Attitude Adjustment

Attitude Adjustment is a crossover thrash band originally formed in the early 1980s in the San Francisco Bay Area (California, U.S.).

Formation

The band was formed by Chris Kontos, Eric Smith and Rick Strahl in early 1985, with Nick Koljian briefly on vocals. The lineup was changed with the addition of Kevin Reed on vocals. This lineup played a number of initial shows at Ruthies Inn, the New Method, the Mabuhay Gardens and other Bay Area venues. Several months later, Kevin Reed was replaced by Andy Andersen on vocals and Chris Scapparo joined as a second guitarist. They shortly went into the studio to record the "Dead Serious Demo" in 1985. The demo was recorded at Peter Miller Studios and engineered by Eric Kauschen.

Early Tours and Recording

In 1986 and 1987, Attitude Adjustment played frequent gigs throughout California. They played alongside bands like Forbidden (Known as Forbidden Evil at that time), Vio-Lence, Sacrilege, Possessed, Hirax, Death Angel, R.K.L., Dr. Know, Suicidal Tendencies, Corrosion of Conformity, D.R.I., Discharge, UK Subs, Neurosis, The Exploited and Operation Ivy, among others. The band finally released their debut album, American Paranoia released by Pusmort Records. This album is considered to be a "crossover" between hardcore and thrash metal.

Lineup Changes

• At the end of 1987, Andy Andersen, Chris Scaparro and Rick Strahl joined up with former Condemned to Death guitarist Keith Chatham, to form Condemned Attitude, which would later be renamed Attitude.

• Attitude released an LP and an EP, taking a more thrash metal-like style, with Andy Andersen returning to his initial style of singing. Rick Strahl and Chris Scaparro became the new guitarists with Eric Brecht on drums during this time.

• Chris Kontos, Eric Smith and Kevin Reed continued on with Attitude Adjustment and in 1988, this new lineup released the EP No More Mr. Nice Guy, again on Pusmort Records, which is very different from American Paranoia.

• By 1990, former members Andy Anderson, Chris Scaparro, and Rick Strahl formed a new band with former Piranha guitarist Ron Shipes^[1][2] that had a more hard rock direction. The band was called Two Bit Thief they released an LP "Another Sad Story...In the Big City"^[3] They kept it alive until 1995. Subsequently Ron Shipes forged Fueled.^[4]

• Kontos and Reed returned to the name "Attitude Adjustment" in 1991, but with another new lineup to record their last studio album, Out Of Hand, again mixing hardcore with thrash metal.

• In 1993, the American Paranoia LP and the No More Mr. Nice Guy EP were re-issued on CD. The LP version includes the "Dead Serious" demo.

• Chris Kontos joined Robb Flynn (who left Vio-Lence) in 1993 to form the post thrash band Machine Head.

• The band reformed in 2007.

• In 2011, the band released a new album "No Way Back" on Taang records.

Current line-up

• Walter Ryan (drums)
• Kevin Reed (vocals)
• Eric McIntire aka Eric "Bobo" Smith (guitar)
• Ray Vegas (guitar)
• Greg Orr (bass)

Former members

• Nick Koljian (vocals - Scoopy's Clownhouse Revenge)
• Kevin Reed (vocals - Deathtoll, Deface, Numbskull)
• Andy Andersen (vocals - Condemned Attitude, Attitude, Two Bit Thief)
• Eric "Bobo" Smith (guitar)
• Ray Vegas (bass - Vio-Lence, Social Unrest)
• Chris Kontos (drums - Machine Head, Death Angel, Verbal Abuse)
• Keith Medeiros (bass)
• Keith Chatham (guitar)
• Paul Birnbaum (drums)
• Eric Brecht (drums - Hirax, Death, D.R.I.)
• Tezz Bones (guitar - Discharge, Broken Bones)
• Sean Sutton (guitar)

Bands influenced by Attitude Adjustment

• Napalm Death recorded "Dope Fiend" off of "American Paranoia" for Leaders Not Followers: Part 2.
• Jailcell Recipes recorded "Dead Serious" for their Poulton Road EP.
• Thrash band Municipal Waste.

Discography

• Dead Serious - Demo 1985
• American Paranoia - LP 1986
• No More Mr. Nice Guy - EP 1988
• Out of Hand - LP 1991
• No Way Back - 2011

Compilation

• Rat Music for Rat People, Vol. 3 (CD Presents, 1987)

References

External links

• K.F.T.H. site
• Rick Strahl's Site
• Myspace