| The Journey Continues......... |
Stress was taking its toll on Chase, and he eventually began drinking heavily again. His
relationship was suffering and he needed inspiration for the new album. On a positive
note his label was now supporting him and his lifestyle, bringing in $500 to $1,000 a week
in profits. He was on the rise and wanted to venture into other business. He formed Bad
Stain Fanzine with his good friend Dirty Mike, who owned another local label called Dirty
Records. The two had good history together, Mike had even released a limited edition
vinyl release from Dirty Laundry featuring some unreleased material a couple months
prior. Mike and Chase worked at a telemarketing office during the day, making it easy to
make long distance calls daily to other labels and distributors wanting to advertise in their
zine. The lack of long distance bills made the venture profitable.
relationship was suffering and he needed inspiration for the new album. On a positive
note his label was now supporting him and his lifestyle, bringing in $500 to $1,000 a week
in profits. He was on the rise and wanted to venture into other business. He formed Bad
Stain Fanzine with his good friend Dirty Mike, who owned another local label called Dirty
Records. The two had good history together, Mike had even released a limited edition
vinyl release from Dirty Laundry featuring some unreleased material a couple months
prior. Mike and Chase worked at a telemarketing office during the day, making it easy to
make long distance calls daily to other labels and distributors wanting to advertise in their
zine. The lack of long distance bills made the venture profitable.
Stain graduated from High School and headed into the studio with Tokyo and Hamilton. They released
"Songs to Wash Clothes to" in 1997, about 9 months after Chase graduated. By this time Bad Stain fanzine
was on the rise, and the label had put out over a dozen releases. Stain began putting out vinyl releases for
bands like All Mouth No Trousers, Swallow This, Left Right Combo, and Scratch N' Sniff. The real money
maker for Bad Stain Records was the numerous compilations. Stain began relationships with bands like At
The Drive In, The Vindictives & Less Than Jake, and labels like Fearless, Lobster, and Hopeless. His
connections were on the rise, and so was his label, zine, and band.
"Songs to Wash Clothes to" in 1997, about 9 months after Chase graduated. By this time Bad Stain fanzine
was on the rise, and the label had put out over a dozen releases. Stain began putting out vinyl releases for
bands like All Mouth No Trousers, Swallow This, Left Right Combo, and Scratch N' Sniff. The real money
maker for Bad Stain Records was the numerous compilations. Stain began relationships with bands like At
The Drive In, The Vindictives & Less Than Jake, and labels like Fearless, Lobster, and Hopeless. His
connections were on the rise, and so was his label, zine, and band.
Dirty Laundry hit the road, performing with the bands he grew up with.
Dirty Laundry was opening for The Generiks and Mandingo frequently,
the very 2 bands that Stain saw at his first concert. It was a privilege
being on the road with The Generiks, who soon took Chase in as a
permanent roommate on their tour bus after the inevitable split between
Stain and his long time girlfriend.
Dirty Laundry was opening for The Generiks and Mandingo frequently,
the very 2 bands that Stain saw at his first concert. It was a privilege
being on the road with The Generiks, who soon took Chase in as a
permanent roommate on their tour bus after the inevitable split between
Stain and his long time girlfriend.
In the first few weeks of 1998,
Stain began writing the last few
songs for the new Dirty Laundry
album, scheduled for release in
November of 1998. Stain found
inspiration from the misery of his
brake up, but the alcohol he would
intake on a daily basis only
clouded his art. Dirty Laundry
was schedualed to be in the studio
in July, and time was running out.
Stain began writing the last few
songs for the new Dirty Laundry
album, scheduled for release in
November of 1998. Stain found
inspiration from the misery of his
brake up, but the alcohol he would
intake on a daily basis only
clouded his art. Dirty Laundry
was schedualed to be in the studio
in July, and time was running out.
Stain eventually moved back in with his long time girlfriend and
headed into the studio to record with Dirty Laundry in July.
Dirty Laundry chose AAA Audio and J-Sin Daily to engineer
and mix the project. Daily was an idol to Chase. He had been
the former bassist of his older brothers band, Dr. Divine.
Now 19 years old, Stain felt time was running out, and that the
band desperately needed to be on the road again. Dirty
Laundry decided to hit the road one last time before their
upcoming release, "Harmonies from the Hamper".
Unfortunately the tour was cut short due to the arrest of Tokyo
Bill for minor consumption of alcohol.
