Led by Tad Doyle on vocals and guitar, Tad was formed in early 1988 by Doyle and bassist Kurt Danielson, who met while at a Christian Banquet. They previously played together when Danielson's band Bundle of Hiss played with Doyle's previous band (in which he played drums) H-Hour. Doyle had also earlier played in a Gang of Four cover band called Red Set. They recruited drummer Steve Wied (formerly of Skin Yard and Death and Taxes) and guitarist Gary Thorstensen (ex-Treeclimbers) to complete the original lineup.
Tad was among the first bands to be signed to Sub Pop Records and was possibly the first pioneer of what was to be later called grunge rock. In 1987, Doyle had released the "Daisy/Ritual Device" single on Sub Pop, produced by seminal Seattle producer Jack Endino, for which Doyle wrote and performed all music. Tad's debut album God's Balls appeared in early 1989 and was also produced by Endino. In March 1990 the band released the Salt Lick EP, recorded by Steve Albini. The single "Wood Goblins" was released in the same year, but was apparently banned by MTV. After a European tour with Nirvana, Tad returned to Seattle and recorded their second album 8-Way Santa (1991), named after a type of blotter acid. Produced by famed 90's grunge and alternative producer Butch Vig (better known for Nirvana's Nevermind, Smashing Pumpkins's Siamese Dream and as drummer for the band Garbage, the album was far more pop-oriented than its predecessors, featuring such songs as "Jinx," "Stumblin' Man" and "Jack Pepsi." "Jack Pepsi" was released as a single, but Pepsi filed a lawsuit against the band due to the cover art on the single, which was the Pepsi logo with "Tad" in place of "PEPSI." Another lawsuit was filed due to the cover of 8-Way Santa (which was a found picture of a man fondling a woman's breast). The couple in the photograph, one of whom had since become a born-again Christian and remarried, took exception and sued. Sub Pop changed the album cover to a group shot.
After a very brief acting stint in Singles, Tad was offered its first major-label opportunity by Giant Records. However, Steve Wied had left, joining Willard, and later Foil. Rey Washam (formerly of Scratch Acid) briefly filled on drums in 1991 but was later replaced by Josh Sinder, previously of the Accused. Sinder debuted with Tad on their last Sub-Pop release, the "Salem/Leper" single (which featured "Mud-Man," Josh's apparently mumps-afflicted brother, on the cover). Their major label debut Inhaler, appeared later in the year to positive reviews. The record failed to break the band however, even though they were chosen to open for Soundgarden on their 1994 Superunknown tour. Giant Records quickly got cold feet and dropped the band when a poster promoting Inhaler surfaced featuring Bill Clinton smoking a joint with the caption reading "It's heavy shit".
In 1994, the band released Live Alien Broadcasts on Futurist Records, which was a best-of live studio recording. Thorstensen left but they secured a second major-label deal with EastWest/Elektra Records in 1995 releasing their fifth album Infrared Riding Hood. Tad were dropped again in 1996 when the album received disappointing sales. They continued to gig for the remainder of the year before Sinder left to form the Hot Rod Lunatics. He was replaced on drums by Mike Mongrain of Foil. Tad's final single "Oppenheimer's Pretty Nightmare/Accident on the Way to Church" appeared in 1998 on Up Records. A year later the band dissolved.
Following Tad's breakup, Doyle formed Hog Molly in 2001 with Willard bassist Ty Garcia, and 50 paces guitarist Martin Chandler, releasing the album Kung-Fu Cocktail Grip late the same year. He later formed the band Hoof. Tad's current (2008) band Brothers of the Sonic Cloth has been playing in Seattle night clubs. Kurt Danielson went on to join Valis, a project which included members of Screaming Trees and Mudhoney. Then he formed The Quaranteens, a post-punk/new-wave band with Craig Paul, before moving to France. He is back in Seattle since 2008, and has started to write a novel. Josh Sinder has gone on to play drums in The Insurgence and also plays with Marky Felchtone from Zeke in new band Hellbound For Glory.
A documentary of the band titled Busted Circuits and Ringing Ears was released in February 2008. In July 2009 taddoyle.com announced plans by Brothers of the Sonic Cloth to release a split 10" vinyl record with Seattle-area sludge metal band, Mico de Noche. The Brothers of the Sonic Cloth/Mico de Noche split 10" vinyl record was released in October 2009 as an edition of 500 copies and featured two songs by Mico de Noche and one song by Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, "Fires Burn Dim in the Shadows of the Mountain". The record received several positive reviews and appeared on multiple "Best of 2009" lists.
