Total Chaos

by Jason AnkenyRiverside, CA punks Total Chaos formed in 1988, comprising singer Rob Chaos, guitarist Gary Doom, bassist Joe E. Bastard and drummer Gearbox at the time of their self-released debut LP We Are the Punx, We Are the Future. Doom exited the group soon after, and upon installing new guitarist Ronald McMurder, Total Chaos signed to Epitaph, issuing Pledge of Defiance in 1994. Second guitarist Germ joined the fold for 1995's Patriotic Shock, but by the time of the follow-up Anthems from the Alleyway only Rob Chaos and Joe E. Bastard remained from the previous album, with the line-up now including guitarist Shawn Smash and drummer Suzy Homewrecker. By early 1998 rumors were circulating that Rob Chaos had died; although the stories were untrue, it was confirmed that Total Chaos had disbanded, although by September the group reformed minus Homewrecker, who was (according to the official Total Chaos website) stealing the band's T-shirts, selling them at a discounted price and keeping all of the profits herself. With new drummer Traci Michaels, the quartet signed to Cleopatra and issued In God We Kill in mid-1999; Electric Lady followed later that same year. Punk Invasion appeared in spring 2001.