D.I.

by Christopher M. TrueEssentially vocalist Casey Royer surrounded by an ever-changing lineup of sidemen, D.I. got its start in Orange County, CA, in 1982. After honing his chops as drummer in the original lineup of Social Distortion, Royer put together D.I. and released their first self-titled EP soon after. A 1984 appearance in the Penelope Spheeris film Suburbia gained the band notoriety, and further credibility was established when ex-Adolescents guitarist Rikk Agnew (also of the original Social Distortion) joined in 1984. Their first full-length, Team Goon, was a reissue of the debut EP with extra tracks. 1985 saw the release of the follow-up, Horse Bites, Dog Cries, which is considered by many to be their best work. Agnew departed the lineup in 1987, just prior to the bands third, What Good Is Grief to God?, which saw the light of day in 1988. After the band released 1989s Tragedy Again, the band went quiet, not resurfacing until the 1993 live release Live at a Dive. State of Shock was released in 1994, but the band broke up the following year. In 2002, Royer reactivated the D.I. name, with a new lineup (Chckn and Clinton on guitars, Eddie Tater on bass, and Joey Tater on drums) and the compilation Caseyology. The band continued to tour during the first decade of the 21st century, but had not furthered plans for a new studio release.