Tad

Biography

TAD was one of the heaviest bands to come out of Seattle back in grunge's heyday. Their music was inspired mostly by 70s metal, rather than punk. TAD's music was loud, uncompromising and bleak. The band themselves had a heavy look, dressing like northwestern lumberjacks. Led by the 300lb ex-butcher Tad Doyle (Thomas A. Doyle- Boise, Idaho) on vocals/guitar TAD was formed in late 1988 by Doyle and bassist Kurt Danielson, who met at a Christian potluck dinner. They played together in a band called Bundle of Hiss until 1988. Doyle himself was previously a drummer for a little band called H-Hour. They recruited Steve Weid (from Skin Yard) on drums and Gary Thorstenson for more guitars. TAD was complete.

TAD were the last homegrown band to be signed onto SUBPOP, which was wallowing in the new success of grunge music. Their debut was God's Balls, released in 1989 and following this, in March 1990 they released Salt Lick featuring the song "Wood Goblins" which was banned on MTV on the grounds that the video was "too ugly". Both were produced by Jack Endino. After a tour with Nirvana, TAD returned to Seattle and recorded 1991's 8-Way Santa, named after a type of blotting acid. Produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana's Nevermind) and featured "Jinx", "Stumblin' Man" and "Jack Pepsi". "Jack Pepsi" would become their biggest song, but unfortunately, Pepsi didn't like it and a lawsuit followed. Another lawsuit was filed because the cover of the album in question was a picture of a man fondling a woman's breast. The pair, born-again Christians and married, also took exception and sued. Nevertheless, TAD ambled on, sending up white-trash culture (although the band were not white trash) and creating eardrum-piercing tunes.

After a VERY brief acting stint in Singles, TAD were offered their first major-label opportunity by Warner Bros, Giant. However Steve Weid had left, joining Willard and later, Foil. The Accused' drummer, Josh Sinder beat the skins for Inhaler, TAD's major-label album. Inhaler failed to break the band, despite opening for Soundgarden's 1994 tour. Another lawsuit followed when a poster promoting Inhaler featured Bill Clinton smoking a joint and captioning "This is heavy s**t".

A lot of northwest bands were dropped around this time. TAD was one of them, and Thorstenson (guitars) left in 1994. They released Live Alien Broadcasts which was a best-of live studio recording with Futurist Records in 1995, with Doyle doing all guitar work for the album. They secured a second major-label deal with Elektra's EastWest Records, and released Infrared Riding Hood late in 1995. TAD were dropped again when the album received disappointing sales, they kept gigging for a few years and Sinder left in 1997, joining the Hotrod Lunatics. He was replaced by Mike Mongrain (from Foil) on drums. "Salem/Oppenheimer's Pretty Nightmare" was released as a single in 1998 on Amphetamine Records and this signaled TAD's breakup. Kurt Danielson joined Valis, a project by Screaming Trees/Mudhoney and Doyle formed Hog Molly in 2001, releasing the album Kung-Fu Cocktail Grip in 2001.

Band members

• Tad Doyle - vocals, guitar
• Kurt Danielson - bass
• Gary Thorstensen - guitar
• Josh Snider - drum

Albums

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