Adrenalin O.D.

Infobox musical artist
Name = Adrenalin OD


Img_capt =
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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Elmwood Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Genre = Hardcore punk
Years_active = 1981–1990
Label = Buy Our Records
Relapse (reissue)
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Jim Foster
Dave Schwartzman
Paul Richards
Jack Steeples
Bruce Wingate
Wayne Garcia
Keith Hartel |

Adrenalin O.D. was a popular hardcore punk band from New Jersey that existed from 1981 to 1990. They are best known for playing extremely fast music accompanied by humorous lyrics.

History

Adrenalin O.D. formed in 1981 from the ashes of late '70s punk band The East Paterson Boys Choir. A.O.D.'s first recordings saw release on the widely distributed "New York Thrash" cassette compilation released on ROIR cassettes in 1982. The compilation also featured the first recordings of the Beastie Boys, as well as prominent NYC punk bands like the Bad Brains and Kraut. The comedic and speedy "Paul's Not Home" became an instant college radio hit.

A.O.D.'s first vinyl release, a six song (EP) entitled "Let's Barbeque", was released on their own Buy Our Records label. Because the budget was so tight, the band could only afford 15 minutes of studio time. They recorded all six tracks in one take with no overdubs. Buy Our Records became one of New Jersey's largest indie punk labels and springboarded the careers of many bands including Flag Of Democracy, Raging Slab, and Pussy Galore.

Adrenalin O.D.'s first album entitled "The Wacky Hijinks of Adrenalin O.D." showcased the band's use of blazing speed-punk and sarcastic lyrics, taking aim at the suburban experience with songs like "Middle Aged Whore", "Trans Am" (the inspiration for the Dead Milkmen's "Bitchin' Camaro"), and the crowd favorite "Rock n' Roll Gas Station". The album contains an untitled and blatantly obvious backmasked track. When played backwards, it is the band members saying in unison; "God is very, very nice. Be kind to animals. Satan sucks."

Adrenalin O.D. toured nationally and created a loyal following via their live shows (described by some as an experience somewhere between Minor Threat and Don Rickles.) The band's quick wit and on-stage banter was at times as much of an improv stand-up comedy act as a hardcore punk band, and fans coined the term "funny-punk" to describe their performances. Tracks that exhibit the band's quirky sense of humor include a punk rock cover of Henry Mancini's "Baby Elephant Walk", a surf rock version of "Hava Nagila" entitled "Surfin' Jew" aka "Surfin' Adam Meshell", and a track entitled "Masterpiece" which is a punk reworking of Jean-Joseph Mouret's 'Rondeau" from "Symphonies and Fanfares for the King's Supper" (which the band knew only as the theme from the PBS TV series "Masterpiece Theatre").

By their third release "Cruising With Elvis In Bigfoot's UFO", the band brought in producer Daniel Rey (who had worked with the Ramones, Misfits and Iggy Pop) to help the band's translation from hyper-speed to mid-tempo melodic punk. With songs like "Bulimic Food Fight", and "My Mom Can't Drive", "Stereo Review Magazine" ranked the album among the funniest records of all time, and the album was formative in the development of the pop punk sound of Fat Wreck Chords.

Post-break up

Band members Bruce Wingate and Wayne Garcia went on to form a three-man band Bruce Wayne in tribute to both of their first names and the secret identity of comic book hero Batman. In the mid-'90s Wingate was the musical director for two tours by cult figure Harvey Sid Fisher. He has continued to write and record as the frontman for many groups including, The Brunch Mummies, New Reagans, The Earls Of Sandwich, and the TXT PSTLZ (text pistols).

Paul Richard and Jack Steeples would go on to The Kowalskis and later SUX [http://www.yourbandsux.com] .

Drummer Dave Scott spent 3 years exercising his rock/metal imperative with the ill fated New Jersey "supergroup" Scrooge (later Grimelord ) with members of Genocide and Niblick Henbane , before going on to Atlantic Recording artists Lucy's Trance. He later relocated to Florida, and has played in The Hybrids, November Charlie, and The F-Pipes. His latest band The Rondos is Floridas most popular powerpop punk band.Jim Foster, son of fireballing 97 year old Bill Foster; who is currently the only remaining alumnis still alive from Upsala College, went on to become the lead guitarist in Electric Frankenstein.

Adrenalin O.D. have reunited several times, most recently to benefit CBGB's, along with The Dead Boys, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, and Flipper in August 2005. In 1999, they reunited to record the 31 second track "Your Kung Fu Is Old...and Now You Must Die!!!" for the compilation CD "Short Music For Short People".

Members

The band's original line-up was as follows:

* Jim Foster - guitar
* Dave Scott (Schwartzman) - drums
* Paul Richard - guitar
* Jack Steeples - bass guitar

Later members of the band included:

* Bruce Wingate - guitar
* Wayne Garcia - bass guitar
* Keith Hartel - bass guitar

Discography

Albums

* "The Wacky Hijinks of Adrenalin OD" (1984)
* "HumungousFungousAmongus" (1986, reissued in 2005 on Relapse Records)
* "Cruising With Elvis in Bigfoot's UFO" (1988)
* "Ishtar" (1989)
* "Sittin' Pretty" (1995)
* "Phat and Old" (1996)
* "Themes" - rare and unreleased demo 1981-1982 (2001)

ingles/EPs

* "Let's Barbeque" EP (Buy Our Records, 1983)
* "Nice Song in the Key of D" 7" (Buy Our Records 005, 1986)
* "The Band That Wouldn't Leave" EP (1986)
* "Caught in the Act" split 7" with Bedlam (198?)
* "Theme From an Imaginary Midget Western" (1988)
* "Sentimental Abuse" (Headache Records, 1996)

Compilation

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

External links

* [http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/flipsideadrenalinod.html Adrenalin OD interview] printed in "Flipside" #55 (1988)