The Seattle music scene in the late 1980's boasted an odd assortment of musical styles. Through what seems to amount to boredom, these bands mixed the best elements of punk, metal, and classic rock to create a new movement in rock music. Nirvana's Nevermind may have revealed these bands to the world in 1991, but before that, there was a Seattle band that everyone wanted to party with.
Tad was a band that, on the surface, looked like a group of ex-loggers who just wanted to destroy things with chainsaws and destroy your ears with loud distortion. But true Tad fans know that this was just a silly way to market the band that initially made (and would later break) Seattle's premier indie music label Sub Pop Records. Tad was more than a hard-partying hard rock band from Seattle, they were, for a time, the quintessential Seattle band that all other bands in the area looked to for help and guidance.
Tad: Busted Circuits and Ringing Ears reveals Tad's tumultuous career from the early Sub Pop records like God's Balls and 8-Way Santa to their attempts to break the mainstream with Inhaler and Infrared Riding Hood. It also highlights their problems with their various record labels, including the now infamous lawsuits against the band and Sub Pop by Pepsi (they didn't like the song "Jack Pepsi") and the couple featured on the original cover photo of 8-Way Santa. The DVD also focuses on the musical following the band had created, including their first European tour with Nirvana, which first introduced both bands to a wider audience.
In terms of music history, Tad: Busted Circuits and Ringing Ears provides the most comprehensive story of a band that may have been bigger than Nirvana at one time, but now remains in relative obscurity. It starts out by showing how the band got its start. Unlike most bands at the time, Tad didn't start out with live shows; in fact, lead singer Tad Doyle started the band when he recorded a single on his own that was picked up by Sub Pop. The band, and their explosive live shows, came later when bass guitarist Kurt Danielson joined, and the band added Steve Wied on drums and Gary Thorstensen on guitar. The band would change the lineup throughout the years, but Danielson and Doyle would remain the bedrock of Tad's sound.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Great review Kevin.
Tad never really their due as one of the earliest protagonists of grunge, thats for sure. Living in Seattle, I also knew both Tad and Kurt quite well back then. The story behind the picture in that lawsuit (the couple you mention is this biker-hippie looking sort of guy cupping his girlfriend's breast), is that the pic itself was something found at a garage sale I believe. You can't make this shit up.
Tad's reputation for partying is also certainly well-earned, and he was also one of the funniest guys you'd ever hope to throw back a few beers with. But beneath all that, he was also one of the truly nicest guys too. When I moved to L.A. from Seattle, Tad was one of the few guys from the "scene" who showed up at my going away party and I'll always remember that.
Great review. I'll be picking this one up for sure.
-Glen
2 - Kevin Eagan
Glen,
Your description of Tad is spot on with the DVD's portrayal of the band. It's an excellent DVD, I'm sure you will enjoy it.