Slapshot was formed in 1985 by Steve Risteen and Mark McKay, formerly of Terminally Ill; Jack Kelly, formerly of Negative FX and Last Rights; and Jonathan Anastas, formerly of Decadence and DYS. Due to the reputations of its members, the band had a relatively high profile even before its debut; in a Malcom McClaren-esque move, one zine writer (A&R executive Mike Gitter) wrote that "Slapshot is a great live act" before they had ever played in public.