D.I. is an American punk rock band formed in 1981 in Fullerton, California. It was founded by vocalist and primary songwriter Casey Royer, after previously playing drums in the bands Adolescents and Social Distortion.
Since its formation, D.I. has had many line-up changes over the years with Royer being the only constant member of the band. The line-up began stabilizing in the 2000s, and as of 2024, the band consists of Royer, Trevor Lucca (guitar), Josiah Darden (drums) and longtime members Clinton Calton (guitar) and Eddie Tatar (bass). The band has continued to work, although they have had inactive periods, which include the band going on hiatus between albums. During their years of touring and recording albums, D.I. have never gained a huge mainstream success, but they have influenced many of the 1990s era melodic hardcore punk and punk rock revival bands, including Face to Face, Guttermouth, Jughead's Revenge, The Offspring, and Pennywise. Members of the band also joined up with Daddy X and the Dirtball of the Kottonmouth Kings, to create the punk rock band the X-Pistols, in 2010.
History Early history (1981–1986) D.I. was formed in 1981 after the Adolescents' first break-up. The band's name initially stood for "Drug Ideology", but now, the initials no longer have any meaning. Their original line-up consisted of Casey Royer on vocals, Tim Maag on guitar, Fredric Taccone on bass guitar, and Derek O'Brien on drums. The band combined the Orange County hardcore punk sound with a decidedly surf and new wave 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 with the Adolescents and later re-recorded with D.I.), "Venus De Milo", "Reagan der Führer", "Purgatory", and "Guns". This EP was later reissued as Team Goon with extra tracks including versions of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part II", “The Saint,” and “Nuclear Funeral.” The album was later released as a CD which added a cover of DEVO's “Uncontrollable Urge,” which itself was originally released by XXX Records as the B-side on the 7-inch EP along with “Surfing Anarchy.”
In 1983, D.I. appeared in the coming-of-age feature film Suburbia, directed by Penelope Spheeris. The band appeared onstage playing “Richard Hung Himself” and appeared on the film’s soundtrack at a time when there was scant representation of punk music in mainstream media. A longer set was later released on a DVD called DI - The Suburbia Sessions 1983.
The band's first studio album Ancient Artifacts was a more straight ahead Orange County-sounding album that included a new version of "Purgatory" from the EP. Not long after the release of Ancient Artifacts, D.I. returned to the studio to record their second album Horse Bites Dog Cries, which was not released until 1986 (although the album itself has copyright date of 1985). This is generally considered their best studio album.
Two more albums and hiatus (1987–1992) Before recording sessions for their next album commenced, guitarist Rikk Agnew left D.I. in 1987 to pursue his career with the Adolescents. Agnew was replaced in D.I. by Hedge on bass guitar. Alfie Agnew played guitar, and Bosco was switched from bass to second guitar. Eventually Mark "The Kid" Cerneka from Brea Olinda High School replaced Alfie. The resulting album, What Good Is Grief to a God? (1988), was a commercial failure. After the 1988 US tour, "The Kid" left and was replaced by Sean Elliot. The 7-inch Single. "Don't Do It" b/w "Johnny's Got a Problem" was released that year on Triple X, blue vinyl in partnership with Circle A Skateboards. This was given away as a promo with a skateboard. Some released with picture sleeves. In 1989, D.I. released their next album Tragedy Again. That year another 7-inch Single was released on red vinyl again on Triple X records. "Surfin' Anarchy" (Beach Boys cover) b/w a cover of Devo’s "Uncontrollable Urge".
Return and more line-up changes (1993–2010) 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 the following year. Chris Roboson and Steve Lyen joined and continued playing from 1995 to 1997. The band lost their record label soon afterwards. After two years of strictly playing live shows, and original guitarist Tim Maag replacing Roboson, D.I. headed back into the studio around 1997 to record what would be their follow-up to State of Shock and shopped the tracks around to labels without finding a taker.
Numerous line-up changes went on before they solidified their line-up, consisting of Royer, Chckn (guitars), Clinton Calton (guitars), Eddie Tatar (bass) and Joey Tatar (drums). Royer remained the only constant member of the band. D.I. continued touring for years and released their first original album in eight years, titled Caseyology, in 2002. Caseyology was followed up five years later by On the Western Front (2007) released on the Suburban Noize label, with all music and lyrics written by Royer and Tatar. In 2009, the band released the tracks "Potbelly", "D.I.", "The Dehumanizers", and "Embrace The Kill – Shut the Fuck Up and Listen!!!" through PB Records.
Legal troubles and more music (2011–present) In March 2011, Casey Royer was arrested for child abuse, child endangerment and overdosing on heroin in the presence of his 12-year-old son. The child abuse and child endangerment charges were dropped, but he was sentenced to a 90-day jail term and placed on probation for three years for the substance abuse misdemeanor. After this, Royer got clean and sober, and D.I. returned to touring and playing live shows.
In 2012, the band released a new 7-inch EP, United We Slam through Hand Grenade Records.
Line-ups Dates Members & prominent instruments Releases (1981–1983) Casey Royer – vocals Tim Maag – guitars Fredric Taccone – bass Derek O'Brien – drums "Guns", "Venus De Milo" and "Purgatory from D.I. (1983) (1983) Casey Royer – vocals Steve Roberts – guitars Fredric Taccone – bass Rikk Agnew – drums, keyboards "Richard Hung Himself", "Reagan der Führer" from D.I. (1983) (1983–1984) Casey Royer – vocals Rikk Agnew – guitars, keyboards Alfie Agnew – guitars Tim Maag – guitars Derek O'Brien – drums Wade Walston – bass (1984–1986) Casey Royer – vocals Rikk Agnew – guitars Alfie Agnew – guitars John "Bosco" Calabro – bass John Knight – drumsAncient Artifacts (1985) Horse Bites Dog Cries (1986) (1986–1987) Casey Royer – vocals Rikk Agnew – guitars Alfie Agnew – guitars John "Bosco" Calabro – bass Stevie DRT – drums "Rock and Roll Part II", "Nuclear Funeral" and "The Saint" from Team Goon (1987–1988) Casey Royer – vocals John "Bosco" Calabro – guitars Mark "The Kid" Cerneka – guitars Hedge – bass Stevie DRT – drumsWhat Good Is Grief to a God? (1988) (1988–1990) Casey Royer – vocals Sean Elliott – guitars, vocals John "Bosco" Calabro – guitars, vocals Hedge – Bass Stevie DRT – DrumsTragedy Again "Surfin' Anarchy" 7-inch (1990–1992) Casey Royer – vocals Sean Elliott – guitars, vocals Alfie Agnew – guitars, vocals Dan Colburn – bass Stevie DRT – drumsLive at a Dive (1993) (1992–1995) Casey Royer – vocals Michael Calabro – guitars Fredric Taccone – bass John Knight – drumsState of Shock (1994) (1995–1997) Casey Royer – vocals Chris Roboson – guitars Tim Maag – guitars Fredric Taccone – bass Steve Lyen – drums (1997–1998) Casey Royer – vocals Tim Maag– guitars Fredric Taccone – bass Derek O'Brien – drums (1998–1999) Casey Royer – vocals Chckn – guitars, vocals Fredric Taccone – bass Derek O'Brien– drums (2000–2001) Casey Royer – vocals Chckn – guitars Sean Elliott – guitars Lisa "Lisafer" Pifer – bass Steve Guevara aka: "Steve Gee" – drums (2001–2003) Casey Royer – vocals Chckn – guitars Clinton Calton Eddie Tater – bass Steve Gee – drums (2003–2008) Casey Royer – vocals Chckn – guitars – vocals Clinton Calton – guitars Eddie Tater – bass Joey Tater – drumsOn the Western Front (2007) (2008–April 2018) Casey Royer – vocals Clinton Calton – guitars Eddie Tatar – bass Joey Tatar – drumsUnited We Slam (2012) (April 2018 – present) Casey Royer – vocals Clinton Calton – guitars Trevor Lucca – guitars Eddie Tatar – bass Joey Tatar – drums (April 2018 – late 2023) Casey Royer – vocals Clinton Calton – guitars Trevor Lucca – guitars Eddie Tatar – bass Joey Tatar – drumsFlashback Favorites (2020) Greatest Hits A-Z (2021) (late 2023) Casey Royer – vocals Clinton Calton – guitars Trevor Lucca – guitars Eddie Tatar – bass Adam Gomez – drums (early 2024 – present) Casey Royer – vocals Clinton Calton – guitars Trevor Lucca – guitars Eddie Tatar – bass Josiah Darden – drums
Timeline
Discography
Studio releases Year Title Notes 1985 Ancient ArtifactsDebut album. 1986 Horse Bites Dog CriesContains material from Ancient Artifacts. 1988 What Good Is Grief to a God?Contains a re-recording of "Johnny's Got a Problem". 1989 Tragedy AgainFirst D.I. album not featuring re-recordings of any song from their previous albums. 1994 State of ShockAlso re-released with Demo EP Bonus Tracks recorded 1996–97. 2002 CaseyologyFirst studio album since 1994; also features re-recordings of original songs and features live tracks on some versions. 2007 On the Western FrontSecond D.I. album featuring only one re-recording of a song from their previous albums. 2020 Flashback Favorites Covers album
EP, compilation and live albums Year Title Notes 1983 D.I. EP; re-released in 1987 as Team Goon with four bonus tracks. 1987 Rat Music for Rat People, Vol. 3 Compilation (CD Presents, 1987) 1988 "Don't Do It" 7-inch Promotional release given out with skateboard. Not all had sleeves. 1989"Surfin' Anarchy" 7-inch Single1991Gabba Gabba Hey: A Tribute to the Ramones Covered "she's a sensation" on Triple X Records tribute album. 1993 Live at a Dive Live 1996 "Zwei Frau Und Eins Stein" 7-inch Single 1999 Short Music for Short People Compilation including various other bands. 2003 Best of D.I. Compilation 2004 Redefining Scenes 2 Compilation including various other bands. 2012 United We Slam EP containing 4 new original songs, the first to be released on the band's own label Hand Grenade Records. 2021 Greatest Hits A-Z Re-recordings of the band's "biggest and best hits"
References
External links D.I. on Myspace