Toxic Reasons

Toxic Reasons are an American hardcore punk/punk rock band.

History

Toxic Reasons formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1979. The founding members were Bruce Stuckey (bass guitar and vocals), Joel Agne (guitar and vocals), Ed Pittman (lead vocals) and Mark Patterson (drums).

In 1980, Agne left the band and was replaced by Greg Stout on bass, while Stuckey switched to lead guitar. In 1981, Patterson left the band and was replaced by James J. "J.J." Pearson on drums. Rob "Snot" Lucjak also joined on rhythm guitar.

They recorded their first LP, Independence, at Keystone Recording in Indianapolis, Indiana, then went on tour and moved to San Francisco, where their label Risky Records was located. David "Tufty" Clough joined the band on bass guitar.

Pittman left the group following the release of Independence. During this time, the band created a logo showing the U.S., Canadian, and British flags joined together. The symbol not only represented their tri-national roots (Pearson from Canada, Clough and Lucjak from England, and Stuckey from the U.S.), but also came to symbolize the diversity of their sound, which mixed fast U.S. hardcore with melodic Canadian guitar lines and British influences like reggae-punk plus more mid-tempo anthems.

They have made over 40 recordings to date, including eight full-length albums.

Members

The band has performed some reunion shows with Independence-era members in Dayton and Indianapolis. Later, Stuckey played a few shows with Pearson and new members Kurt Harley and Jason Pizzleman, performing at the Midwest Music Seminar (Indianapolis), 30 Years of Punk Rock (Chicago) and two Spike Fest benefits (Chicago and Indianapolis). This lineup was also duped into playing the sham benefit for the Children of the World Trade Center Relief Fund in New York City called Unity Fest.

Stuckey continues to write music. Clough plays with Zero Boys and Bigger Than Elvis. Pearson released a solo CD titled Only One Reason, supported by a Midwest and European tour in 2008.

Discography (albums)

Independence (Risky Records, 1982; re-released in 1989, 1994, and 2002)

Kill By Remote Control (Sixth International Records, 1984)

Re-released in Europe on Alternative Tentacles with two bonus tracks:

Within These Walls (Treason Records, 1985)

Bullets For You (T-reason Records, 1986)

Re-released in Europe on Alternative Tentacles with "God Bless America", "Can't Get Away", and "Do What You Can" replaced by:

Dedication 1979-1988 (SPV, 1988; Funhouse Records; recorded at Hit City Studios Indianapolis)

Anything For Money (SPV/Hellhound, 1989)

In The House Of God (Bitzcore, 1993)

No Peace In Our Time (Bitzcore, 1995)

This was the first ever punk rock CD-ROM released for Mac and Windows. It has short videos of the band, the band's history as told by Bruce Stuckey, and a karaoke competition of "White Noise".

Several songs from No Peace In Our Time appeared in the feature film The Waiter, directed by G. Allen Johnson and released in Indianapolis in August 1997.

External links