- Dr. Know (band)
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Dr. Know Origin Oxnard, CA Genres Nardcore
Crossover thrash
PunkYears active 1981–1991
1998–2010Labels Mystic (1981-1986)
Death (1986-1988)
Unrest (2008-present)Associated acts Stigmata
Dead Kennedys
The ExploitedWebsite www.myspace.com/thisisdrknow Members Ismael Hernandez
Brandon Cruz
Steve Contreras
Rick ContrerasPast members Kyle Toucher
Robin Cartwright
Tim Harkins
Rik Heller
Joey Pena
Ron Baird
Dave Cassilas
Mike Purdy
Tony Black
Mike Vallejo
Jody Hill
N!k
Liberty Allen
Eric Vasquez
Craig Cano
Larz White
Fred Mattequin
Gizz LazloDr. Know is a punk band which began as a Nardcore band and now has roots in Los Angeles, CA.
They are one of the founding figures of the "Nardcore" punk movement from Oxnard, CA. The band was started by Kyle Toucher, Ismael Hernandez, and Robin Cartwright in early 1981, and after auditioning a few singers, former child actor Brandon Cruz was chosen. Silverstrand Beach in Oxnard, California. was the birthplace of Nardcore. The band recorded studio versions of several early songs with Cruz, which led to television appearances and gigs on the Los Angeles circuit.
However the early momentum was somewhat derailed by escalating inner turmoil which culminated in Cruz leaving the group in 1983, leaving Toucher to take over vocals just as the band was starting recording of Plug In Jesus for Mystic Records. Several more albums followed, including the Burn EP, This Island Earth, and Wreckage in Flesh, which were subsequently released on Death Records/Metal Blade, signaling a shift to a crossover direction in their sound. For This Island Earth, the lineup was founding member Kyle Toucher on vocals and guitars, drummer Rik Heller and bassist Ismael Hernandez.
Before an American tour for This Island Earth with Scottish street punks The Exploited, Ismael Hernandez quit the band and was replaced by ex-Stäläg 13 members, bassist Tony Black and second guitarist Tim Harkins.
After another short U.S. tour and attempt at writing a new album, Rick Heller quit the band before moving to Scotland, where he joined The Exploited and drummer Larry White was brought in to finish writing and begin recording of what would become Wreckage in Flesh. During this period Tony Black was replaced by Mike Purdy and the album was finished April 1988. Two subsequent tours followed in support of the album with bands such as The Circle Jerks, D.R.I., Murphy's Law, 7 Seconds as well as shows with up and coming thrash metal bands Forbidden, Vio-lence, Holy Terror, and Metal Church.
Dr. Know disbanded to pursue other projects in 1991. Since that time Slayer covered the Toucher penned "Mr. Freeze" on their Undisputed Attitude album.
The Dr. Know song "Piece of Meat," written by Toucher and Cruz, is used on the 1998 (season two) South Park episode entitled "Clubhouse."
In 1998, Cruz called Hernandez and together they approached Toucher to get the band back together. Toucher declined, but Hernandez and Cruz recruited others and embarked on a North American tour with big-name punk acts of the time.
In September 2001, Cruz was asked to sing with old friends, the reunited Dead Kennedys, leading to a gig that lasted until April 2003. Dr. Know still managed another record, entitled Father, Son, and Holy Shit! and toured the West Coast with Stäläg 13 and Ill Repute.
In September 2005, Dr. Know played a benefit for CGBG's, and donated their share of the money to The Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina victims. They also played a free concert in Manhattan's Tompkins Square Park with Test Specimen, Rabia, Team Spider, Choking Victim and M.D.C. on 11 September 2005.
Dr. Know continues to play live gigs, touring the country several times. Since the release of Killing For God, Dr. Know have many plans for 2009 and beyond. They have begun work on a split with Capitalist Casualties, begun booking a European tour, and are currently writing material for their next record, due in 2011.
Dr. Know today
- Kyle Toucher - Vocals
- Mike Purdy - Bass
- Tim Harkins - Guitar
- Rick Contreras - Drums
While the band with Kyle broke up in 1991, Cruz and Hernandez have been reunited since 1998, playing gigs all over the world. Dr. Know has finished their new record, entitled Killing For God and are currently going on tour to support it. It is being released on Unrest Records.
Former lead singer and songwriter Kyle Toucher now works as a visual effects and digital artist in Los Angeles, CA. He has done work on TV series such as Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek Voyager as well as in movies such as Serenity and Van Helsing. Toucher has won two Emmys for his work.
On August 18 Brandon Cruz posted the official end of Dr Know.
“ Dr. Know officially announces the end. Dr. Know
1981-2010The band played its last gig in May. Unable to find a suitable guitarist, the band went on a long hiatus. Still unable to get it's shit together, the band disintegrated. We had fun. No... doubt about that. The last 12 years of this version of the band went through some great times on the road and in the studio. We want to thank all of the fans who stuck by us, and to all of the people who helped along the way. Liberty, Mike V., Jody, Eric, Sean, Eric V. N!k, Craig, Stevil, Rick and Gizz, you guys were amazing. Thanks to you all. Thanks to Kyle for starting the band with Ismael way back when. Thanks to the Nardcore Scene, The Jak's Team, all the bands we toured with and played with, Malt Soda, Hello, and Unrest Records. We will never forget the fun and good times we had. It's over for now. For some of us in the band, new things will happen. Stay tuned.
We really had a blast out there.Thanks for everything,
Brandon
Dr. Know”
The same day that Brandon Cruz announced the breakup of the punk Dr. Know, Kyle Toucher announced the reformation of the Wreckage in Flesh era line up. Called DK2010, it features Toucher, Mike Purdy, Tim Harkins, and Larz White.Brandon Cruz has announced the formation of his new band, MDCN+MN, (Medicine Man). They are set to perform in the summer of 2011.
Dr. Know discography
- We Got Power, Party or Go Home - Compilation LP (Mystic,1983)
- It Came From Slimy Valley, Compilation LP (Mystic, 1983)
- Party Animal, We Got Power II - Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
- Covers, Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
- Mystic Super Seven Sampler #1, Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
- Mystic Sampler #1, Compilation LP (Mystic)
- Mystic Sampler #2, Compilation LP (Mystic)
- Mystic Sampler #3, Compilation LP (Mystic)
- Nardcore, Compilation LP (Mystic, 1984)
- Return to Slimy Valley, Compilation LP (Mystic)
- Plug-in Jesus, 12" LP (Mystic, 1984)
- Burn, 7" EP (Mystic, 1985)
- This Island Earth, 12" LP (Death Records, 1986)
- The Original Group, 12" LP (Mystic, 1987) This was actually the first recording, done with Brandon Cruz in 1981.
- Wreckage in Flesh, 12" LP (Death Records, 1988)
- This Island Earth/Wreckage In Flesh, CD (Death Records, 1990)
- Father, Son, and Holy Shit, LP ( recorded in 2000)
- Habily: What Was Old Is New, CD (Cleopatra, 2001)
- Fish & Vegetables, Compilation CD (Hello Records, 2001)
- Best of Dr. Know, CD (Mystic, 2003)
- Welcome to the Neighborhood, Compilation CD (Let Them Eat Records, 2005)
- Killing For God, CD /Vinyl LP (Unrest, 2008)
External links
Categories:- Hardcore punk groups from California
- Musical groups from Los Angeles, California
- Crossover thrash groups
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