Rock Bottom

The Resentments, an I.B. punk band, was ready for their national TV debut last year. Producer David Milch (NYPD Blue, Deadwood) had discovered the group while looking for locals to flesh out his HBO series John from Cincinnati.

“They were going to give us some speaking parts,” says guitarist Eric Dogol. “They even drove a limo to my house to pick us up and take us up to Paramount, where we saw the first two shows.”

An HBO film crew shot the band playing live at the Jumping Turtle in San Marcos and Dogol’s garage, but the program was canceled before the footage made it on the air (it is viewable on YouTube).

Dogol formed the Resentments two years ago with Gary Loftin, a friend from fifth grade who became the band’s singer.

“We were doing real good,” says Dogol. “We got some real good shows opening for the Exploited, Dr. Know, and Battalion of Saints.” The Resentments’ success was a rebound for Loftin, who’d been in a car wreck.

“He hurt his back, and he was in a lot of pain. That’s what led him to doing drugs.” Loftin’s alleged drug dependency became worse about five years ago, when both were in Society’s Victim.

“He hit rock bottom. We actually had to kick him out of the band. He would forget words. It was hard to get him to do anything.” Two years ago, Dogol took Loftin in.

“Basically, he said he was ready to turn his life around. I drove him to every meeting. He was clean and sober for a year.” However, says Dogol, “He died a year ago, right here in my house.”

Dogol says he has more drama in his life now: “I’m fighting cancer. I had a tumor the size of a Nerf ball in my stomach. I don’t have insurance either. I can’t even get in to see a doctor.”

The Resentments appear May 10 at Fannie’s in Spring Valley.

— Ken Leighton