D.R.I. (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles)

D.R.I. formed in Houston in 1982 with Kurt Brecht on vocals, Spike Cassidy on guitar, Josh Pappe on bass, and Felix Griffin on drums. They started playing a fast, aggressive style that pulled from both hardcore punk and thrash metal. Their early material like 'You Say I'm Scum' and 'Capitalist Suck' had a raw, confrontational energy that set them apart from other bands at the time.

Their 1984 album 'Crossover' gave a name to the style they helped create, and 1985's 'Dealing with It' included tracks like 'Argument Then War' and 'Acid Rain' that became staples of their live sets. The lyrics often dealt with social and political frustration, delivered with Brecht's distinctive rasp. They kept recording through the late '80s and early '90s with albums like 'Thrash Zone' and 'Definition'.

While the lineup has seen changes over time, Brecht and Cassidy have remained constant figures. They released 'Full Speed Ahead' in 2016, decades after their formation, and songs like 'Closet Punk' and 'All For Nothing' still turn up in their sets. Their sound never really softened or commercialized, staying close to the hardcore and thrash roots they established in Texas in the early '80s.