The Supersuckers

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The Supersuckers

The Supersuckers performing live in September 2006.
Background information
Also known as The Black Supersuckers
The Junkyard Dogs
Origin Tucson, Arizona, USA
Genre(s) Rock
Garage punk
Grunge
Cowpunk
Years active 1988–present
Label(s) Sub Pop, Mid-Fi
Website Official Band Site
Members
Eddie Spaghetti
Ron "Rontrose" Heathman
Dan "Thunder" Bolton
Scott "Scottzilla" Churilla
Former members
Dancing Eagle
Rick Sims
Dusty Watson
Eric Martin

The Supersuckers are an American rock band. They are the self-proclaimed "Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band in the World." Following the relative success of their 1997 foray into country music with the release of Must've Been High, they have also been known to play country shows under various names, including, of course, The Supersuckers.

As of April 2005, the members are Eddie Spaghetti on bass and lead vocals along with Rontrose Heathman and Dan "Thunder" Bolton on guitars. Drummer and original member Dancing Eagle recently parted ways with the band while guitarist Dan "Thunder" Bolton is back after taking a break from touring. Dusty Watson from Agent Orange was handling drums until March 2006. On June 16, 2006 The Supersuckers announced the addition of Scott Churilla as their new full-time drummer.

Contents

[edit] History

The Supersuckers formed in 1988 as The Black Supersuckers in Tucson, AZ. The original line-up was Eddie Spaghetti on bass, Dan "Thunder" Bolton and Rontrose Heathman on guitars, Dancing Eagle on drums, and Eric Martin as the lead singer. In 1989, they moved to Seattle, WA. Here, Eric Martin left the band. The song "Marie" was allegedly dedicated to Martin's mother after his death. The remaining members decided to continue as a four piece with Eddie Spaghetti taking over the vocalist role. They recorded numerous singles for various small labels before being signed to Sub Pop. A sampling of these are collected on the 1992 release The Songs All Sound the Same. Their first album with Sub Pop, The Smoke of Hell, was released in 1992.

In 1995, guitarist Rontrose Heathman temporarily left the band. He was replaced by Rick Sims, formerly of the band the Didjits (currently plays for Gaza Strippers), for the recording of their third album, The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers, and the subsequent tour. Heathman returned for the recording of their fourth album, Must've Been High, which, as their first country album, was a major turning point for the band. Their fifth and final album with Sub-Pop was their greatest hits release, 1999's How the Supersuckers Became the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World. That same year they released their fifth studio album, The Evil Powers of Rock 'N' Roll.

In 2001, the band formed their own record label, Mid-Fi Recordings. In addition to numerous singles and several live recordings, the band released their sixth studio album, Motherfuckers Be Trippin' on this label. As of May 2005, their most recent release is the singles collection Devil's Food.

On tour, the Supersuckers always close their show with a "fake encore," where the band and the audience go through a 15 second pretend exit and stage entrance.

[edit] Associations

The Supersuckers have recorded with many artists including: Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Kelley Deal of The Breeders, and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. They have appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno backing Willie Nelson. They have toured with numerous bands such as Mudhoney, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, The Ramones, Motörhead, Flogging Molly, Toadies, Supagroup, the Butthole Surfers, The Reverend Horton Heat, The New York Dolls, The Dwarves, White Zombie, and Nashville Pussy. The Murder City Devils name check Eddie Spaghetti in their song "Lemuria Rising."

[edit] Causes

The band has been involved in several charitable causes over their career, notably playing a few Farm Aid shows. But the cause they seem to tout above all others, apart from themselves, is that of the West Memphis 3. They have held a number of eBay auctions and concerts to benefit the three's legal defense fund, in addition to being involved in a benefit album entitled Free the West Memphis 3, of which Eddie Spaghetti was one of the producers.

The band also played at the VladiROCKstok '96 Music Festival in Vladivostok, Russia. According to a CBS News report, Russian fans enjoyed their hard-driving style and cowboy hats, while the festival supported Friends of the Earth and a local children's fund. According to lore, the heavy police presence and temporary stage barriers inspired their song "Barricade."

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former members

  • Dancing Eagle – drums, backing vocals (1988–2005)
  • Rick Sims – guitars, backing vocals (1995–1996)
  • Dusty Watson – drums (2005–2006)
  • Eric Martin – lead vocals (1988–1989)

[edit] Discography

Main article: The Supersuckers discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

7" Single Releases on the Sub Pop label

  • SP125 Like A Big Fuckin' Train / Luck / I Say Fuck / Caliente / Retarded Bill / Four Stroke 7"
  • SP170 Hell City Hell / Dead Homiez 7"
  • SP225 She's My Bitch / Drinkin N Drivin 7"
  • SP249 400 Bucks / Caliente 7" (With The Reverend Horton Heat)
  • SP296 Born With A Tail / Are You Ready? 7"
  • SP314 Born With A Tail / Run Like A Motherfucker 7"
  • SP315 Marie / 19th Most Powerful Woman In Rock 7"
  • SP384 Leave This Town / Mother Mary 7"

[1]

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ http://www.vinylnet.co.uk/record-label-discographies.asp link

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Supersuckers"
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