Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers

Infobox musical artist
Name = Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers


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Origin = Tempe, Arizona, USA
Genre = Americana
Alternative country
Southern rock
Years_active = 1998 – present
Label = EmmaJava
Associated_acts = The Refreshments
Dialectrics
Dead Hot Workshop
Gloritone
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Current_members = Roger Clyne
Paul "P.H." Naffah
Steve Larson
Nick Scropos
Past_members = Danny White
Scott "Scotty" Johnson
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Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers is an Alt-Country/Rock band from Tempe, Arizona, USA. The band is typically referred to by the fans as "The Peacemakers" or by the abbreviation "RCPM". The Peacemakers' music is known to cross genres, with some songs showing a more Country influence, and others sounding more like a modern pop song. More recently, the band's influences have included more of a Reggae/South of the Border influence.

Roger Clyne's lyrics frequently showcase his Southwestern roots, and frequently invoke images of cowboys, Federales, and references to Mexico and places in Arizona, amongst other Southwestern references.

History

After the demise of The Refreshments, a semi-successful rock band of the 1990s known for their top radio hit "Banditos," and also for the theme song to the long-running animated series King of the Hill, former frontman Roger Clyne and drummer Paul "P.H." Naffah formed a new band that would be called Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers.

The two were joined by former Gin Blossom, Scott Johnson; Steve Larson, former guitarist for another Tempe band, Dead Hot Workshop; and bass player Danny White.

Honky Tonk Union

Honky Tonk Union was released in 1999 in limited quantities with a bonus live CD, Real to Reel. The next year, they released an extended version of Real to Reel as a stand-alone album.

The musical feel of Honky Tonk Union was a noticeable change from Clyne's previous works with The Refreshments. Whereas The Refreshments had a prominent lead guitar and edgy southwestern rock feel, Honky Tonk Union displayed a heavier country influence along with focusing more on the singer-songwriter aspect of the band.

onoran Hope and Madness

The Peacemakers' next studio effort, 2002's Sonoran Hope and Madness, explored the deeper themes of returning to the basics of life, of loss and of resurgence. Sonoran Hope and Madness was a tale of the demise of a much-loved way of life.

In 2002, Scott Johnson left the band to rejoin with the Gin Blossoms. Steve Larson then stepped up to the lead guitar position.

¡Americano!

2004 saw the release of ¡Americano!, the band's third studio effort. ¡Americano! is a series of stories set not in the dusty Mexican borderlands, like the previous albums, but on a Mexican beach, miles away from the daily grind.

In early 2004, shortly after the release of ¡Americano!, Danny White left the Peacemakers to start his own recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee. He was replaced by Nick Scropos, who. at the time, was the bassist for another Tempe band, Gloritone. Scropos was the original bass player for The Peacemakers when they formed, even having played the bass track for the crowd favorite Green & Dumb before departing due to a previous obligation to Gloritone.

Live at Billy Bob's Texas

In March 2005, the Peacemakers were asked to play at Billy Bob's Texas, a famous honky-tonk bar in Texas where they recorded their 2nd official live release. The recording from that performance sold well enough to make them the only independent band to have five consecutive top-10 albums on the Billboard Internet Sales Chart.

Four Unlike Before

In April 2006, the Peacemakers released a four song EP, Four Unlike Before, which is currently available only through iTunes. This EP included 3 alternate versions of songs previously released, as well as a song until then only performed live, Mexicosis.

No More Beautiful World

The band's fourth studio album, No More Beautiful World, was released on March 20, 2007. No More Beautiful World marked a return of sorts to the collaborative team of Roger Clyne and Producer Clif Norrell who had previously worked together on The Refreshments album Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy.

The Turbo Ocho Sessions

Starting on January 04, 2008, the Peacemakers started an eight day consecutive recording session in Rocky Point, Mexico. For that period, they lived, wrote, and recorded together. Each day a new song was created from the ground up. Daily video logs of the creative and recording process as well as rough cut versions of each song were added to the band's web page each day for eight consecutive days, culminating in a live concert at JJ's Cantina in Cholla Bay.

Current Activities

Touring

The Peacemakers tour heavily, both as a headlining band and opening for national acts such as Sammy Hagar and John Fogerty.

Circus Mexicus

Twice a year, an ever-increasing following of fans from around the globe descend on the Mexican beach town of Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) for their "Circus Mexicus" bash. Circus Mexicus features a four-hour long concert in a vacant lot adjacent to the Sunset Cantina. The weekend culminates with a "hangover bash" at JJ's Cantina in nearby Cholla Bay on Sunday at which band members mingle with the fans and sign autographs.

Band members

Current members

*Roger Clyne – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, kazoo (1998–present)
*Steve Larson – lead guitar, backing vocals (1998–present)
*Nick Scropos – bass, backing vocals (1998, 2004–present)
*Paul "P.H." Naffah – drums, percussion (1998–present)

Former members

*Danny White – bass, backing vocals (1998–2004)
*Scott "Scotty" Johnson – lead guitar, backing vocals (1998–2002)

Discography

*"Honky Tonk Union" (1999)
*"Real to Reel" (2000)
*"Sonoran Hope & Madness" (2002)
*"¡Americano!" (2004)
*"Live at Billy Bob's Texas" (2005)
*"Four Unlike Before" (2006)
*"No More Beautiful World" (2007)
*"Turbo Ocho Sessions" (2008)

External links

* [http://www.azpeacemakers.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/RogerClyneandThePeacemakers Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers on the Live Music Archive]
* [http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=16758 High Country News Article, December 25, 2006]
* [http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/2006/05/roger-clyne-interview-its-beautiful.html I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS Interview, 2006]
* [http://www.ktbg.fm/artists/clyne.html KTBG Interview]
* [http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/Issues/1999-10-07/music/music.html Phoenix New Times Interview, 1999]
* [http://wastinaway.net/podblog.php/jbcast/comments/episode_37_the_roger_clyne_interview/ WASTIN' AWAY ON THE NORTH COAST Interview, 2007]