[4] Inspired by Black Flag and other early Southern California hardcore acts, they were further influenced by Discharge and Los Angeles's Germs.

[4] In 1984, the group released the Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes 12-inch (the cover features Pig Champion's substantial vinyl collection).

The record found the band incorporating subtle rock elements into their music, which was further honed on their contributions to two 1985 compilations, "Laughing Boy" on the Drinking is Great EP (on which appeared other Oregon punk bands Final Warning, Lockjaw and E-13), and "Typical" and "Die on Your Knees" on the Cleanse the Bacteria LP (compiled by Pushead for his own Pusmort label).

War All the Time and the EPs that followed (the Getting the Fear 12-inch and the Filthkick 7-inch) found them further developing the rock/hardcore sound first established on Kings of Punk, which they would hone in 1990 with Feel the Darkness.

Charley "Myrtle Tickner" Nims joined on bass and on second guitar there was, briefly, Kevin "Kid Cocksman" Sanders and then Aldine Strichnine.

A few years later, Jerry resurrected Poison Idea with Dean Johnson, Chris Tense and new guitarist Ian Miller.

[6] On October 6, 2008, Portland police arrested Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford, 39, in connection with a string of pharmacy robberies in late summer.

A remixed and remastered album including B-sides, outtakes, alternate mixes, plus Live in London, has been re-issued by American Leather / TKO Records.

[11][12] In 2022, Jerry A. Lang released a three-part autobiography entitled Black Heart Fades Blue through Rare Bird Books.