LOS REACTORS had its genesis in several configurations
in 1978 before solidifying as THE REACTORS in 1979.
The original line-up included Roger Scott on guitar,
Dale Lawton on guitar, Tommy Gunn Waggoner on bass and
Darrell Smith on drums. In early 1980, Dale quit and
the group continued as a 3 piece. Soon thereafter,
keyboardist Joe Danger (Christ) joined the group, and
the name was changed to LOS REACTORS. As the Punk Rock
movement exploded nationally in the late 70's and
early 80's, Tulsa's LOS REACTORS were thrilling
thousands of fans, and spawning dozens of imitators
with their hypnotic brand of quirky, iconoclastic,
high energy rock. Playing hundreds of shows throughout
the midsouthwestern United States, they attracted a
huge cult following. In 1980 LOS REACTORS released
Dead in the Suburbs, the first of two popular
singles. The second, Be a Zombie, was released
the following year. Both singles received extensive
college and independent radio air-play. The group
disbanded in 1983, with the members going on to pursue
other projects. Unfortunately, the two 45's were the
only official documentation that existed of the many
great original songs by LOS REACTORS...Until Righteous
Death Records compiled a collection of tracks culled
from rare live performance and rehearsal tapes, which
was released as a Best of cassette in 1995. The
collection served as valuable historical documentation
of one of the most prolific and dynamic bands of the
'80s. Throughout the '80s and '90s numerous
compilations and bootlegs of Los Reactors' material were
released. Then in 2000, Italian label Rave Up Records
released a selection of cuts from the Best of
collection, along with the extant studio recordings as
a vinyl LP titled, Dead in the Suburbs. The
initial pressing sold out quickly, primarily through
internet sales. Then in 2004, California based label
Rip-Off Records reissued the album on an enhanced CD,
with redesigned cover art and rare video footage of
the band. The continuing interest in a group that
disbanded more than 20 years ago is a testament to the
inspired creativity that drove LOS REACTORS to write
four albums worth of material, despite receiving no
breaks from the establishment music industry. If the
major labels hadn't been too busy looking for the next
Journey or Foreigner clone to recognize the talent of
LOS REACTORS, who knows what they might have accomplished.