Reunited Texas Shock-Rock Troupe Toxic Delivers a Truly Freaky Live Show

1987 was a year of reformation in the metal world. Glam rockers had taken off their make-up and began to play ballads, while L.A. bad boys Guns 'N' Roses inroduced the nation to a metamorphic version of speed metal. Bands like Metallica and Slayer slammed America with the thrash metal sub-genre -- playing fast, playing loud. No make-up. Straight up. Punk began to distance itself from the mainstream. But down in Fort Worth, Texas, a young entertainment troupe called Toxic was proving that all of these sub-genres could not only play music together in perfect harmony, but could also put on an incredible show.

At fourteen and fifteen years of ago, the members of Toxic were boys who know how to rock and party like their adult idols. They lived out the better part of the 80s decade as Texas shock metal icons, playing at venues that barely contained the explosion of fan chaos that Toxic ignited. Throttling Fort Worth with thunderous guitar growls under signature glam vocals, yet retaining their image as sleaze metal pin-ups, Toxic was bewitching.

By the end of the 80s, Toxic had gained regional popularity as the ultimate in-your-face cover band whose shows were more like a theatrical combination of a house party and an orgy. Toxic enchanted their audience with their own original compositions, but were regionally renowned by their personal design of interpretation, covering the hits of groups like Metallica, Wasp, and Motley Crue. Unfortunately, the peek of the band's success also marked the beginning of he end. By 1988, the members of Toxic had gone their separate ways after being gripped tightly in the shackles of drug addiction. "Everyone was on speed and methamphetamine [when Toxic broke up] -- [front man] Kurt Dallas nearly died. We went our separate ways, but we all remained friends throughout the years," says drummer M7.

M7 and Kurt Dallas went on to do separate projects from the early to mid-90s. But the still intoxicated Toxic was far from making it back to the stage until fate brought them together, just short of twenty years of silence. "[We] ran into each other three months ago and found and old tape that was recorded on a boom box at Tombstone Factory in 1987. We listened to it, transferred it to MP3, and decided to get [Toxic] back together," says M7.

That old tape, recorded on bassist Clay Violence's 18th birthday, marked the death and rebirth of a Texas shock epic -- it was the end of "old" Toxic and the inspiration for the troupe's return. A little older and a little crazier, Toxic is here to entertain. Long time fans still get the music they expect, but the insane intensity of theatrics that the members choreograph into their act makes Toxic more a full-scale show instead of just a band playing on an empty stage: "We are here to shock," says M7, "We are completely shock rock, now. No punches pulled. . .we focus on music and practice. . .but it's all about the show." The Toxic experience can not be fully defined in few words, as it's nothing like any other show out there. M7 compares Toxic's performances to the theatrics of Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Ozzy Osbourne, and other shock rock bands that have followed the theatrical route. Wood Chippers roar and spit on stage, showering the audience. Fire dances. Smoke rolls in. Women undress. "Blood" spills. All set to the enrapturing music that made the 1980s the infamous party decade.

"Toxic shows are wild! You never know what to expect. From the smoke, to the awesome light show, to the blood, and just wild, party atmosphere -- it's a definate freak show! It's a fun time with our Texas locals, that's for sure," says Hope, the owner of the southern metal promotional company, DRW ROCKS!, who represents Toxic in public relations. "I would say what keeps [the audience] there and coming back for more is the unexpected. You never know what could break out at any given time. On top [of that it's] just good music and fun!"

When asked about her company's mission, Hope says: "[It's] dedicated to the promotion of local musicians, entrepreneurs, and establishments that make DFW ROCK!"

The careful blend of thrash, punk, and glam stand out as the most interesting musical aspect of Toxic, but M7 says the idea of blending seemingly unrelated genres are typical of music throughout Texas. "All Texas music is a genre of its own. No matter what genre, you've always had East coast, West coast, and Texas -- Texas is a hybrid of originality." With its growing number of fans across the globe, Toxic is accomplishing its mission of exposing that hybrid to the masses and bringing the Texas shock subculture into consciousness worldwide.

They owe most of this growing attention to the fan base they've sewed on MySpace. Toxic's ultimate goal is to plant their show all over the world -- they've used their MySpace page to get the party started, and they've received an overwhelmingly positive response. The page was only introduced during the second week of March, yet fans have already clicked Toxic's cover of Metallica's Seek and Destroy, playing it over 1,000 times. In addition to press and online attention, Toxic has a huge lead in racing to get their show internationally renowned -- after all, the band has a 20 year head start.

This head start provides an open door for Toxic to return to the venues tht gave the group a home in Texas. This July, locals are welcoming Toxic at the Aadvark, and from that night forward, the band's goal is the book three gigs in a month. "We plan to] hopefully generate enough money to make production stronger, bigger, louder, and crazier -- and to travel to different parts. But for now, we're in Texas," explains M7. Tesas may have Toxic right now, but in a world wehre the entertainment industry has a fidgety attention span, it won't be long before Toxic becomes every parent's nightmare thoughout the land.