The Strap-Ons

Norfolk, VA's Strap-Ons formed in 1996 as the Pimps. Vocalist Brian "Idle" Diederich and guitarists Kate Grottenhaler and Billy England remained constant but had trouble landing a consistent rhythm section. The unit debuted their sleazy punk revivalism on wax with the 1999 7" My Dad Smokes Crack (Incubator), following it with the Wicca Chicka EP for Rapid Pulse. Around this point the Pimps ran into a snag. A similarly named Illinois rap-metal crew was signed to Hollywood and demanded exclusive use of the moniker with the full force of the Disney corporation behind it. Well, principal is one thing, and reality is another, and no one knew just how much legal-action money Mickey Mouse was hiding in those rosy, red, and royally twisted underpants. So, the Norfolk punks dropped the Pimps and became the Strap-Ons, just in time to release their debut full-length. Geeking Dream arrived from Long Beach in 2000; among its 25 tracks were cuts like "Wetty Beddy," "Park That Ass," and "Fist F****er." Tours with like-minded types followed and spots on compilations helped hype the gritty group that could. By 2003's $4 W***e, Idle and Kate had been joined by a rhythm section of Joey Image and Holly. W***e was issued through the Cali indie Naked Jain, which also planned on a March 2003 reissue of the Strap-Ons' first LP.