Formed in 1982 in Houston, D.R.I. – aka Dirty Rotten Imbeciles – never gained popularity with mainstream audiences, but the fusion of their hardcore roots with thrash metal influences was a stylistic catalyst for many of the bands of the time, alongside whom they are considered one of the main pioneers of crossover thrash. Although they came from a punk background, their influence was most felt in metal, with the likes of Anthrax, Kreator, Slayer, Nuclear Assault, Death Angel and Municipal Waste citing D.R.I. as inspirations. They released their seventh and final studio album, Full Speed Ahead, in 1995; despite deciding to stop recording music, they continue to tour and in 2016 released the EP But Wait… There's More!.