Mike Sexxx, Freud, and Claudia asked me (Jesse) to join their brand new band in mid-late 1994. I believe Ross joined after I did, but I'm not sure. We recorded "Seven Months Drunk And Bitter" on Hairhurt Records in late 1994/1995 which documented our 7 months as a band before Claudia quit. We stayed a 4 piece after that, recording the self-titled 10-inch on Recess. Ross split to concentrate on Skaven, Snapper joined for a quick second, and Dan Grr took over drums for the first US tour. After returning, we replaced Freud with Brady (a.k.a. Cap'n Feedback) and recorded "Never Been Caught" on Lookout Records. We toured and toured, lost Dan, gained a couple of fill-in drummers, and finally found Julie Thorn. We recorded "Burning Flesh and Broken Fingers" on Adeline Records. Brady left to concentrate on Black Cat Music with Dan, and we found Zach Attack. More touring followed, and we recorded the final "Extinct" CDEP on FOAD Records before splitting up in late 1999 or 2000.
Amongst the lineup changes were a 7-inch on Rhetoric, a CDEP on New Disorder, a split 10-inch/CDEP with Against All Authority on Sub City/Hopeless Records, and a ton of compilation tracks. We toured the US and Canada a lot with bands like L.E.S. Stitches, Against All Authority, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and Zeke. Bands that we were in before or after The Criminals include Aborted, Black Cat Music, Blatz, Gr'ups, Frisk, the evening, Red..9, Clay Wheels, Toyboat, Medication Time, Skaven, and Piss Jar.
We had a ton of great times with all of y'all out in the world, so thanks a lot for keeping the music and the words alive!
