𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…
On July 5th, 1983, Suicidal Tendencies released their full-length debut studio album "Suicidal Tendencies" via Frontier Records.
Background:
Regarded as one of the best-selling and most successful punk rock albums, Suicidal Tendencies was well-received by fans and critics alike, and the airplay of its only single "Institutionalized" (for which its music video was one of the first hardcore punk videos to get airplay on MTV) brought the band considerable popularity.
The album was a major influence on the then-emerging genre of thrash metal and its subgenre crossover.
The cover of "Suicidal Tendencies" features an image of the band members hanging upside down, taken by Glen E. Friedman, who produced the album. The background on both the front and back cover depict various homemade Suicidal Tendencies T-shirts.
"I Shot the Devil" was originally entitled "I Shot Reagan". The band is rumored to have been approached by the FBI to change the name of the song. The group eventually used the original title of the song on the lyrics sheet.
Guitarist Jon Nelson was credited on early pressings of the album, but this was corrected to list Grant Estes. Nelson had already left the band before the album project began.
In 1989, due to various royalty and publishing issues with Frontier Records, Muir and the later incarnation of the band re-recorded the entire album and released it in 1993 as "Still Cyco After All These Years", with (mostly) faithful recreations of the originals, plus two songs from "Join the Army" and one previously-unreleased song "Don't Give Me Your Nothin'".
Suicidal Tendencies Tour ‘83-‘84:
Suicidal Tendencies played many local shows and did some minor touring upon the release of their self-titled debut, playing with such bands as; Minor Threat, D.O.A., Aggression, Hüsker Dü, The Descendents, Dr. Know, Black Flag, Meat Puppets, D.I., Wasted Youth, Iron Cross, Corrosion of Conformity, Angry Samoans, The Vandals, Vermin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many more.
Tour Dates:
29/03/1983; Concert at The Jetty, Bloomfield, NJ, USA.
02/04/1983; Concert at The Rollerworks, Chatsworth, CA, USA. opening for Minor Threat, CH3 & Aggression.
21/05/1983; Concert at La Casa, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. opening for D.O.A. & Youth Brigade, with Suspicion.
02/07/1983; Concert at The Vex, Santa Monica, CA, USA. opening for The Descendents. (moved to the 8th).
05/07/1983; 'Suicidal Tendencies' album released. (also listed as 23/06 on flyers).
05/07/1983; Concert at HJ's Rock 'N' Roll Orphanage, Hollywood, CA, USA. with Sub Culture, Don't No & Awol.
08/07/1983; Concert at The Vex, Santa Monica, CA, USA. opening for The Descendents, with Nig-Heist & Dr. Know.
16/07/1983; Concert at The Aquatic Park, Berkeley, CA, USA. opening for Black Flag, Meat Puppets, Saint Vitus etc..
22/07/1983; Concert at The 7th Spirit Club, Lawrence, KS, USA. with Mortal Micronotz. (Jul. 22nd - Aug. 14th; 'U.S. Tour' 1983).
25/07/1983; Concert at Goofy's Upper Deck, Minneapolis, MN, USA. with Church Picnic. (6:00 show).
25/07/1983; Concert at Goofy's Upper Deck, Minneapolis, MN, USA. with Church Picnic. (9:00 show).
31/07/1983; Concert at Joe's, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. with Flesh Column & Sudden Death.
04/08/1983; Concert at Lil' Joe's, Harrisburg, PA, USA. with C.O.C. & No Labels.
05/08/1983; Concert at The Love Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA. with Rebel Truth, No Labels & C.O.C..
07/08/1983; Concert at Great Gildersleeves, New York City, NY, USA. with Roach Motel & Starvation Army.
10/08/1983; Concert at The Space II Arcade, Washington, DC, USA. with No Trend, Second Wind & Cause For Alarm.
13/08/1983; Concert at CBGB's, Manhattan, NY, USA. with Vatican Commandos, C.I.A. & asst. (3:00 show).
13/08/1983; Concert at Brother's, New Haven, CT, USA. with Vatican Commandos & C.I.A. (late show).
14/08/1983; Concert at Pulaski Park, Northampton, MA, USA. with Outpatients & asst. (cancelled).
19/08/1983. Concert at The Rim-Pests HQ, Venice, CA, USA. with Neighborhood Watch & asst.
27/08/1983; Concert at The Vex, Santa Monica, CA, USA. opening for Wasted Youth.
