Teas’n, Pleas’n

The Zoo Crew is thrilled to spin "Teas’n, Pleas’n" by Dangerous Toys from their 1989 debut album, Dangerous Toys, for all you Zoo Freaks out there! This high-energy track, known for its cheeky lyrics and glam metal vibe, has some wild stories behind it. According to a 2017 interview with Metalheads Forever Magazine, frontman Jason McMaster described the song’s creation as a fun, spontaneous jam session that captured the band’s party-hard ethos. The lyrics, co-written by McMaster and guitarist Tim Trembley, tell a humorous tale of a hungover rocker caught in a whirlwind of romantic misadventures, with lines like “Gee, Mister, I didn’t know she was your wife” adding a playful nod to the band’s rebellious spirit. In 2006, the song got a fresh spin when heavy metal band Shadows Fall covered it on their album Fallout from the War, featuring McMaster’s guest vocals, a nod to its enduring influence in the metal scene.

Another cool tidbit comes from a 2018 post by guitarist Scott Dalhover on his Facebook page, where he shared that the band’s live performances of “Teas’n, Pleas’n” often sparked the wildest crowd reactions, with fans chanting along to the infectious chorus. The song’s music video, aired heavily on MTV’s Headbangers Ball, showcased the band’s signature “evil clown” mascot, Bill Z. Bubb, adding a creepy yet quirky visual flair that became a fan favorite. A 2023 Bandcamp reissue of their live album Vitamins and Crash Helmets Live highlighted a killer live version of the track, with remastered audio that captures the raw energy of their 1999 shows. Fans on the Dangerous Toys Fan Club Facebook group often share stories of catching the band play this song at festivals like Rocklanta in 2019, where it still got the crowd moshing.

Dangerous Toys kicked off their journey in Austin, Texas, in 1987, born from the ashes of a local band called Onyxx. Jason McMaster, fresh from his stint with progressive metal act Watchtower, was invited by guitarist Tim Trembley to join Onyxx as their singer. The lineup solidified with Scott Dalhover on guitar, Mark Geary on drums, and Mike Watson on bass, and they soon rebranded as Dangerous Toys to reflect their edgy, humorous style. By 1988, they caught the attention of Columbia Records, signing a deal that led to their self-titled debut in 1989. The album, featuring “Teas’n, Pleas’n” and “Scared,” hit number 65 on the Billboard 200 and went gold in 1994, cementing their place in the glam metal scene. Their mix of southern rock swagger and hard rock riffs, paired with McMaster’s Axl Rose-esque vocals, drew comparisons to bands like Guns N’ Roses and Skid Row.

Despite lineup changes and a shift in the music industry, Dangerous Toys kept rocking, releasing three more albums—Hellacious Acres (1991), Pissed (1994), and The R*tist 4*merly Known as Dangerous Toys (1995)—before slowing down in the late ’90s. They never fully disbanded, performing at least one show a year, as noted in a 2022 Last.fm bio. In 2017, they signed with EMP Label Group to reissue their catalog, and in 2019, they debuted a new song, “Hold Your Horses,” at Rocklanta, hinting at a possible fifth album. You can keep up with the band on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Zoo Freaks can also join the Dangerous Toys Fan Club on Facebook or check out fan-driven content at Mozaart for more band love.