, 1990). * "Stumblin' Man" on The Grunge Years (Sub Pop Records, 1991). * "Jinx" on Revolution Come 'N' Gone (Sub Pop Records, 1992). * "Pig Iron" on Mesomorph Enduros (Big Cat Records (UK), 1992). * "Helot (live)" on 1989-1993: The John Peel Sub Pop Sessions (Sub Pop Records, 1993). * "Grease Box" on the Brainscan Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Ruffhouse Records, 1994). * "Luminol" on Insanity (promo only) (Sony Music Entertainment, 1994). * "Just Bought The Farm (live)" on Bite Back: Live At The Crocodile Cafe (PopLlama Records, 1996). * "Giant Killer" on Hype! The Motion Picture Soundtrack (Sub Pop Records, 1996). * "Oppenheimer's Pretty Nightmare" on Up Next: The Up Records Compilation (Up Records, 1998).