Flotsam and Jetsam

The band, whose original name was Paradox, was founded by drummer Kelly David-Smith and two guitarists until 1982, when bassist Jason Newsted joined the band. Jason came to Phoenix with his band Gangster, intending to continue on to California, but the band split up upon their arrival in Phoenix. Kelly and Jason (who also handled vocals) played their first real concert under the name Dredlox, accompanied by guitarists Mark Vazquez and Kevin Horton. Ed Carlson, who was part of a rival band called Exodus (no relation to the California thrash band), joined the band in 1983 after Kevin's departure from the group. The band's name changed to The Dogz but that would not last long; the band renamed itself Flotsam and Jetsam after writing a track inspired by a chapter of The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien.