The Strap-Ons are a punk rock band formed by vocalist Brian "Idle" Diederich, guitarist Billy England, bassist Emmit Joe George and drummer Ruben Remulla. A few months later, guitarist Kate Grottenhaler joined the group. The band formed in late 1996 originally as The Pimps in Norfolk, Virginia, but due to legal disputes, were forced to change their name to The Strap-Ons. The band's first CD was put out by a cooperative of six labels around the world called The World Label Cooperative.
Contents
Although the main musicians have remained (for the most part) to be Diederich, England and Grottenhaler, The Strap-Ons have had many members circulate throughout it over the years. The band has been described as, "functioning but dysfunctional".
Biography
The Strap-Ons have three 7” records and one LP called “Dirty People” released by Zurich Chain Saw Massacre in Switzerland. They are on 7” more vinyl records and 18 CD compilations. The band has done two US tours in addition to doing many east coast shows including CBGB’s, the Continental, and Manitoba’s in New York City. The Strap-Ons are on “A Fistful of Rock N Roll” and “The International Punk Rock Box Set” compilations along with DRI and Joey Ramone tribute compilations. They were nominated Best Local Punk Rock band by Portfolio Magazine.
In their The Pimps days, they debuted in 1997 with 7" Incubator release My Dad Smokes Crack, then followed with the EP Wicca Chicka on Rapid Pulse. Soon after this, a similarly named rap crew from Illinois surfaced, which caused the change from The Pimps to The Strap-Ons. Their debut full-length was released under that name, and was titled Geeking Dream. Naked Jain Records released the second CD “$4 Whore” in 2003. Other 2003 releases include a 7” split on Bootleg Booze Records and 10” split on Heavy Drinking Productions Records in Sweden. “Punk On Punk Crime”, the third CD on Valiant Death, was released in May 2004. The Strap-Ons completed a fourth CD called “Covered Ass” released in 2005 and a new split 7” with Electric Frankenstein.
Critical reception
(RM) from Maximum Rock N Roll commented on their "absurd lyrics, that are as much shouted as they are sung", which sounds like "a mix of The Sex Pistols, Dead Boys, Heartbreakers and '50s rock and roll.