Mud Boy and the Neutrons

Mud Boy and the Neutrons is a Memphis rock music band who influenced the Memphis alternative rock scene in the 1970s through the 1990s, inspiring groups like Tav Falco's Panther Burns, North Mississippi Allstars (featuring two of Jim Dickinson's sons), Big Ass Truck, and others from the area.

They released three albums on labels like New Rose Records (France) and Koch International. The group featured Jim Dickinson on keyboards, vocals and guitar, Sid Selvidge on acoustic guitar and vocals, Lee Baker on electric guitar, and Jimmy Crosthwait on washboard. Baker, who made a guest appearance on Big Star's Third/Sister Lovers album and led his own Lee Baker & The Agitators group, died on September 10, 1996. At that time Mud Boy and the Neutrons temporarily disbanded, but reformed in 2005 to perform at a festival of Memphis music held at The Barbican in London. This concert was filmed but to date remains unreleased.

The group has always been known for deliberately making their offbeat public performances rare, special events; they never toured. Their music style included elements of varying Southern United States-oriented music styles including blues, "swamp" music, R&B, folk music, gospel music, and country.

Two sons of Dickinson (Luther and Cody), influenced by the group, formed the North Mississippi All Stars with other musicians in the 1990s; Selvidge's son Steve founded a group called Big Ass Truck in the same period.

Discography

• Known Felons in Drag (1986)
• Negro Streets at Dawn (1993)
• They Walk Among Us (1995)

Compilations

• Play New Rose For Me (1987)
• It Came From Memphis, Volume 1 (1995)
• It Came From Memphis, Volume 2 (2001)
• On Air: Live Music From The WEVL Archives (1996)

References

• Ankeny, Jason. "Jim Dickinson Biography." Allmusic. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
• Gordon, Robert (1995). It Came From Memphis. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-1045-9.
• ___. (1996). "Lee Baker" (obituary). Living Blues #130: 49.
• Hoppula, Pete (1998–2005). "Jim Dickinson." Wang Dang Dula!" Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
• "Ardent Studios – Sun 3 Apr – 7.30pm." It Came From Memphis event webpage. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
• Koda, Cub. "They Walk Among Us." Allmusic. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
• Shaw, Norm (October 1996). "Lee Baker: 1944 to 1996." BlueSpeak. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
• Wirz, Stefan. "Sid Selvidge Discography." American Music. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
• De Winter, Maxim. "It Came From Memphis - blog."
• "Lee Baker & The Agitators - Icehouse Records" Retrieved Sept. 18, 2005.
• "Jim Dickinson: Compilations" Retrieved Sept. 18, 2005
• Koch, Stephen. "The Unknown Supergroup." Arkansas Times. Last updated Sept. 21, 2006 [1]