Dr. Know (band)
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The Infamous Dr. Know Girl Logo by Jaime Hernandez |
Dr. Know is a
punk band from
Los Angeles, CA with roots in Ventura County, CA.
They are one of the founding figures of the "
Nardcore" punk movement from
Oxnard, CA. The band was started by Kyle Toucher, Ismael Hernandez, and Robin Cartwright in early 1981, and after auditioning a few singers,
Brandon Cruz was chosen (although technically the first singer was a Ventura punk named Joey Pena). The band recorded studio versions of several early songs with Cruz, which led to television appearances and gigs on the
Los Angeles circuit.
However the early momentum was somewhat derailed by escalating inner turmoil which culminated in Cruz leaving the group in 1983, leaving Toucher to take over vocals just as the band was starting recording of
Plug In Jesus for
Mystic Records. Several more albums followed, including the
Burn e.p.
This Island Earth and
Wreckage in Flesh were subsequently released on Death Records/Metal Blade, signalling a shift to a more
Metal period in their sound. For
This Island Earth the lineup was founding member Kyle Toucher on vocals and guitars, drummer Rik Heller and bassist Ismael Hernandez.
After an American tour with Scottish punks
The Exploited, Heller returned to
Scotland to team up with them, and Larry White was added to fill the position in Dr. Know. Hernandez subsequently also left, and was replaced by ex-
Stäläg 13 member Tony Black on bass. Before long Black was replaced by Mike Purdy, and guitarist Tim Harkins was added, both of them also being former Stäläg 13 bandmates.
Dr. Know broke up shortly after
Wreckage In Flesh was released in 1989, although they did a few scattered shows up until 1991. In 1998, Cruz called Henandez and together they approached Toucher to get the band back together. Toucher said no, but Hernandez and Cruz recruited others and embarked on a North American tour with big-name punk acts of the time.
In September of 2001, Cruz was asked to sing with old friends, the reunited
Dead Kennedys, following the uninvolvement of
Jello Biafra. That led to a gig with the Dead Kennedys that lasted until April 2003, but in that time Dr. Know still managed another record, entitled
Father, Son, and Holy Shit! and a west coast tour with Stäläg 13 and
Ill ReputeJeff Penalty has since replaced Cruz as the Dead Kennedys' vocalist, due purportedly to creative conflict, and Cruz maintains that Dr. Know's last breakup had nothing to do with his involvement with the DKs.
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Brandon Cruz - vocals
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Ismael Hernandez - bass
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Craig Cano - guitar
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Rick Contreras - drumsAlthough it was widely reported that Dr. Know had broken up in 2004, it appears that they have started playing again at various punk gigs in the West Coast/California area. Current news states that the band is recording a new album on their new label, Malt Soda. Dr. Know recently played at the opening of Alpine in Ventura, Ca on November 26, 2005.
They played CGBG's September 8, 2005 and donated the money to the
Katrina cause.
They played at Cracktoberfest on 9/11 in Tompkins Square Park along with
MDC, Choking Victim, Rabia, and the Test Specimens.
They played in Long Beach, CA with Agent Orange, Total Chaos, SST Overkill, and PKG on December 23, 2005 at the Vault 350.
They played at the Majestic Ventura Theatre on January 27, 2006 with the Dead Kennedys. They've continued playing different venues all year, have taken a stance against Pay to Play and enjoy performing at backyard shows. They're playing at Burnt Ramen in Oakland June 23; Colonial Theater in Sacramento June 24; The Dive Bar inLas Vegas on the 4th of July; Knitting Factory in Hollywood July 8; The Alpine in Ventura July 12; Backyard Fest El Rio August 12; and at the Jumping Turtle in San Diego on August 19.
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We Got Power, Party or Go Home - Compilation LP (Mystic,1983)
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It Came From Slimey Valley, Compilation LP (Mystic, 1983)
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Party Animal, We got Power II - Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
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Covers, Compilation LP (Mystic,1984 "Egomaniac")
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Mystic Super Seven Sampler #1, Compilation LP (Mystic,1984)
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Mystic Sampler #1, Compilation LP (Mystic)
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Mystic Sampler #2, Compilation LP (Mystic)
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Mystic Sampler #3, Compilation LP (Mystic)
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Nardcore, Compilation LP (Mystic, 1984)
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Return to Slimey Valley, Compilation LP (Mystic)
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Plug-in Jesus, 12" LP (Mystic, 1984)
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Burn, 7" EP (Mystic, 1985)
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This Island Earth, 12" LP (Death Records, 1986)
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The Original Group, 12" LP (Mystic, 1987)
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Wreckage in Flesh, 12" LP (Death Records, 1988)
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Father, Son, and Holy Shit, LP ( recorded in 2000, never released)
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Habily: What Was Old is New, CD (Cleopatra, 2001)
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Best of Dr. Know, CD (Mystic, 2003)
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Welcome to the Neighborhood, Compilation CD (Let Them Eat Records, 2005)