02/09/1983; Concert at The Vex, Santa Monica, CA, USA. with Shattered Faith & Red Scare.
16/09/1983; Concert at Cathay De Grande, Hollywood, CA, USA. with Toxic Reasons, Secret Hate & Killroy.
24/09/1983; Concert at The U.R.A.W. Hall, Santa Fe, CA, USA. with D.I., Wasted Youth, Stains & asst.
12/10/1983; Concert at Shamus O'Brians, South El Monte, CA, USA. with Neighborhood Watch, Rose Hills & Target Of Demand.
28/10/1983; Concert at Ruthie's, San Francsco, CA, USA. with Deadly Reign & The Faction.
30/10/1983; Concert at YMI Hall, San Jose, CA, USA. with Ribzy, Faction, The Bruces, Fun House & Mistaken Identity.
01/11/1983; Concert at Casa Tropical, Oxnard, CA, USA. with Crucifix, Ill Repute & R.K.L.
05/11/1983; Concert at Pinollas, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
11/11/1983; Concert at Packinghouse, Denver, CO, USA. with Bum-Kons & The Lepers.
01/12/1983; Concert at The Plant, Ventura, CA, USA. with Wurm & Decry.
10/12/1983; Concert at Casa De, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. opening for Discharge, with Butthole Surfers, M.D.C. & Dr. Know.
15/12/1983; Concert at ??, Sacramento, CA, USA.
16/12/1983; Concert at Ruthie's Inn, Berkeley, CA, USA. with Deadly Reign, The Faction & Fang.
17/12/1983; Concert at Perkins Palace, Pasadena, CA, USA. opening for Discharge.
22/12/1983; Concert at The Starlite Rollerink, North Hollywood, CA, USA. opening for Wasted Youth, with Wurm & New Regime. (unsure of date).
14/01/1984; Concert at Perkins Palace, Pasadena, CA, USA. opening for Toy Dolls, with Big Boys, Social Unrest & Stalag 13.
29/01/1984; Concert at Ichabods, Fullerton, CA, USA. with M.I.A. & Subterfuge.
16/02/1984; Concert at Carpenters Hall, San Diego, CA, USA. with The Insolents, Claude Coma and the I.V.'s & Tex & The Horseheads. (unsure of date).
17/02/1984; Concert at The Vortograph Centre, Sacremento, CA, USA. with The Vandals, New Regime & Circle Kross.
18/02/1984; Concert at The American Legion Hall, Boise, ID, USA. with Final Warning, Septic Death & Tyrants Reign. (didn't play).
19/02/1984; Concert at The Metropolis, Seattle, WA, USA. with Deranged Diction, March Of Crimes & Rejectors.
10/03/1984; Concert at The Longshoreman Hall, San Francisco, CA, USA. with Angry Samoans & Fang.
20/04/1984; Concert at 13th Precinct, Portland, OR, USA. with Sluglords & Sado Nation.
21/04/1984; Concert at The Odd Fellows Hall, Seattle, WA, USA. with Circle One, Sluglords & asst.
27/04/1984; Concert at Carpenters Hall, Anchorage, AK, USA. with Skate Death.
12/05/1984; Concert at The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, USA. with S.S Decontrol, Minutemen, Red Hot Chili Peppers & The Abandoned.
18/05/1984; Concert at Fairmont Hall, San Diego, CA, USA. with Personal Conflict & Neighborhood Watch.
08/06/1984; Concert at Knight Of Pythias Hall, Tempe, AZ, USA. with Zany Guys, O.N.S. & Skeletones. (moved from Party Gardens).
15/06/1984; Concert at The New Studio Theatre, San Bernadino, CA, USA. with Target Of Demand, Human Therapy & Manson Youth.
29/07/1984; Suicidal Tendencies Interview on MTv.
19/08/1984; Concert at The Aquatic Park, Berkeley, CA, USA. with Exodus, Slayer, Blue Cheer & asst.
23/09/1984; Concert at New York South, Florence, NJ, USA. with The Replacements & The Johnsons. (moved to 30/09).
23/09/1984; Concert at The Channel, Boston, MA, USA. with The F.U.'s & Stranglehold. (Sep. 23rd - 30th; 'Mini Eastern Tour').
24/09/1984; Concert at The Living Room, Providence, RI, USA. with Vicious Circle & Verbal Assault.
25/09/1984; Concert at The Airport Music Hall, Allentown, PA, USA. (date probable).
