The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. Steven Hanford, best known as the drummer for Portland punk icons Poison Idea, has died. He was 50 years old. Hanford—who went by the nickname Slayer Hippy—is best known as the drummer of Poison Idea in the late s and early '90s, at the height of the band's critical and commercial success.
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They officially disbanded as of January 1, and reunited in Poison Idea was formed in by vocalist Jerry A. The initial lineup consisted of Jerry A. Germs singer Darby Crash 's influence on singer Jerry A. Tense, who previously had played with Jerry in a group called the Stand, was replaced within a year by Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts guitar , formerly of the Imperialist Pigs. The jacket featured a "choice" of two kings, Jesus front cover and Elvis Presley back cover. Following the release of Kings of Punk , the band went through several rapid lineup changes mostly in the rhythm section , and then added lead guitarist Eric "Vegetable" Olson, a gifted musician who wrote many Poison Idea tunes during his tenure in the band even contributing a piano vamp on one track.
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The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. For nearly 40 years, Portland's Poison Idea has made an indelible mark on punk and hardcore. Now, they're embarking on their last tour—again. The band's show at Dante's on Sept. The band has gone through more than 20 members and already disbanded twice, but frontman Jerry A has always surrounded himself with top-notch players, ensuring live shows that have remained potent and furious. If this latest disbanding is truly to be permanent, Poison Idea went out in properly raging style. By the second song, the crowd resembled a writhing mass of denim and black leather, while audience members launched themselves from the stage into the mosh pit below. At one point, Jerry A responded to the empty PBR cans that were thrown onstage by whipping a lime wedge from his drink into the crowd, only to see it caught by a fan who chucked it right back at the laughing singer.
He was 47 years old. Variously described as "spectacularly fat," and "the single largest man in hardcore history," Roberts crowned himself "Pig Champion" after hitting an impressive lbs. The highly regarded guitarist was revered by a devoted following worldwide. No further information is available at this time. According to the Taang! The group debuted three years later with the EP "Pick Your King" , cramming 13 songs into a minute time frame; the "Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes" EP followed in , fine-tuning the band's blistering sound and fatalistic worldview. NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment.