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Andy Wakeman, Scott Sellers and myself, Darryl Monroe, started Meatwagon. Andy had just arrived from Connecticut and had sung in bands there. He was just learning guitar and was heavily influenced by the Boston hardcore scene in the early 80ties {Jerry’s Kids, The F.U.s and so on}Scott drummed for local bands in S.D.and was also involved with NOFX for a tour and a EP that was released on Mystic Records . Myself, {Bass and vocals} had been involved with local bands Phobia Phobia and Semen Styx {a tribute band to our hatred of the Styx}I was also an exile of Orange County, Ca. and was very briefly involved in the formation of D. I. , as there first singer. {Casey played bass, upside down, left handed, often people don't believe it, I don't even care anymore, they can fuck off, I understand sometimes Casey denies my existance, what the fuck ever, reminds be of Belinda Carlise in the fucking GosGos pretending like she didn't even know who Margo was, there first bass player, and for the record, I hate the GoGos} Back to 1987 , My massive ego at the time caused Phobia Phobia to blow up in the spring of that year. It was over blowing off of a gig, no really reason to blow apart a band, but it happened....Being royally pissed off I approached Sellers the very next morning about forming a new band {introduced by our common auto mechanic, Mike Moore} Wakeman had actually been in the audience at the last couple of Phobia Phobia gigs. Andy and me were introduced and a hypothetical “want to jam sometime” was discussed. I remembered his # as well and the 3 of us got together and after a few false starts, Meatwagon was born. I had always felt that Phobia wasn’t punk enough, {but certainly arty enough, where as, Meatwagon isn't arty enough, in my opinion, which is why I do my solo stuff} Andy had his influences and background, as did Scott. It was a match made in Punk Rock hell. Nobody learned how to play guitar faster then Andy, perhaps a true natural. I learned to play bass 3 times faster. Scott was solid. A singer and 2nd guitarist, one Cato, was taken on briefly then left . Then Andy, myself and occasionally Scott took on the vocal chores, Meatwagon persevered. 1987 was actually the wrong time, or right, {depending how you look at it} to start a hardcore band. Many bands that were formerly punk were going speed metal {ala Suicidal Tendencies} and this applied to our local peers as well. The good news is that we soon stood out like a sore thumb.We put out our first release ,called “Meatwagon”. We recorded material for another release and we were signed to Mystic for an EP. We thought it sounded terrible, pressing wise, but were amazed to find that it was well reviewed and well received. It sounded best on cheap stereos {called “Meet Meatwagon”, not our idea for the title} after a bunch of gigs and some minor touring {Las Vegas, L.A. San Francisco and Palm Springs} and a million beers and bong loads {Andy stopped drinking, Meatwagon made it back into the studio for our best recordings yet, out of that batch we released on our own label at the time “Mystake Records” {an obvious play on words} It was called “Ask Attendant for Key” due to the picture we used for the artwork {The aftermath of a tractor tire explosion at a gas station, complete with dead bodies that had there clothing blown off} Me and Scott wanted to call it “Gas Station Pump Ass", Andy objected. Around the same time we recorded a live show at Iguana’s in Tijuana , Mx.{with the Circle Jerks and Funeral March} We had to show up real early to accommodate Mexican Customs and spent a majority of the day getting fucked up {except Andy} When we took the stage it was the biggest crowd we had ever seen .It was, as one might imagine, very unprofessional, Scott and I could barely play. Scott had a black out experience and went to the mic in mid set to tell a very tasteless, involved joke that burned up valuable time from our set. {Which is captured in the "Scott Shit" in our songs above }The crowd was going nuts and throwing things at Scott. I was thinking to myself that this was a real good way to fuck up a big opportunity. After the joke we concluded the set. The strangest thing happened after the gig. We were hugely well received..huh?? Listening back to the tape we discovered that we played as badly as we thought we did, Scott did not even remember telling the joke; it was, in short, the perfect punk rock gig. The tape from that –“Live at Iguana’s” {on Van Orbitson’s Ark records, he also recorded the Ask Attendant stuff} sold better then anything we ever put out before, probably combined. Shortly afterward, Scott left the band and we had to find a new drummer. What better idea then to hire another beer guzzling, extroverted, maniac? Todd {Dammit} Drossis was in Meatwagon. Todd was actually a hot shot guitar player and didn’t really know how to play drums, but just like Andy took to guitar playing, Todd took to drumming and he put back what was the admittedly lost speed into Meatwagon. We recorded the EP, “Pretty in Pink” that was released on Mike Monroe’s label, red eye. This sold fairly well, had some very good songs on it but it was rushed and it shows.We added a second guitar player at the time, one Scott Nelson. Well, Scott N came and went quickly as did Todd, {the funniest person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting} and it was time, yet again, to find a drummer. We found Keith. Skill wise he was the best drummer we had ever. His background was conventional Rock and Roll but he liked the complexities of our music. After a few gigs we got signed by Jeff Forrest’s label, Immune, and went into his great studio were he gave us all the time we needed to record new material. The results were semi stunning but in my opinion, lacked the spontaneity of our earlier material. Right when it was all mixed and ready to go, Keith got upset at a gig and quit the band . {much like I did with Phobia Phobia years back} At that time Andy and me decided to call it a day. I went off to a band called Christian Rock Problem {not Christian} and Andy did a band called Big Black Boots. CRP collapsed after a year and Andy’s bass player quit his band, he called me and we were off again. We decided not to call it Meatwagon this time around in the interest of being perceived as something new and we went under the name of Correctional Cocktail, after 2 or 3 MORE drummer implosions,Dave Nestor {bass} and Javier Vega {drums} {both formerly of Social Spit} came on board, I switched to rhythm guitar. Dave owned the studio where we practiced. Wonderful guy who was there from the very beginning. He actually recorded us on a number of occasions and frequently had served as an auxiliary –bass or drums, at our gigs. We played a few gigs then we said, “Who the fuck are we kidding! We are MEATWAGON!” and, just a relative few hours of that utterance, Javier was no longer in our employ!!! At that time I came up with the idea that I would play drums for the band. My thinking being that it would be difficult to lose myself. Now, my drumming skills, I am told, anyway {by people and tape} are lacking {but way better then they used to be}So Dave became our new drummer. Dave has shown a dedication like no one before him. He is not the best drummer we have ever had, but he is more then adequate and puts a maximum effort into it and, guess what? I am back in my old familiar role of playing bass. This brings us to present day. I don’t get high anymore and only occasionally drink, I got my eyes fixed, put on weight, I am actually getting younger As in 1987, it seems the wrong time for a hardcore band but like then, it is how you look at it. The music scene today, punk wise, is dominated by the commercial sounding nice singy songy, your parents would approve of, bands. So, again, we have a special nitch along with a few other bands like the Postals, The Neverland Ranch Hands and The HOMELESS SEXUALS and Tilt Wheel and actually quite a few more.. MEAT PRIDE!!! MEATPOWER!!! MEATVICTORY!!!!!!!!{New material and compilations coming soon!} And Goddammit ! No forget !!!! I shamelessly say..... http://www.myspace.com/darrylmonroemusic Not to mention the Darryl Monroe and Another Andy Gump Human {Chemical} Toilet on both punkrockers.com and myspace, there is also another meatwagon site on myspace, 2 actually....late....D

Fuck, I dunno...were all influenced by different things...if you wanna see who I am influenced by, see Darryl's page. Andy is influenced by the early punk rock, hardcore bands out of Boston as well as the Ramones...Scott Sellers was influenced by god awful metal. Dave Nestor, lot of stuff, Alice Cooper, Sex Pistols....most of us like GG Allin

As for myself, Darryl, I wanted to call the band "fecal matter" way back when. {yeah, yeah, I know, Nirvana , Kurt Cobain, but in 1987 I never ever heard of Nirvana } This idea was vetoed {there have now been numerious bands who have used that name} We settled on Meatwagon and , for awhile, we all wore lab tech coats, used bloddy props, maniquins, etc as if we were coroners....I miss those days......PS, there has also been numerious other Meatwagons as well, from all around thehe world.....I think it is a fair bet to say, however, that any of the others have not been around long as we have, correct me if I am wrong.....

I wore braces when I was a kid...As far as other gear goes, some of them are stripped......um, playing gear...we never have to worry about that because we are sponsered by every major music company, they just give us shit, as much as we want. We never play the same guitars twice, or drum kit, and the moon is made out of green shit and OJ, Phil Spector and Bobby Blake and Micheal Jackson are all innocent....