In 1980 the nihilistic hardcore band Poison Idea came together in Portland, Oregon, assembled by frontman Jerry A. together with guitarist Tom Roberts, bassist Chris Tense, and drummer Dean Johnson. Three years afterward the group issued its first release, the EP Pick Your King, packing thirteen tracks into a sixteen-minute span, before following up in 1985 with Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes, which sharpened the group’s aggressive attack and bleak outlook.
Following the 1986 album Kings of Punk, Tense and Johnson were removed from the lineup, although Tense rejoined in time to record 1987’s War All the Time alongside second guitarist Eric “Vegetable” Olsen and drummer Steve “Thee Slayer Hippy” Hanford; he was subsequently succeeded by bassist Mondo on the 1988 EP Filthkick. The Darby Crash Rides Again and Ian MacKaye EPs arrived the next year amid further personnel upheaval that brought guitarist Kid Cocksman—soon succeeded by Aldine Striknine—and bassist Myrtle Tickner into the fold.
Poison Idea resurfaced in 1990 with Feel the Darkness, preceded by several live documents including the Official Bootleg EP, the Live in Vienna EP, and the Dutch Courage LP, before issuing Blank Blackout Vacant in 1992. A collaboration with Jeff Dahl surfaced the following year alongside the covers collection Pajama Party. After Pig Champion’s exit the band dissolved, documenting its June 6, 1993 farewell performance at Portland’s La Luna under the title Pig’s Last Stand. The split proved brief, and the group resumed activity by the close of 1999 when Jerry A. and Pig Champion enlisted guitarist Matt Brainard, bassist Chris Carey, and drummer Chris Cuthbert. Guitarist Jimmy Taylor stepped in for Brainard on a 2003 European tour and remained for subsequent dates as well as the 2005 sessions that produced Latest Will and Testament.
Pig Champion died in January 2006 at age 47 from undetermined causes; Latest Will and Testament appeared that May, yet the band stayed offstage for more than a year. Activity resumed sporadically after his death amid repeated lineup shifts, yielding only occasional new material, chiefly on split 7-inch singles. During a five-week European tour in 2012 Jerry A. contracted a foot infection deemed severe enough by medical staff to warrant full cancellation, but he refused and completed the dates, ultimately losing two toes upon returning home.
In late 2013 the group revealed another roster adjustment with Natalie Lucio joining on bass. Eric “Vegetable” Olsen also rejoined around that period, twenty-five years after his previous tenure with Poison Idea. Additional touring followed, leading to the announcement of Confuse and Conquer, scheduled for release on Southern Lord in spring 2015. Shortly after its issuance the members declared an indefinite hiatus to “address some health issues and personal matters,” only to return to the road and studio less than a year later. In 2017 Poison Idea released the Calling All Ghosts EP on Southern Lord.