26/09/1984; Concert at The Ritz, New York, NY, USA.
27/09/1984; Concert at The 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, USA. opening for Grey Matter, with Iron Cross & Dove.
28/09/1984; Concert at The City Gardens, Trenton, NJ, USA. opening for Adrenalin O.D. & 76% Uncertain.
29/09/1984; Concert at CBGB's, New York, NY, USA. with Cause For Alarm & Murphy's Law.
30/09/1984; Concert at New York South, Florence, NJ, USA. with Tales Of Terror, Fang & 45 Grave.
20/10/1984; Concert at The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, USA. with One Way System, The Vandals & Pariah. ('Institusionalized' video release show).
01/12/1984; Concert at The Water's Club, San Pedro, CA, USA. with Vermin & Warlock.
Critical Reception:
"Suicidal Tendencies" (the album) has received mostly positive reviews and ratings.
Steve Huey of AllMusic gave the album 9/10 and called the album "fast, furious, and funny" and claimed that it "owed much more to hardcore punk than to the later hardcore/heavy metal hybrid they would become known for, but it's still quite possibly their best album."
Huey added that "Mike Muir proves himself articulate lyricist and commentator, delving into subjects like alienation, depression, and nonconformist politics with intelligence and humor."
Pushead of Maximumrocknroll described Suicidal Tendencies as "blistering rough-arsed metal thrash" and called the band "a screaming cyclone of sheer power and determination". Pushead also claimed that "this LP shows why they have such a strong following."
Critic Ira Robbins writes that "Half-sung, half-recited and built on repeated sudden tempo changes, 'Institutionalized' is a unique, devastating centerpiece. One of the era's quintessential expressions of teen dislocation, it converts generation gap misunderstandings into a complete communications breakdown, encapsulating all the punk sociology of such films as Repo Man and Suburbia in four minutes."
Influence & Legacy:
"Suicidal Tendencies" (the album) has been reissued numerous times, in various formats in many different countries.
The album has been regarded by critics as one of the most influential rock albums of all time, and has inspired a number of musicians.
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian listed it in his "Top 10 Thrash Albums" list, stating "I just think it's a perfect album. Every song on it is great. It's a perfect crossover between hardcore punk and metal, and I guess that's what makes thrash metal -- all those genre combined, and Suicidal were the first ones to do it because that record came out in '83."
"Suicidal Tendencies" (the album) has also been cited as an influence or favorite album by each of the "big four" of thrash metal (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax) as well as California punk bands such as The Offspring and NOFX.
"Institutionalized" has been referenced in many songs, mostly its quote "all I wanted was a Pepsi". It is referenced in the Sage Francis song "Slow Down Gandhi" in the line "It's death penalty vs. suicidal tendencies / All I wanted was a fucking Pepsi / Institution / Making you think you're crazy is a billion dollar industry."
Limp Bizkit also referenced it in the song "Stuck" with the lines "All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi. So far from suicidal but still I get them tendencies bringing back the memories that I really miss."
"All I wanted was a Pepsi" is also quoted near the ending of the Cypress Hill song "How I Could Just Kill a Man".
American heavy metal band Body Count recorded a cover version of "Institutionalized", with new lyrics written by singer Ice-T, called "Institutionalized 2014", for their album Manslaughter.
"Memories of Tomorrow" was covered by Slayer for its album "Undisputed Attitude" and was featured on the Japanese edition of the record.
"Institutionalized" was also covered by Senses Fail for the soundtrack to the video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.
"Two Sided Politics" was covered by Bones Brigade on its album Older Than Shit, Heavier Than Time.
"I Shot the Devil" was also covered by the California hardcore punk band Chotto Ghetto on its extended play Shootin' Devils.
"I Saw Your Mommy" is featured on the soundtrack to the game Scarface: The World Is Yours for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC.
"Institutionalized" is featured in the game Guitar Hero II for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 as a playable song; a member of the most difficult tier, "Face Melters".
It was also featured in the film Iron Man (2008) and "Subliminal" was part of the Channel X playlist on Grand Theft Auto V (2013).
Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:
Click this link to listen to “Suicidal Tendencies” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/suicidal-tendencies/498742982
Click this link to listen to “Suicidal Tendencies” via Spotify: Suicidal Tendencies
Click this link to watch the official music video for "Institutionalized" via YouTube: https://youtu.be/LoF_a0-7xVQ
Click this link to follow Suicidal Tendencies on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suicidaltendencies?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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