Derived via Latin from the Greek spastikos ("drawing in" or "tugging"), the word at its root still refers to an alteration in muscle tone affected by the medical condition spasticity, which is seen in spastic diplegia and many other forms of cerebral palsy and also in terms such as "spastic colon". In this usage, which is still today the word's main environment, the word spastic has no negative connotation, because it is accurately descriptive of the condition. In India, 'The Spastics Society of India' (now known as 'ADAPT - Able Disable All People Together'), a non-profit and non-governmental organization, kept its name for many years without being criticised.
Colloquially, the word spastic can be, but is not necessarily, pejorative; largely this depends on whether one understands the word as it is used in the United States or the United Kingdom. In British English today the mention of the word spastic is typically extremely inappropriate, as in the UK it is considered an offensive way to refer to disabled people.
Spazz was an influential American powerviolence band active between 1992 and 2000. The trio released numerous records within this time, many of which are now highly collectible due to their relative rarity. The band's releases often showcased their unusual sense of humour: absurdly long and nonsensical song titles, audio samples from b-movies and kung-fu films between songs and the occasional use of hip hop beats as well as saxophones, banjos and other instruments rarely associated with hardcore punk. All three of the members shared vocal duties, usually changing in sequence from line to line.
Spazz vocalist and bassist Chris Dodge's record label, Slap a Ham Records, was a fixture during the rapid rise and decline of power violence in the late '80s and early '90s, releasing influential records by the likes of Neanderthal, No Comment, Crossed Out, Infest and Spazz, amongst others. The label's Fiesta Grande was an annual power violence festival held at 924 Gilman during its heyday, from 1992 to the band's demise in 2000. Since then, he has been involved in several musical projects, most notably East West Blast Test with highly regarded extreme music drummer Dave Witte, formerly of Discordance Axis, Melt Banana and many others. Spazz vocalist and drummer Max Ward's label, 625 Thrashcore, has started their own festival, 'Super Sabado Gigante', in a similar vein. Spazz vocalist and guitarist Dan Boleri makes hip hop music under the alias DJ Eons One.
marilyn's paul and all is swell
bobby dee is stoked as hell
cruising through the record racks
whistling dixie jokes are cracked
doesn't pay to be nice you see
just ask my pal bobby dee
extend your hand and say hello
pudgy's met with fatal blow
yelling just like kalmex
bobby dee no skills to flex
911's what he screams
body slammed ripped pant seams
broken records broken teeth
rasputin's buys the funeral wreath