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Forming in 1988, TAINTED SAINTS was a spinoff of other ventures. Tony and Ritchie worked together in the D.C. band Winchester, among others, Jazz and Sean coming from the hard-rocking Baltimore-based Nasty Passion. The group began writing and performing a brand of music not typical of the music scene and performing “everywhere and anytime,” quickly building a dedicated following.

Tony and Ritchie had just left a previous project, had tunes and loved working with each other. Jazz and Sean were referred to Tony by a mutual friend, and the rest is history.

The lineup was a great fit, TAINTED SAINTS had the right players and personalities. Working together came naturally, and the music flowed. The group also became fast friends and were 100% focused on doing big things, constantly improving their craft, rehearsing, and gigging constantly.

TAINTED SAINTS quickly began selling out one-nighters and eventually weekends, often being paired with national acts touring through the region and garnering time in the alt rotation in France and Belgium. There was a lot of traction, the gigs were nuts, breaking fire codes, constant parties, and just a fun time.

In the early ’90s, recording time was expensive, and the band was broke! Self-funding recordings with gig money, friends, and family, the team was able to work with noteworthy studios, Cue Recording and Omega. TAINTED SAINTS self-released on cassette and sold out, 1,500 copies with no marketing or backing, real grassroots stuff.

The band shopped the tracks but only received mild interest. Label feedback at the time was “the tracks were too long for radio play,” and as one insider put it, “frankly, labels didn’t know what to do with you guys.” Everyone was looking for the next Poison, LA Guns, and the band just didn’t fit into that package.

Then “Grunge” happened. TAINTED SAINTS and many other bands got lost in a new musical uprising from Seattle and never recovered. The band gave 110% for years, burned out, and began pursuing other interests. Thanks to Eonian Records, TAINTED SAINTS are in talks to begin recording older songs that never got to tape as well as produce new material. Stay tuned.