Lou Skum reminds us that we’ve yet to include a post on an early San Diego punk band that holds more questions for me than answers.
Considering I can’t even figure out what the band was named — the 7″ release says “Xterminators,” but most of the flyers I’ve seen for gigs at the Skeleton Club and elsewhere refer to “the Exterminators,” with a definite article and a capital “e” — I’d like to set the record straight on this early contributor to the San Diego punk scene.
Besides a string of flyers and Xterminators songs “Occasional Lay” and “Microwave Radiation” on YouTube, I’ve located some other anecdotal bits and pieces across the Web. I’m hoping our crew here can fill in the gaps.
Xterminators resources include:
- Harold Gee’s indispensable Flickr set, which features a photo of Xterminators playing the Skeleton Club in fall 1979 and identifies the members as Doug “DT” Black (frontman/vocals); Terry Horn (bass); Juan Ruiz (guitar); and Danny Ramirez (drums). In the comments, Lesha Holland refers to another Doug Black project, “DT and the Black and Deckers.”
- A discussion of the 7″ on the Killed by Death site that includes some comments by Tom Griswold, Kevin Chanel and others in the know. Richard Chase writes that he replaced Juan Ruiz briefly and that Wally Morocco became the band’s drummer after Danny Ramirez. (Tom reports that Doug Black is thriving, and Juan Ruiz makes a request for connections to his former bandmates.)
- While his account is controversial on many fronts, Radio Active Records founder James Woods mentions Xterminators in passing in his recollection of the Injections. According to his account, Xterminators were “Lisa’s other band,” an apparent reference to Injections bassist Lisa Aston. (Did Ms. Aston also play with Xterminators?)
With that mix of hearsay and misinformation, I’d like to open the floor and set the record straight. Who were Xterminators, what did they do, and where are they now?
I saw the Exterminators at a party in North Park back in about 1980. Great band. Definitely remember DT, but no idea where he is now…
They played out a TON, judging from all the bills I’ve seen. One of our friends told me when I was asking around, “This band is a total mystery to me.”
I second that … It’s a name I’ve heard over and over, but I just don’t remember them at all. I’m guessing that means they’d quit gigging by around 1981, when I had my own driver’s license and more steady access to downtown SD. (Of course, I was never the gold standard for catching shows, so my guess could be off!)
Tom Griswold on one of those other sites mentioned that DT (a k a Doug Black) lived near him and was doing well.
Too many Exterminator stories to even recount…DT and Terry hung out with Lou and I a lot at our Herman Ave apartment in North Park. DT ended up going out with Lisa, our bass playe,r for a long time. She never played bass for the Exterminators.
Jim Wood produced both of our bands, at the same time, for Radio Active Records.
Terry was arrested in North Park when his hair was dyed Blue…funny stories about him in SD County. This was also during the FONO heyday.
DT helped smooth over our relationship with North Park neighbors as our house became legendary for insane blow-out parties. I last saw him living in OB…ten? years ago??
I think they ran about the same time as us…1979-1981??
I saw the Exterminators play a show downtown December of 1980 just after Darby died.The venue,I can’t remember what it was called was on 3rd or 2nd in the 1st block south of Market.Eric Rife was with me and may still have that flyer.i remember DT talking about Darby dying and some audience members yelling out things about Darby that definitely sounded like they were not too sad about his passing.I can’t remember who else played right now,but maybe Executives?
Social Cliff put out a great cd of the Xterminators, Terry Horn there bass player, is the funniest person alive. He had blue hair before it was fashionable, then got arrested and thrown in jail with murderers and psychopaths, and he is trying to go unnoticed with his shocking blue doo. His booking sheet had ht.6’2” wght 150lbs hair clr BLUE
Hey
I’m Juan, the originator of the EXTERMINATORS with capital “e” .
Somehow the “E” got lost after I quit the band for personal problems.
I played guitar and sintheziser and wrote some of our songs by myself and some by DT. but I wrote most of the music. After 20 plus years of separation I finally made contact with DT and we are planning to make a CD. He lives in OB and I live in South Bay,Terry I hear still lives
in spring Valley, and Wally is in LA?
I would love to have a band reunion and have all of the old friends attend and have a big party!!!!
Hi Juan…remember you well…glad to hear all the mates are alive and well…lots of RadioActive memories.
Peace, Bruce Injection
test 1 2 flyer: XTERMINATORS
4TH OF JULY-79
downtown
2nd Avenue Theater
with Philip Demetri Ga’las
there were 2 colt 45’s on a silver platter:
drawing designed by Walter Lab.
DT, I would love to see you after all these years. You were always awesome. I live in Mission Beach, so hopefully I’ll have a chance to say hi someday.
DT, this is Richard. I joined you guys for a bit and played that show you mention, with Philip Demetri Galas. He was a hoot. Take it easy!