Viking with a Red Forehead

White-Trash Cabin In The Sky

The Royal American Oasis Hotel

Shine Free

Bloodfingers

National Planet T-Shirt

Gender Engine

Nixons Dog

Nutmeat

Something I Heard

---A SOMEWHAT TOLERABLY BRIEF HISTORY OF THE IRRITANTS---
We be, is, and am "The Irritants" for in 1985, independent artist/animator Dean Kendrick persuaded two of his compadres, John Carpender and Jeff Demand, to compose music for his underground stop-motion fantasy "Left to Write." At the time, John was playing drums with approximately a billion rock, reggae, jazz, and blues bands and Jeff was playing the family Optigon with headphones in the wee hours. Both leaped at the prospect of soundtrack dabbling and were injured. With the use and abuse of a 4-track cassette recorder, the team not only created noise for the film, but dribbled out many side projects as well involving improvisation and track layering. Dean then joined this experimental circus adding Zappa-esque editing of the compositions to the already nauseous mix, thus creating, as we know them today, "The Irritants." "The Irritants" was a description before becoming a title and is derived, of course, from the Saxon word for "cheese."

Between 1985 and 1992, The Irritants created four raw, no-budget cassette albums totaling more than 150 cuts. Eight songs were featured in a 25 minute video, "The Irritants Eye Wax," completed in 1991 and directed by Dean. Much to the band's surprise, a sick little cult following emerged in the band's native Chicago area. Fans searching for the finest in Trench Variety music found it in the guise of "The Irritants," alternative's alternative sound. The year 1994 saw the completion of "Brick," utilizing such advanced recording methods as two 4-track recorders and mix down to HiFi VHS tape. Shocking.

Since then the boys have gone digital, in part. The 2001 release, "BUTTERFLIES AND ALIENS", was recorded mostly on ADAT and Sony MiniDisc formats (yes, and some good ol' cassette 4-trackage as well). "SKULLCAPACTION!", the 2015 release, is mostly digital as well and employs Harsh-O-Phonic Sound. Both of these titles also welcomed some more fabulous, disturbed musical artists to the growing and groaning dysfunctional Irritants Family which have helped to take the aural visions of THE IRRITANTS to the cleaners and beyond.

"The Irritants" is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.