Poison Idea's
notoriously brief, punishing debut was released in 1983, a few years after the band formed in Portland, Oregon. Thirteen songs in sixteen minutes. Obviously, not a second wasted. At this juncture, the band consisted of founder and enormous frontman
Jerry A
., guitarist
Tom Roberts
- later to be rechristened
Pig Champion
, due to his porcine build, bassist
Chris Tense
, and drummer
Dean Johnson
. Already,
. sang like a man in the middle of a heartattack, bellowing furiously, frighteningly. In other words, the template was being created for albums to follow. With
Pick Your King
- a reference to
Elvis
and Jesus,
Poison Idea
helped establish the paradigm for aggressive American hardcore punk. ~ Patrick Kennedy