History

Before there was a “Seattle scene” (grunge) the city was full of stale new wave and wimpy top 40 bands. That is until teenage bassist Scott Earl and drummer Bud Burrill, joined forces with local guitar God, John DeVol to form at the time the heaviest band in Seattle, Orpheus. The power trio decided from the beginning that they were going to play “heavy metal” before the term was even popularized in the states and also do their own material. At the time, this was an insane notion, but the three musicians did this out of love for their music and not to make a steady paycheck, strongly influenced by such bands as Rush, Deep Purple, Judas Priest and The Scorpions, to name a few.

Due to the type of music they wanted to play and the fact that the band had no vocalist, the band was forced to pay their dues playing outdoor parties in soccer fields with gas powered generators to plug their amps into and the use of car head lights for stage lighting. After finally hiring a vocalist and acquiring a cult following that demanded to see them play, the band managed to get a few real gigs at roller rinks and underage night clubs. One such gig billed the band with another up and coming rock act- Amethyst. The band included Jeff L’Heureux on vocals and Kjartan Kristoffersen on lead guitar. . . Culprit was born!

After only a few months together, the band went to a friend’s home recording studio (Giant Step) for their first time to record the legendary “The Original Demos. The tape was bootlegged around the world before it was ever put on vinyl. Guitarist KJ Kristoffersen answered an article in Guitar Player magazine that called for a nationwide search for U.S. heavy metal bands and unsung guitar heroes.

The tape was instantly accepted and Culprit entered the studio (Crow Recording Studio) for a second time to record their debut song “Players” for U.S Metal II on Shrapnel Records in 1981. Guitar Player magazine reviewed the song as the album’s showcase track. The flood gates were opened and Culprit not only became the first heavy metal band in Seattle to do all original music, promote their own shows and sign a record deal; but Culprit also changed the Seattle scene forever.

The band went into the studio for a third time to record a full LP for Shrapnel titled “Guilty As Charged” produced by Mike Varney in 1982. Culprit also went on to sell out venues up and down the coast, co-headlining with such acts as Metallica and Lita Ford. After selling out Seattle’s Paramount Theater and their song “Ambush” being in heavy rotation for the better part of a year, the band went on to win the city’s biggest rock station’s (KZOK) best local band award in 1983.

Culprit parted ways officially in 1984 due to no management and no major record deal.

The band has however remained friends and for the love of the music they created together have done several reunion shows.

Jeff L’Heureux went on to form Mistrust. The band recorded one song “Running for My Life” for a compilation record ”The Pacific Metal Project”. The band also recorded and released the album entitled ”Spin the World”for C.O.M.A. records.

Guitarist Kjartan Kristoffersen and bassist Scott Earl joined forces with TKO to tour in support of the band’s second release “In your Face” for Combat/Relativity Records. They next recorded and released the bands third album “Below the Belt” for RCA/VICTOR Records. The duo then relocated to Los Angeles and formed The Bang Gang and signed a publishing deal with B.M.G. music.

The band released their debut album “Love Sells” for MECHANIC/MCA Records. The band’s video for the single “Young and the Restless” debuted on MTV’s “Head Bangers Ball” the same year. Scott Earl is the only remaining original member in CULPRIT

Johnny Devol went on to form the Band Devol and then Pork Finger. Both bands released independent records and played in the Seattle area. Johnny currently plays guitar for the band Stonebender based in Seattle

Bud Burrill started a family and along with his wife Holly have raised two sons that are both talented and successful musicians

n 2000 the band re-released their debut album ”Guilty As Charged” on CD for the first time, available Hellion Records. The same year the band was honored by being placed in the Experience Music Project (E.M.P.) in Seattle. The Northwest Passage section of the museum traces the development of the Northwest music scene, from its beginnings as a small, isolated community to its status during the grunge years as the center of the rock universe.

In 2001 Culprit was invited to play a show at the 3 day German festival Wacken or W.O.A.

In 2002 “Guilty as Charged” was named as one of the top 500 best Metal albums of all time by Rock Hard magazine’s book entitled “The best of Hard Rock and Metal”

In 2006 the band reunited once again to play a show with fellow Seattle Metal band Metal Church.

In 2008, bassist Scott Earl was asked to write a preface for the book “Metallica the Club Dayz” 1982-1984, describing his experience opening for the band on March 19^th 1983. The book documents the first 5 shows in photographs taken by Bill Hale.

In 2010, founding members Scott Earl Johnny DeVol put together a new Culprit line up, and the band headlined Germany’s H.O.A. festival.

Some of the highlights are posted on this web-site. The Interview and live performance footage from the King Cat Theater in Seattle WA July 24th on Hot Rocks TV and videos from the 2010 Headbangers Open Air Festival.