The tour was not a total loss, newspapers spoke of riots that the
band had caused by performing, and the press just added more
fans for the group. Everything seemed to be going good again
in Stain's life. His mother and younger brother had moved back
to Phoenix, his band was doing well, and even his label had
picked up. There was still one problem. Stain's relationship
with his now on again, off again girlfriend was growing tiresome.
The two finally agreed to split for good and went their separate
ways, wishing each other good luck in life.
headed into the studio to record with Dirty Laundry in July.
Dirty Laundry chose AAA Audio and J-Sin Daily to engineer
and mix the project. Daily was an idol to Chase. He had been
the former bassist of his older brothers band, Dr. Divine.
Now 19 years old, Stain felt time was running out, and that the
band desperately needed to be on the road again. Dirty
Laundry decided to hit the road one last time before their
upcoming release, "Harmonies from the Hamper".
Unfortunately the tour was cut short due to the arrest of Tokyo
Bill for minor consumption of alcohol.
The tour was not a total loss, newspapers spoke of riots that the
band had caused by performing, and the press just added more
fans for the group. Everything seemed to be going good again
in Stain's life. His mother and younger brother had moved back
to Phoenix, his band was doing well, and even his label had
picked up. There was still one problem. Stain's relationship
with his now on again, off again girlfriend was growing tiresome.
The two finally agreed to split for good and went their separate
ways, wishing each other good luck in life.
Stain was back on the streets, living in his car. He was to proud to turn to family for help. Stain knew that his
mother's boyfriend didn't approve of his lifestyle and would not be welcome. Desperate, he sought the help of
his father, who owned a local jewelry wholesale company in the west valley. Unfortunately, his father was
sleeping on a couch himself. Stain convinced his father to live in the back of the store. He knew he could still
shower at his mother's, or his friends Kris and Kelly, both of which only lived less than a mile away.
mother's boyfriend didn't approve of his lifestyle and would not be welcome. Desperate, he sought the help of
his father, who owned a local jewelry wholesale company in the west valley. Unfortunately, his father was
sleeping on a couch himself. Stain convinced his father to live in the back of the store. He knew he could still
shower at his mother's, or his friends Kris and Kelly, both of which only lived less than a mile away.
Stain was 20 years old and had nothing to show for it. He
felt his life had become a joke. He started spending most of
his time with his friends, a group that had become known as
the West Side Weasels because of their love of tagging
Screeching Weasel cartoons. Nobody could tag the weasel
as well as Moe Money, a local musician that had recently
broke up from his band Cobalt Bloom.
Stain still worked at his job as a phone sales rep, earning
$500 to $1,000 a week. He also had additional money from
his label and zine, but sales were small. Stain
felt his life had become a joke. He started spending most of
his time with his friends, a group that had become known as
the West Side Weasels because of their love of tagging
Screeching Weasel cartoons. Nobody could tag the weasel
as well as Moe Money, a local musician that had recently
broke up from his band Cobalt Bloom.
Stain still worked at his job as a phone sales rep, earning
$500 to $1,000 a week. He also had additional money from
his label and zine, but sales were small. Stain
was still managing to put out issues of his zine, as well as albums for his label, but somehow
always managed to drink away all of his profits. To make matters worse, Dirty Laundry's
drummer, Ryan Hamilton announced his departure of the band to work on his studies in
Flagstaff, AZ.
The news came hard to Stain. Finding a new drummer would be hard, especially one with the
same chemistry it took Hamilton and Stain three years to create. Tokyo and Chase decided
on B-Hound. He seemed perfect for the job, seeing that he was one of the original members.
Now B-Hound was placed where he originally started, behind a drum kit.
always managed to drink away all of his profits. To make matters worse, Dirty Laundry's
drummer, Ryan Hamilton announced his departure of the band to work on his studies in
Flagstaff, AZ.
The news came hard to Stain. Finding a new drummer would be hard, especially one with the
same chemistry it took Hamilton and Stain three years to create. Tokyo and Chase decided
on B-Hound. He seemed perfect for the job, seeing that he was one of the original members.
Now B-Hound was placed where he originally started, behind a drum kit.
Bad Stain Records still had not released Harmonies from the Hamper, and had managed to release nearly all
of the songs on compilations. Dirty Laundry began playing shows again, but it seemed something was missing.
The magic was gone, and Tokyo , and Chase Stain eventually quit practicing all together.
