tad

Tad was an American grunge band from Seattle, Washington led by Tad Doyle. Among the first of the many bands which came out of Seattle in the grunge era, Tad was notable for the fact that its music had a noticeable 1970s metal influence, rather than the punk which influenced most other grunge bands. Although their commercial success was limited, their music is still highly regarded amongst grunge fans.

History

Led by Tad Doyle (b. Thomas Doyle) on vocals and guitar, Tad was formed in early 1988 by Doyle and bassist Kurt Danielson, who met while at a Christian Banquet. 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 (ex-Treeclimbers) 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 had released the "Daisy/Ritual Device" single on Sub Pop, produced by seminal Seattle producer Jack Endino, for which Doyle wrote and performed all music. Tad's debut album God's Balls appeared in early 1989 and was also produced by Endino. In March 1990 the band 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 famed 90's grunge and alternative producer Butch Vig (better known for Nirvana's Nevermind, Smashing Pumpkins's Siamese Dream and as drummer for the band Garbage, the album was far more pop-oriented than its predecessors, featuring such songs as "Jinx," "Stumblin' Man" and "Jack Pepsi." "Jack Pepsi" was released as a single, 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." However, The so-called "Pepsi logo" was missing the left and right colorations in the actual Pepsi logo, one being of a light blue color; said light blue color never appeared on the Tad artwork, making this at best an attempt at "folk art", not even coming close to "copyright infringement". 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 to a group shot.

After a very brief acting stint in Singles, Tad was offered its 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 apparently mumps-afflicted brother, on the cover). Their major label debut Inhaler, 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 "It's 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. 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 with Willard bassist Ty Garcia, and 50 paces guitarist Martin Chandler, releasing the album Kung-Fu Cocktail Grip late the same year. He later formed the band Hoof. Tad's current (2008) band Brothers of the Sonic Cloth has been playing 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. Danielson has also played in other local Seattle-based bands including the Misericords and Vaporland. 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. In July 2009 taddoyle.com announced plans by Brothers of the Sonic Cloth to release a split 10" vinyl record with Seattle-area sludge metal band, Mico de Noche. The Brothers of the Sonic Cloth/Mico de Noche split 10" vinyl record was released in October 2009 as an edition of 500 copies and featured two songs by Mico de Noche and one song by Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, "Fires Burn Dim in the Shadows of the Mountain". The record received several positive reviews^[1][2][3][4] and appeared on multiple "Best of 2009" lists.^[5]

Band members

• Tad Doyle – vocals, guitar (1988–99)
• Joel Elman – guitar (1988)
• Joe Garner – guitar (1988)
• Gary Thorstensen – guitar (1988–94)
• Kurt Danielson – bass (1988–99)
• Steve Wied – drums (1988–91)
• Rey Washam – drums (1991)
• Josh Sinder – drums (1992–96)
• Mike Mongrain – drums (1996–99)

Discography

Albums

• God's Balls (1989) Sub Pop Records
• Salt Lick/God's Balls (1990) Sub Pop Records
• 8-Way Santa (1991) Sub Pop Records
• Inhaler (1993) Giant/Warner Bros. Records
• Live Alien Broadcasts (1994) Futurist Records
• Infrared Riding Hood (1995) EastWest/Elektra Records

Extended plays and singles

• Daisy/Ritual Device (1988) Sub Pop Records
• Damaged I (1989) Sub Pop Records (split w/ Pussy Galore)
• Wood Goblins (1989) Glitterhouse Records
• Loser/Cooking with Gas (1990) Sub Pop Records
• Salt Lick (1990) Sub Pop Records
• Jinx/Pig Iron (1990) Sub Pop Records
• Jack Pepsi (1991) Sub Pop Records
• Salem/Welt/Leper (1992) Sub Pop Records
• Lycantrope/Just Bought the Farm (1992) Pusmort Records
• Leafy Incline/Pale Corkscrew (1993) Giant/Warner Bros. Records
• Dementia (1995) EastWest/Elektra Records
• Red Eye Angel/Bludge (1995) EastWest/Elektra Records
• Obscene Hand/Kevorkian's Holiday (1997) Amphetamine Reptile Records
• Oppenheimer's Pretty Nightmare/Accident On the Way to Church (1998) Up Records

Compilations and soundtracks

• Sub Pop 200 (1988) Sub Pop Records – "Sex God Missy"
• Sub Pop Rock City (1989) Glitterhouse Records – "Sex God Missy"
• Crunchhouse (1989) Glitterhouse Records – "Behemoth"
• Dope, Guns 'N Fucking in the Streets, Vol. 1–3 (1989) Amphetamine Reptile Records – "Habit & Necessity"
• Fuck Me I'm Rich (1990) Sub Pop Records – "Ritual Device" and "Daisy"
• The Grunge Years (1991) Sub Pop Records – "Stumblin' Man"
• Revolution Come 'N' Gone (1992) Sub Pop Records – "Jinx"
• Mesomorph Enduros (1992) Big Cat Records – "Pig Iron"
• 1989-1993: The John Peel Sub Pop Sessions (1993) Sub Pop Records – "Helot"
• Brainscan Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1994) Ruffhouse Records – "Grease Box"
• Insanity (1994) Sony Music Entertainment – "Luminol"
• Bite Back: Live at the Crocodile Cafe (1996) PopLlama Records – "Just Bought the Farm" (live)
• Hype! The Motion Picture Soundtrack (1996) Sub Pop Records – "Giant Killer"
• Up Next: The Up Records Compilation (1998) Up Records – "Oppenheimer's Pretty Nightmare"

See also

• Brothers of the Sonic Cloth
• Bundle of Hiss
• Foil
• Hog Molly
• The Quaranteens
• Valis

References

• Steve Huey, Tad biography on Yahoo! Music

References

1. ^ "Brothers of the Sonic Cloth and Mico de Noche on a Timeshare". The Obelisk. http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2009/10/21/micobotscsplit/. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
2. ^ "BROTHERS OF THE SONIC CLOTH / MICO DE NOCHE". deaf sparrow. http://www.deafsparrow.com/brothersofthesonicloth-micodenoche-2010-review.htm. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
3. ^ Pegoraro, John (15). "Mico De Noche/Brothers of the Sonic Cloth - Split". Stonerrock.com. http://www.riffrock.com/forums2/allposts.asp?Forum=ap809241559&ID=47744&StartAt=0. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
4. ^ Cara (25). "Split: Brothers of the Sonic Cloth/Mico de Noche". http://ritualroom.blogspot.com/2010/01/split-brothers-of-sonic-clothmico-de.html. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
5. ^ Levin, Hannah (30). "Our Favorite Local Releases of 2009". Seattle Weekly. http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-12-30/music/our-favorite-local-releases-of-2009/. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 

External links

• [1] Tad's official website
• [2] Tad's new band Brothers of the Sonic Cloth page
• [3] Tad's official Myspace page
• Sup Pop Page Discography, Bio