Plague Years
Tad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and you better get away
Better lick my wounds
It'll help you to die someday
And you better get me a shot
And you better say your spells
and you better get me a lot
But you can't ever escape my voice
And you can't ever escape your choice
you can't never escape the payback
'cause you know there aint no way back
back
no way back
better avoid me like the plague
better lock me out once more
better not get in my way
better hide behind your door
And you better get me a shot
And you better say your spells
and you better give me a lot
and you better not ever tell
But you can't never escape my voice
And you can't never escape your choice
you can't never escape the payback
cause you know there ain't no way back
back
no way back
The lyrics to Tad's song "Plague Years" speak of a person who has been wronged and is seeking revenge. The first verse warns the perpetrator to leave them alone and to lick their own wounds, as it will only lead to their eventual demise. The second verse reveals that the singer is asking for some kind of aid, whether it be a shot or spell, perhaps to help exact their revenge. The chorus emphasizes the fact that the perpetrator cannot escape their fate, as their choice to wrong the singer has led to the "payback" they now face.
There is a sense of anger and bitterness in the lyrics, which is emphasized by the repetition of "better" in the first verse. The singer sees themselves as the avenger, and their voice cannot be escaped. The use of the phrase "avoid me like the plague" emphasizes the seriousness of the situation, and the idea that the perpetrator should lock themselves away or hide behind closed doors further reinforces this.
Overall, "Plague Years" is a song about seeking justice and revenge for wrongs done, and the idea that there is no way back once a choice has been made. It is a dark and intense song that highlights the weight of consequences and the power of anger.
Line by Line Meaning
And you better leave me alone
You should stay away from me
and you better get away
It's in your best interest to leave me be
Better lick my wounds
It might benefit you to see me suffer
It'll help you to die someday
My misery could be your gain in the future
And you better get me a shot
You should bring me alcohol
And you better say your spells
You should pray for my well-being
and you better get me a lot
You should bring me a large amount of alcohol
and you better not ever tell
You must keep this between us
But you can't ever escape my voice
You will always hear me, even if you try to avoid me
And you can't ever escape your choice
You will always have to face the consequences of your decisions
you can't never escape the payback
Retribution will catch up to you eventually
'cause you know there aint no way back
Once you've made your choice, there's no turning back
better avoid me like the plague
Stay away from me as if I am a disease
better lock me out once more
You should keep me barred from your life
better not get in my way
You should avoid crossing paths with me
better hide behind your door
It's safest for you to stay behind closed doors
back
A reminder of the unfortunate past
no way back
The situation is irreversible
Contributed by Colin J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daman Lidison
@Don Gato no, before "nevermind", TAD were slightly more popular than NIRVANA.
Everything was different at the time, I remember it...
I don't know firsthand about U.S. medias and audience, but here in Europe in 1989-1991 the Seattle/sub pop scene was already appreciated and, aside soundgarden (they were already on a major label and almost huge in both continents), the "big names" were MUDHONEY, MELVINS, L7, and TAD; and (at least here in Italy) BIG CHIEF was a popular band too: their videos were on heavy rotation on the Italian tv channel "videomusic".
As much as the MEAT PUPPETS, 3-4 years before their guest appearance on the nirvana's unplugged
(the "sam" music video was on heavy rotation, and their 1991 live at the velvet club in Rimini was frequently broadcasted).
Obviously, I'm not talking about mainstream frenzy on
G'N'R/
NIRVANA (post 1991)/
METALLICA
level, but all those bands were pretty popular, surely more than the pre "nevermind" nirvana.
North Starr
Such an underrated band. Shame not many know of them but a great hidden gem of grunge to stumble upon.
MrQuijaRICK
The song and Video are just so relevant to me.. and its almost 30 years old. Long live TAD
Howie Cohen
Remarkably relevant these days.
_jacob_schwar_
Such a beautiful song...
ColumbiaValleyMedia
Their best work, imo. Love this tune. Terrific melody and riffs.
Daman Lidison
And here we are:
2020, the plague years!
😷😷😷
Cláudio Braz
Adoro muito essa banda Cláudio braz belo brasileiro
Scotter Scotter
Way ahead of most Seattle grudge
Rodrigo Becerra
Amazing song!,
OGGOAT_ _
Great melody