Stain had found a new profession making fake I.D.'s for his friends, and selling drugs. His new money came
just in time. The telemarketing office where he had worked was shut down for fraud. Stain was unemployed,
and the label and zine could not support his drinking and new found drug habits.
of the songs on compilations. Dirty Laundry began playing shows again, but it seemed something was missing.
The magic was gone, and Tokyo , and Chase Stain eventually quit practicing all together.
Stain had found a new profession making fake I.D.'s for his friends, and selling drugs. His new money came
just in time. The telemarketing office where he had worked was shut down for fraud. Stain was unemployed,
and the label and zine could not support his drinking and new found drug habits.
Bad Stain Fanzine began to fizzle out, and Dirty Records wasn't far
behind. Dirty Mike and Chase Stain put an end to the publication,
and pursued their labels full time.
Now 21 years old, Stain could now legally frequent the bars he had
been hanging out at for the past year. He gave up drug dealing,
and was finally making a living from Bad Stain Records. Stain was
on top of the world and moved in with his two friends, Steve and
Josh.
Steve and Josh were in construction and owned a condo that was
known for having nightly parties. Sales could not have been
better. Stain was working four hours a day and bringing in $3,000
to $15,000 a month in profits.
His life became a pattern and you could always find him in the
V.I.P. section of nightclubs. He was known as the man with the
cash, frequently picking up tabs for his friends ranging from $300
to $1,000 a night! Even with the labels success, Stain's outlandish
lifestyle was too much.
behind. Dirty Mike and Chase Stain put an end to the publication,
and pursued their labels full time.
Now 21 years old, Stain could now legally frequent the bars he had
been hanging out at for the past year. He gave up drug dealing,
and was finally making a living from Bad Stain Records. Stain was
on top of the world and moved in with his two friends, Steve and
Josh.
Steve and Josh were in construction and owned a condo that was
known for having nightly parties. Sales could not have been
better. Stain was working four hours a day and bringing in $3,000
to $15,000 a month in profits.
His life became a pattern and you could always find him in the
V.I.P. section of nightclubs. He was known as the man with the
cash, frequently picking up tabs for his friends ranging from $300
to $1,000 a night! Even with the labels success, Stain's outlandish
lifestyle was too much.
Bad Stain Records was still struggling. Stain had fronted a pressing
plant $5,000 for his projects, and the company went bankrupt. To
make matters worse some of the bands on his label started stealing
funds and not paying for albums released to them on consignment. He
moved in with former Bad Stain Records partners Kris and Kelly
Johnson, but soon found himself sleeping in his car and living on the
streets.
plant $5,000 for his projects, and the company went bankrupt. To
make matters worse some of the bands on his label started stealing
funds and not paying for albums released to them on consignment. He
moved in with former Bad Stain Records partners Kris and Kelly
Johnson, but soon found himself sleeping in his car and living on the
streets.
Hanging with his crew, now dubbed The West Side Weasels, proved to be dangerous at times. Stain was out
every night, every holiday, no exceptions. He grew numb to all of the situations around him. If guns were
drawn it was just another night, if shots were fired, then it was something to talk about. It seemed somebody in
the crew always had a black eye or busted lip. Either from fighting someone at the bar, or a fellow Weasel.
His surroundings were growing glim. Stain was also beginning to realize that his distributors were getting
fewer and fewer. It seemed that another one went bankrupt on almost a monthly basis. Still Stain went on with
his outlandish spending, knowing all the time that at any moment his money train would soon leave the station.
every night, every holiday, no exceptions. He grew numb to all of the situations around him. If guns were
drawn it was just another night, if shots were fired, then it was something to talk about. It seemed somebody in
the crew always had a black eye or busted lip. Either from fighting someone at the bar, or a fellow Weasel.
His surroundings were growing glim. Stain was also beginning to realize that his distributors were getting
fewer and fewer. It seemed that another one went bankrupt on almost a monthly basis. Still Stain went on with
his outlandish spending, knowing all the time that at any moment his money train would soon leave the station.
| Dr. Stain in 2002 |
| Chase on tour in CA visiting Mission Beach in 2003 |
| Chase Stain with daughter Nova Maria playing on the beach in 2004 |
| Chase Stain performing live with Dirty Laundry in 1997 at Prescott, AZ |
| Stain performing with Numbers On Napkins in 2003 |
| Stain performing with Forever Falling in 2003 |
| Stain flashing West Side Weasels for the camera in 2002 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |