D.I.

D.I. is a Southern California punk band featuring ex-Adolescents and Social Distortion drummer Casey Royer on vocals. Royer formed the group after he and former Social Distortion original member Rikk Agnew (also formerly of Christian Death), left the original Mike Ness crew.

Since forming in 1982, D.I. has had many line-up changes and Royer has been the only constant member of the band. The band once broke up and reformed, sometimes with former members of The Adolescents and Social Distortion (including the Angew brothers Rikk and Alfie). During their years of touring and recording albums, D.I. never gained a large mainstream success, but they have influenced many of today's later punk rock groups, including F.T.E., Face to Face, Guttermouth, Jughead's Revenge, The Offspring and Pennywise.

History

D.I. was formed in 1982 and combined the Orange County punk sound with a decidedly gothic style on their debut self-titled EP. The EP featured five songs including "Richard Hung Himself" (originally written by Casey Royer while he played for the Adolescents, recorded it with the Adolescents to later re-record it in D.I. ), "Venus De Milo," "Reagan Der Fuhrer," "Purgatory," and "Guns". This EP was later reissued as Team Goon with extra tracks including versions of Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll Part II" and Devo's "Uncontrollable Urge". Their first proper album Ancient Artifacts was a more straight ahead Orange County sounding album that included new versions of "Guns" and "Purgatory" from the EP.

D.I. released two more albums Horse Bites Dog Cries (1986) and What Good Is Grief to a God? (1988). Before recording sessions for What Good Is Grief to a God? commenced, guitarist Rikk Agnew left D.I. in 1987 to pursue his career with the Adolescents and released two more albums (Brats in Battalions and Balboa Fun Zone) before splitting up. Rikk was replaced by Hedge on Bass Alfie(guitar) and Bosco was switched from bass to second guitar-and eventually Sean Elliott replaced Alfie. D.I. released their next album Tragedy Again in 1989. After that, the band remained silent.

Generally considered their best studio album, Horse Bites, Dog Cries is seen as a continuance of The Adolescents famed Blue Album, with fast punk guitar riffs and vocals that suggest the hopelessness of a punk in Orange County, like the Agnews and of course Casey Royer. Tracks like "Johnny's Got a Problem", "Youth in Asia", "Imminent War" and "Hang Ten in East Berlin" demonstrate the band's real motives on this classic record.

A live album, Live at a Dive, was released in 1993. After Stevie DRT left the band, original drummer John Knight rejoined and their fifth album State of Shock was released in the following year. Following the release of that album, D.I. went on an extended hiatus from 1995 to 1997. The loss of their record label soon followed by members of the State of Shock line-up involved with their various other activities, leaving the group unsure of whether or not they would continue recording and performing. After two years on hiatus, D.I. headed back into the studio around 1997 to record what would be their follow-up to State of Shock and shopped them around to labels but nobody was interested.

Numerous line-up changes went on before they had their current line-up, consisting of Royer, Chckn (guitars), Clinton (guitars), Eddie Tater (bass) and Joey Tater (drums). As of this moment, Royer would become the only constant member of the band. D.I. had continued touring since then and On the Western Front, their long-awaited sixth studio album, was finally released on , 2007.

Line-ups

Dates
Members & prominent instruments
Notes
(1982-1983)
Casey Royer - vocals
Tim Maag - guitars
Fredric Taccone - bass
Derek O'Brien - drums
(1983-1984)
Casey Royer - vocals
Rikk Agnew - guitars
Alfie Agnew - guitars
Tim Maag - bass
Derek O'Brien - drums
(1984-1987)
Casey Royer - vocals
Rikk Agnew - guitars
Alfie Agnew - guitars
John Bosco - bass
John Knight - drums
(1987-1988)
Casey Royer - vocals
John Bosco - guitars
Mark "The Kid" Cerneka - guitars
Hedge - bass
Stevie DRT - drums
(1988-1990)
Casey Royer - vocals
Sean Elliot - guitars, vocals
John Bosco - guitars, vocals
Hedge - Bass
Stevie DRT - Drums
(1990-1992)
Casey Royer - vocals
Sean Elliot - guitars, vocals
Alfie Agnew - guitars, vocals
Dan Colburn - bass
Stevie DRT - drums
(1992-1995)
Casey Royer - vocals
Michael Calabro - guitars
Fredric Taccone - bass
John Knight - drums
(1995-1997)

D.I. on hiatus

(1997-1998)
Casey Royer - vocals
Michael Calabro - guitars
Fredric Taccone - bass
John Knight - drums
(1998-1999)
Casey Royer - vocals
Chckn - guitars, vocals
Fredric Taccone - bass
John Knight - drums
(1999-2000)
Casey Royer - vocals
Sean Elliot - guitars
Fredric Taccone - bass
John Knight - drums
(2000)
Casey Royer - vocals
Chckn - guitars
Fredric Taccone - bass
John Knight - drums
(2000-2001)
Casey Royer - vocals
Chckn - guitars
Sean Elliott - guitars
Lisa "Lisafer" Pifer - bass
Steve Gee - drums
(2001-2003)
Casey Royer - vocals
Chckn - guitars
Clinton - guitars
Eddie Tater - bass
Steve Gee - drums
(2003-2008)
Casey Royer - vocals
Chckn - guitars
Clinton Calton - guitars
Eddie Tater - bass
Joey Tater - drums
(2008-Present)
Casey Royer - vocals
Clinton Calton - guitars
Eddie Tater - bass
Joey Tater - drums