Tales of Terror was a hardcore punk band from Sacramento, California. The group consisted of Pat "Rat's Ass" Stratford on vocals, Lyon Wong and Steve Hunt on guitars, Geoff Magner on bass, and Mike Hunter on drums. After the dissolution of their previous band, The Square Cools, Tales of Terror began performing locally, opening for notable acts such as The Vandals, Dead Kennedys, and Fang. Their debut album, Tales of Terror, was released in 1984 under CD Presents, a San Francisco-based independent label. Despite limited distribution, the album garnered significant attention. Tragically, Lyon Wong died on January 5, 1986, following an altercation that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. The band disbanded shortly after his death. Their influence persisted, with notable figures like Kurt Cobain and Mark Arm citing Tales of Terror as a key inspiration for the emerging grunge scene.
