King Louie Bankston

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150
Name = King Louie Bankston
Img_capt = King Louie Bankston
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Louis Paul Bankston
Born = Harahan, Louisiana, USA
Instrument = Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Percussion, Keyboards
Genre = Garage Punk, Punk, Garage
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 1987 – present
Label = Goner Records, Sympathy for the Record Industry, Dirtnap Records, Empty Records
Associated_acts = King Louie One Man Band, Royal Pendeltons, The Loose DiamondsThe Persuaders, Kajun SS, Kondor, Bad Times, Exploding Hearts, Black Rose Band

King Louie Bankston (born Louis Paul Bankston ) is a highly prolific garage punk musician from Nolahan (New Orleans/Harahan), Louisiana. He is best known for his work in The Royal Pendletons, The Persuaders, The Exploding Hearts, and The King Louie One Man Band. [http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A23415] He was born on December 18, 197? and shares a birthday with Keith Richards, Nick Collins, and Christina Aguilera.

History

The Royal Pendeltons

King Louie helped found the Royal Pendeltons in 1991 along with Michael Hurtt on guitar/vocals, J. Matthew Uhlman on guitar/vocals, and G. Thomas Oliver on organ. The Pendeltons put out their first 7" out on Goner Records in 1995, and in 1998 put out a full-length LP out on Sympathy for the Record Industry entitled Oh, Yeah Baby. [http://www.geocities.com/cavestoneage/royalpendletons/ROYALPENDLETONS.htm]

The Persuaders

King Louie Bankston formed the critically-acclaimed and highly influential garage rock band, The Persuaders in 1996, along with Jason Panzer on guitar, and Shaggy on drums. [http://www.grunnenrocks.nl/bands/p/persuaders.htm] In The Persuaders, Louie and Jason Panzer both sang and played Gibson Flying V guitars. The Reatards, featuring Jay Reatard opened for The Persuaders on the very first The Reatards tour. [http://turnit-down.blogspot.com/2007/10/jay-reatard-interview.html]

The Bad Times

Bad Times were a one-off band which also included Eric Friedl and Jay Reatard. The band recorded an album’s worth of material after only one practice session in 1998, releasing a self-titled LP in 2001. After one live performance the band disbanded, the members returning to their respective solo commitments. [http://www.terminal-boredom.com/jay.html]

The Exploding Hearts

In 2002, Louie moved to Portland, OR and joined the Exploding Hearts, where he co-wrote, and played keyboards on their only LP, Guitar Romantic. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42955-exploding-hearts-bankston-cooks-up-imemphis-treeti]

King Louie and the Loose Diamonds

In 2007, Empty Records released Memphis Treet by King Louie and the Loose Diamonds. The Loose Diamonds are: King Louie Bankston, Jack Yarber (Oblivians, Cool Jerks, Tearjerkers), Harlan T. Bobo (Viva L'American Deathray Music), Adam Woodard (Tearjerkers), and Chad Booth (Kajun SS). [http://www.emptyrecords.com/empty/releases/record_detail.asp?intRecordId=239]

The King Louie One Man Band

King Louie started his One Man Band in 1999. In the King Louie One Man Band, Louie sings, plays drums, guitar, cowbell, and harmonia. [http://liveneworleans.com/detail.php?id=82] The King Louie One Man Band has released several 7" records on various labels, and put out a full-length LP on Goner in 2004. [http://www.grunnenrocks.nl/bands/k/kinglouie1manband.htm]

Other Bands

King Louie Bankston has played in an endless number of bands in the past 20 years. These bands include the Intelligenitals (87) , The Lame Ones (88) The Clickems (90-91) , Dirt Boys/Harahan Crack Combo (91-92) Gerry and the bastard Makers (92-94), The Royal Pendletons (91-99/2003-present), Christies Paddad Toilet Seat (92), Sun of the Caesar (94), Funny Boys (95), [The Persuaders (96-99), Bad Times (98), Head Wounds (99), King Louie One Man Band(99-present), 10-4 Backdoor (2000-2003), Exploding Hearts(2002-2003) , King louie and the Loose Diamonds (2003-present), Hot Dog (2004), Kajun SS (2004-2005), Kondor (2003-present) , Black Rose Band (2005-present) , Lonley Knights (2007-present)...sang on an Oblivians record(199?). [http://www.myspace.com/kinglouieandhisrocknroll]

References

* Lisle, Andrea. [http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A23415] "www.memphisflyer.com". Accessed June 28, 2008.
*http://www.geocities.com/cavestoneage/royalpendletons/ROYALPENDLETONS.htm] "www.geocities.com/cavestoneage". Accessed June 28, 2008.
* Maher, Dave. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42955-exploding-hearts-bankston-cooks-up-imemphis-treeti] "www.pitchforkmedia.com". Accessed June 28, 2008.
* Tupica, Rich. [http://turnit-down.blogspot.com/2007/10/jay-reatard-interview.html Jay Reatard Interview] "turnit-down.blogspot.com". October 15, 2007. Accessed June 28, 2008.