Acid King is an American stoner metal band from San Francisco, California. It was formed in 1993 by frontwoman Lori S., drummer Joey Osbourne and bassist Peter Lucas. Acid King have since recorded four studio albums and two EPs with a series of bassists.

Acid King
OriginSan Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1993–present
LabelsSmall Stone, Leaf Hound, Man's Ruin, Sympathy for the Record Industry
MembersLori S.
Bryce Shelton
Jason Willer
Past membersDale Crover
Peter Lucas
Dan Southwick
Brian Hill
Guy Pinhas
Joey Osbourne
Mark Lamb

Rafa Martinez

Bil Bowman
Websiteacidking.com

The band's name was inspired by the crimes of Ricky Kasso,[3] who murdered his friend Gary Lauwers in Northport, New York on June 19, 1984. Kasso was nicknamed "Acid King" by his peers due to his chronic hallucinogenic drug use. The band's self-titled debut EP features a photograph of Kasso on its cover. The band itself has also been featured in two books – The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal and the A to Z of Doom, Gothic & Stoner Metal – both published in 2003.

Members

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Current members

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  • Lori S. – guitar, vocals, lyrics (1993–present)
  • Bryce Shelton – bass (2021-present)
  • Jason Willer – drums (2021-present)

Previous members

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  • Peter Lucas – bass (1993–1996; appears on Acid King and Zoroaster)
  • Dan Southwick – bass (1996–1998; appears on Down with the Crown)
  • Brian Hill – bass (1998–1999; appears on Busse Woods)
  • Guy Pinhas – bass (1999–2005; appears on Free... and III)
  • Mark Lamb – bass (2007–2017)
  • Joey Osbourne – drums (1993–2017)
  • Rafa Martinez– bass (2005–2008, 2019)
  • Bil Bowman – drums (2017–2021)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio releases

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Year Title Label Notes
1994 Acid King (EP) Sympathy for the Record Industry reissued on The Early Years
1995 Zoroaster Sympathy for the Record Industry reissued on The Early Years
1997 Down with the Crown (EP) Man's Ruin Records reissued as a split with Altamont
1999 Busse Woods Man's Ruin Records
Small Stone Records
reissued with bonus tracks in 2004 (Small Stone)
reissued on vinyl in 2007 (Kreation)
reissued on cd, cassette, and vinyl in 2019 (RidingEasy)
2001 Free... Man's Ruin Records released as a split with Clearlight
2005 Acid King III Small Stone Records reissued on vinyl in 2006 (Kreation)
2006 The Early Years Leaf Hound Records compilation containing remasters of Acid King and Zoroaster
2015 Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere Svart Records
2023 Beyond Vision Blues Funeral

Compilation appearances

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"Not Fragile" and "Motorhead" included on re-release of Busse Woods.

References

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  1. ^ Dare, Tom (April 18, 2015). "Lori from Acid King on Desertfest, doom and David Bowie". Metal Hammer. Retrieved February 2, 2017. Stoner metal pioneers Acid King emerged when the subgenre didn't really exist yet.
  2. ^ Murphy, Tom. "Acid King Played Doom Rock Before It Was Doom Rock". Westword. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  3. ^ Wright, Michael. "Acid King, Twelve Years and Counting for the King". Zero Magazine. Archived from the original on February 11, 2006.
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