The most influential punk band to come out of Sacramento, Tales of Terror consisted of frontman Rat’s Ass (Pat Stratford), guitarists Luther Storms (Lyon Wong) and Capt. Trip Mender (Steve Hunt), bassist Dusty Coffin (Geoff Magner), and drummer Thopper Jaw (Mike Hunter). Their sole album, Tales of Terror, received positive reviews and appeared on Kurt Cobain’s list of top albums. Trailblazers of the genre that would become grunge, traces of the Tales of Terror sound can be heard in bands from Nirvana to the Melvins. Though poised for success, their tenure was cut short by the death of Lyon Wong in 1986.