By Spike Steffenhagen / San Diego Reader / Sept. 4, 2025
“Brian [Thoryk] had this smirk on his face and told me he needed to talk to me after a Skullbusters practice,” Victim drummer Junior Solis tells me. “Then he says, ‘We’re doing the Victim reunion.’ I was like, ‘Why now? I’ve been asking for years.’ He just said, ‘It’s time.’” The September 5 reunion show at The Holding Company in Ocean Beach marks the first time the metal band has appeared live since 1986. They made their vinyl debut in 1984 with Power Hungry. The follow-up Dirty Mean and Nasty was released in 1986 with a final offering, By the Neck, surfacing in 2014 from old recordings thought lost.
The internet has kept out-of-print bands accessible, allowing generations of fans to discover things that otherwise would have faded into obscurity. Even Victim’s long-lost 1983 appearance on local public access TV’s Club 33 recently turned up on Youtube, and featured a performance of the track that landed them on a KGB Homegrown album, “Victim.”
Of course, attention is currency on YouTube, and so an appearance there runs the risk of inspiring “reaction” videos conducted by self-appointed edgelords who are as likely as not to strike a dismissive and snarky pose in a failed attempt to show how cool they are. But cold hard cash speaks louder than a real-life equivalent of The Simpsons’ comic book guy with a webcam: the demand for Victim’s recordings endures, especially overseas, where record sellers in Greece and Germany pressed by German label Underground Power Records and San Diego’s Pop Records fetch over $160.00. “I can’t really explain the why,” says Solis, “It’s just an amazing feeling to have someone acknowledge and appreciate the music I was part of. It doesn’t give me a big head. Quite the opposite. It’s very humbling.”
The passage of four decades has brought change, but less for Victim than other bands. “When we decided to do this, we wanted to have some of the bands that were part of the scene at that time be part of it. But not enough of them or enough members are around anymore,” Solis states. The lineup for the reunion show features three original members: Solis on drums, lead guitarist Mike Pfahler (Nemesis), and bassist Brian Thoryk. They’ll be joined by guitarist Steve Cox (Psychotic Waltz, Sanctuary) to round out the live sound, and latter-day vocalist Mark Arrington (Hard Echo, Taz Taylor Band), who has joined them on stage numerous times over the years but never recorded with them. “I had some issues after I was in the band for a while,” Arrington explains. “So, I was out before the recording of the next album. I could have been the singer on all the albums, but due to bad decisions on my part, I wasn’t on any of them.”
Another constant: Solis’ aggressive but technical style. “I was known as the metal drummer that did weird things. I still have to use clamps that keep my kit from moving because I’m hitting so hard.” And vocally, Arrington remains in fighting form without additional assistance. “Yeah, I can still hit the high notes. I don’t need anyone to kick me in the balls. But balls are definitely involved in this type of music and singing. At rehearsal, we are like a freight train. I’m looking forward to bringing that to our friends and family.”
What has changed are the pre-show rituals; these days, they’re more about saving energy for the stage. “I get really quiet,” says Solis. “Just get focused and concentrate on doing the best show I can.” While that’s been a consistency in the drummer’s career — perhaps an extension of his idol Neil Peart — the absence of extracurricular activities helps the mind stay quiet more easily than when drugs were being supplied with impunity. “One promoter told us if we got caught, busted with drugs, that was going to be it, over. No record label would touch us. So, he supplied all the drugs we wanted to keep us from going out and trying to score.”
Arrington adds, “Victim pre-show rituals, when we were young, were pretty much just getting ready together and hanging out and lots of laughs. Preshow for this show will be OB sunset, lots of water to hydrate, and a good warm-up and just enjoy the moment.” The fashion has shifted as well. “The spandex has long been retired,” says the vocalist. “If it’s any consolation, Pantera wore spandex early on, too. But it is a celebration of the ’80s, so if anybody that’s coming wants to bust out their spandex for the show, it’s all good.”
Also, Friday, Sept. 5 is:
Capital Dub Live at The Harp Ocean Beach – Sep 5 at 8:30PM – 12:30AM
Introducing Capital Dub, a vibrant reggae ensemble pulsating with the timeless essence of roots reggae fused seamlessly with contemporary flair. Hailing from the sun-kissed shores of Huntington Beach, CA, the band sprouted in 2020 from a collective of lifelong friends bonded by an unwavering devotion to the genre.
Fronted by the soulful vocals of Ben, the melodic landscapes are painted by House’s intricate keystrokes, Mike’s thunderous basslines, Alex’s rhythmic mastery on drums, and Rory’s electrifying guitar riffs.
Since their inception, Capital Dub has been a force in the local reggae circuit, renowned for their electrifying stage presence and impeccable musical prowess. Their journey has seen them grace stages alongside reggae luminaries, solidifying their status as a rising star while amassing a devoted tribe of followers along the way.
The Harp
4935 Newport Ave in OB
