Dementia Precox is an experimental industrial noise band originating from Dayton, Ohio. The group was established on January 12, 1980, by friends from Beavercreek High School, Gyn Cameron, also known as Gregory Stover, and Rodger Revlon, known as David Mench. At that time, Rodger Revlon had recently completed a brief period with "The Occupants" and was a member of Dayton's first punk band, "The Rulers," which had performed publicly only two or three times. Previously using the name Waggie, he had also released a couple of rudimentary cassette tapes of industrial noise under the alias "Lead Pencil" alongside his friend Kevin Lea from Cambridge, Ohio.
In September of 1980, Gyn Cameron and Rodger Revlon released their debut industrial music cassette, titled "Dementia Precox: The Not So Hidden Persuaders," packaged in a ziplock bag with a xeroxed insert, in a very limited edition. Shortly thereafter, they expanded the band by bringing in two additional members: Max Noise (Timothy Nye) and Troy Boyahue (Chris Green), both from the local band, The Occupants. With the addition of a fifth member, Syd (a wax dummy head), the new lineup entered the studio and recorded four tracks: "Mines," "Dead On 2 Legs Luncheonette," "Hours," and "Car Pools Save Gas." The first two tracks were subsequently released as a single in March 1981.
In the ensuing months, co-founder Rodger Revlon was asked to leave the band, leading to his replacement by David Paul. Following his departure, Rodger relocated to New Orleans and later to San Francisco, where he performed industrial performance art at Club Foot under the name Sublimation, alongside Eric Nunn. He also collaborated with the band Toxic Reasons, providing saxophone for two songs, "Ghost Town" and "White Noise." Eventually, he moved to Valdese, North Carolina, where he opened Play It Again Records, an art gallery named "New Window Gallery," and founded Waggletone Records, producing a 7" record under the name "Flip'N'Boogers" with Dennis Schlichter. To date, Waggletone Records has released 21 projects featuring various bands.
By September 1982, Dementia Precox completed a mini LP titled "SCHP," which garnered international attention. Contributions from Rodger Revlon were either diminished or removed. In 1983, the band relocated to San Francisco but disbanded by the year's end. Later, they reformed and returned to Dayton, Ohio, with three original members: Gyn Cameron, Max Noise, and Troy Green. They added Greg Stout on percussion and Ed Lacy on synthesizers and percussion, although Stout, Lacy, and Green eventually departed. Green was succeeded by Dennis Schlichter, and Pam Adams joined the band on synthesizers and percussion later that September. Following a brief tenure, Schlichter formed other projects, including Lead Pencil, Flaming Negroes, and MOM.
In 1986, Gyn Cameron revitalized the band by integrating computer-based sequencing technology and a new analog synthesizer, the Oberheim Matrix 12, into the Dementia sound. This restructuring led to a sound that blended industrial dance influences akin to WaxTrax! Records with New Wave Gothic Pop, while also echoing the style of vintage SPK. Dementia Precox officially disbanded in January 1990, nearly a decade after its inception.
Despite the band's dissolution, Gyn Cameron continued to work on Dementia Precox material, creating soundtracks for theater, a ballet for Ballet de Jeunesse, and collaborating on a performance art piece titled "The Construction Zone" with Dr. Kent Seidel. He also contributed to a film by Julia Reichert, "Emma And Elvis." In 1993, Cameron released a 12" single titled "Dirty Naked & Wet" through New Worlds Records. In the spring of 1995, Dementia Precox reunited for a concert in Dayton with the original lineup from 1986, featuring Gyn Cameron, Eric Purtle, and Royse Robbins. They performed together for about a year before disbanding again.
On October 26, 2007, Dementia Precox made a notable return with the anticipated lineup from 1981, including Gyn Cameron, Rodger Revlon, Max Noise, and Troy Boyahue, alongside guitarist Eric Purtle and drummer Jason Himes. This reformed group performed live in Cincinnati, Ohio, and concluded with a final concert in Dayton on October 31, 2007. Shortly after, the band announced they would not reunite again. Gyn Cameron passed away on September 24, 2011, taking with him the vision of Dementia Precox, while Chris Green (Troy Boyahue) died on August 15, 2014, and Max Noise (Timothy Nye) passed away on March 30, 2017. Rodger Revlon later returned to his given name for a six-song CD EP, recorded in Negril, Jamaica at Chop Chop Productions and released in 2020 on Waggletone Records, titled "Juice Juice."
Line-up:
- Gyn Cameron: voice, synthesizers, micromoog, sequencers, guitar, metal percussion, trumpet, tapes, rhythm machines, prepared piano (1980-2007)
- Rodger Revlon (David Mench): metal percussion, saxophone, voice, tapes, guitar, synthesizer (1980-1982, 2007)
- Max "Noise" Nye: guitar, bass, metal percussion (1980-1986, 2007)
- Troy "Boyahue" Green: bass, guitar, metal percussion (1980-1984, 2007)
- Syd (1980-1982)
- David Paul: synthesizers, sequencers, synth/metal percussion, vocoder (1982-1983)
- Greg Stout: drums (1984)
- Ed Lacy: synthesizer, metal percussion (1984)
- Dennis Schlichter: bass (1985-1986)
- Pam Adams: synthesizer, metal percussion (1984-1986)
- Eric Purtle: guitar, saxophone, voice (1986-1989, 1995, 2007)
- Royse Robbins: synthesizer, synth/metal percussion, voice (1986-1988, 1989-1990, 1995-1996)
- Kim Williams: metal percussion (1986-1988)
- Luther Lindenschmidt: metal percussion, drums, dumbek (1985, 1988-1989)
- Nick Kizirnis: guitar, steel guitar (1989-1990, 1995-1996)
- Jason Himes: drums (2007)