Platinum Slugs

This page is dedicated to the memory of our bandmates JOE ANTONELLI (1963-2003) – BRIAN BOYER (1962-2005) – MARK PEABODY (1963-2013) – ADRIAN CARCIOTIS (1961-2015) – and CANDY the SLUGHOUSE DOG (1982-1997) May they all rest in peace…. 

Acid-punk band originated in Annapolis and had ties to The SubMensas, Darts, Con-Airs, Motor Morons, and other local groups. Jim McPherson and Brian Boyer first started jamming on Iggy and the Stooges covers, and writing songs, in Jim’s Mom’s basement. They soon added Mark Peabody on bass, Joe Antonelli on vocals, and Adrian Carciotis (from the Motor Morons) on drums. Their first show was a party at Keri Peabody’s house while her parents were away. Shortly after that Adrian was replaced by Tina Paffenburg on drums, who had moved to the area from Philadelphia, where she drummed for legendary skronk-funk-rock band The Stick Men. Mark Peabody left in September 1984 to move to California, and was replaced on bass by Mike Bell (from the SubMensas). After a few gigs Tina left and was replaced on drums by Darryl Dardenne, also from the SubMensas, and Mike and Joe traded bass and vocals duties. This became the core line-up for most of their existence. Jean Owens was added in 1985 as keyboard player, and lasted until 1986. In October 1985 Mike, Darryl, Jean, and Jean’s sister Mary rented a house in Hyattsville and dubbed it “The Slughouse”, and rehearsals moved to there. Many other DC area bands also rehearsed there, with the money from the $5/hour rehearsal time fee used to pay the electric bill. The band broke up temporarily in 1987, and re-formed in 1990, and was active until 2001, with the same line-up.

Seen locally at Café Tattoo / Mojo Lounge, Eutaw Street Clubhouse / Jules Loft, Galaxy Ballroom, Wyatt’s Saloon, Maryland Art Place, the Moose Lodge in Highlandtown, plus many warehouse shows, outdoor festivals and clubs throughout the Baltimore / D.C. / Annapolis areas.

[Mike Bell: a first-hand history] “The Platinum Slugs were formed in 1982 by guitarists Jim McPherson and Brian Boyer in Annapolis, and rehearsed in Jim’s Mom’s basement, until 1985 when my girlfriend Mary Owens and I rented a house in Hyattsville, aka “The Slughouse”, along with her sister Jean Owens our keyboard player, and Darryl Dardenne our drummer.”

“We rehearsed there, along with many other DC area bands who helped pay the huge electric bill @ $5/hr for rehearsal time. Jim, Joe, and Brian always lived in Annapolis, while Darryl and I previously lived in the College Park area. I grew up and lived in Baltimore before moving to the DC area in 1982, to be a part of the amazing punk scene that was exploding there at the time. I lived on University Blvd. in Adelphi, west of the University of Maryland campus, and across the street from the infamous King Kongs, a Chinese restaurant that held about 300 people, and had punk bands and new wave dance parties at night. There was a stage, a DJ booth, and sound system, all from the 70s, with a light-up disco dance floor, lots of mirrors, and black and silver paisley wallpaper. Many DC-area punk bands, and quite a few touring bands, played there. The SubMensas were regulars, and The Platinum Slugs played there too. Because it was a restaurant, the shows there were all ages, with the underage (18) kids not allowed in the bar area adjacent to the music room. In 1985 we moved to the Slughouse in Hyattsville. In 1987 Mary Owens and I moved to Baltimore,  and the Slugs went back to rehearsing in Jim’s Moms basement.”

“Here’s a photo of The Platinum Slugs at The No Nukes Rally on August 6, 1985, the 40th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, held at DuPont Circle in Washington, DC. It was covered by ABC Nightly News and CNN, and included footage of us performing “World Under Fire”. You can see the cameras in background. Washington DC / Dischord band Beefeater were also on the bill, along with some political speakers. It culminated in a “Nuclear Fallout Die-In”, where “fallout bombs” made of flour were being thrown around, and then everyone went nuts and started running through the streets and disrupting traffic. Naturally the police shut it all down, and a bunch of us ran back to Mary Owens apartment to watch it all on the TV news that night.”

The group released three albums. Their songs were also featured on comps “The Savages Are Loose” (Mystic Records), “The Kamikaze Squirrels” (Xenon Records), “20 Classic Punk Hits” (Sound of California).

Recordings of the Platinum Slugs are available at https://SonicLove.bandcamp.com

Dardenne moved to San Francisco. Owens later bassist with Matt Clark 5, The Darts, The Con-Airs… Bell later with The Darts, Con-Airs…

The following audio tracks from the retrospective CD “Small Town Taste” courtesy of Mike Bell:

Platinum Slugs recordings courtesy of Mike Bell.

1985(LP)   Platinum Slugs              We’ll Destroy Your House and Ruin Your Party

1986(LP)   Platinum Slugs              This Land Is Your Land

2004(CD)  Platinum Slugs              Small Town Taste