Variant Cause

The Pacific Northwest rock scene of the 1980s was a hotbed of creativity, with a multitude of bands developing uncommon sounds in relative geographic isolation. Variant Cause was one of those bands. Three members of Variant Cause -- Jan, Mark and Greg -- played together in original bands from 1981 to 1990 (the others included Next Exit and Koo Dot Tah). Any given week throughout the 80s you could find them in one of their incarnations performing their neoteric rock somewhere: at an armory dance, a DIY loft party or an intimate rock club.

Three members of Variant Cause -- Jan, Mark and Greg -- played together in original bands from 1981 to 1990 (the others included Next Exit and Koo Dot Tah). Any given week throughout the 80s you could find them in one of their incarnations performing their neoteric rock somewhere: at an armory dance, a DIY loft party or an intimate rock club. In Seattle, Spokane, Bellingham, Salem, Portland, Moscow, Tacoma and all points in between. They were the local opening act for Iggy Pop, Nico, Ian Hunter, the Godfathers and the Blasters.

In 1985 they added the formidable skills of Ryco on bass, reeled in side projects, renamed and focused on the live band: Variant Cause. By 1986 they managed to step past their influences and forge together a unique and highly developed sound that was decidedly their own.

Variant Cause broke up in 1990. With the recent discovery of the old master tapes -- thought to have been destroyed years ago -- their songs can be heard again.

Jan Gregor -- lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mark Fenton -- drums
Greg Morlan -- lead guitar
Ryco -- bass

Keyboard players in Variant Cause included
Rick Hogan and later Frank Holman .
Tony Bortko played lead guitar during the
last year of the group.

*45s
*Complete Details b/w Marathon Man
*Out on the Streets b/w You Put Me in the Hospital

*Albums
*Variant Cause self-titled
*Rollercoaster Coronation