Mentors (band)

Founding members Hoke, Eric Carlson (guitar) and Steve Broy (bass) attended Roosevelt High School together in Seattle,[2] and began experimenting together with crude punk and primitive heavy metal. Upon formation, the Mentors began to tour the Northwest, playing shows with their trademark executioner hoods (it was the idea of El Duce, who adored a horror movie called "Mark of the Devil") and bawdy lyrics. Broy was in and out of the band during its early career due to his preoccupation with pursuing a degree in engineering.[3] Other bassists from this era include Jeff Dahl, Chris Jacobsen (Jack Shit), and Mike Dewey (Heathen Scum Wezda).[4]

Through Mystic Records, the Mentors released their first EP, The Trash Bag, in 1983.[1] Their first live album, Live at the Whiskey/Cathey de Grande, came out the following year; both records were produced by Phillip (Philco) Raves. In 1985, they signed to Death Records, a subsidiary of Metal Blade, and released their debut studio LP, You Axed for It!, with Broy returning on the bass.[3] During this time, Hoke maintained a strong public presence, making a controversial appearance[5] alongside fellow metal band GWAR on The Jerry Springer Show, where Hoke's band, beliefs, and public image were criticized.[2]

The Mentors did not achieve true notoriety until the 1985 Congressional hearings orchestrated by Tipper Gore's Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). The relatively obscure Mentors caught the attention of the PMRC with their song, "Golden Shower", prompting a reading of some of its lyrics on the Congressional floor.

Broy was briefly replaced by bassists Wayne Daddio ("Ripper"), Ed Danky ("Poppa Sneaky Spermshooter"), and Zippy, but later returned to the group. In 1989, the Mentors released their third album, Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll, a faux-live record. This album caught the attention of the hard rock band Revolting Cocks, who invited the Mentors on tour with them.[2]

They released Rock Bible in 1990, with Rick Lomas ("Insect On Acid")[6] sitting in on drums. To the Max followed the next year. Clark "Moosedick" Savage[1] often filled in for Hoke on drums at live shows, as Hoke's alcoholism had made it difficult for him to play drums and sing simultaneously.

The Mentors remained sporadically active thereafter. Hoke began a solo career, while Carlson formed the band Jesters of Destiny.[3] In 1997, while being interviewed for the documentary film Kurt and Courtney, Hoke claimed that Courtney Love had offered him $50,000 to kill her husband Kurt Cobain,[7] whose death was ruled a suicide. Two days after being interviewed, Hoke died after being struck by a freight train while intoxicated. His death was alternately described as an accident and a suicide,[8] however, some conspiracy theorists have claimed there is evidence suggesting foul play.[9]

Carlson, Broy and Savage continued the band and were joined by guitarist Sickie J and vocalist El Rapo, releasing Over the Top in 2005. In 2006 Singer and drummer Marc DeLeon ("Mad Dog"), of the Mentors tribute band The Mantors, replaced El Rapo and, later, Savage. 2009 saw the release of Ducefixion, their eighth full-length record. DeLeon left the Mentors in 2014 during the making of full-length documentary film called The Mentors: Kings of Sleaze Rockumentary, directed by April Jones.

On May 25, 2017, the Mentors released The Illuminaughty, their first studio album in eight years, with Broy and Lomas sharing the vocal duties.

• 1983: Get Up & Die
• 1987: Fuck Movie
• 1990: A Piece of Sinema
• 1990: The Wretched World of the Mentors
• 1991: Hollywood Head Bash
• 1991: Tour De Max '91
• 1993: El Duce: The Man. The Myth. The Video
• 2007: El Duce Vita
• 2010: Perverted Movie
• 2017: The Kings of Sleaze (documentary)
• 2019: The El Duce Tapes (documentary)

• List of The Mentors songs

• The Mentors at Encyclopedia Metallum