Poison Idea formed more than 40 years ago and were single-handedly responsible for putting Portland on the punk rock world map. The Beast Goes East is the definitive document of Poison Idea's 1990 U.S. tour. The lineup for this tour and album was Jerry A - vocals, Charley "Myrtle Tickner" Nims - bass, Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts - guitar, Aldine Strichnine - guitar and Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford - drums.