Culprit is a heavy metal band first formed in Seattle, Washington in 1981 by vocalist Jeff L'Heureux, guitarists John DeVol and Kjartan Kristoffersen, bassist Scott Earl, and drummer Bud Burrill. Their debut album Guilty as Charged was first released through Shrapnel Records in 1983 and later again through Hellion Records in 2000. The band broke up in 1985 and each of its members moved on to other endeavors.

In 2010, Scott Earl announced that he and John DeVol were reuniting the band with a new lineup. Since then, they have announced plans to release a long-awaited second studio album as well as a live rendition of their debut album simply titled Guilty as Charged...Live.