The Supersuckers

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Supersuckers

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Img_capt = The Supersuckers performing live in September 2006.
Img_size = 250px
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Alias = The Black Supersuckers
The Junkyard Dogs
Origin = Tucson, Arizona, USA
Genre = Rock
Garage punk
Grunge
Cowpunk
Years_active = 1988–present
Label = Sub Pop, Mid-Fi
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.supersuckers.com Official Band Site]
Current_members = Eddie Spaghetti
Ron "Rontrose" Heathman
Dan "Thunder" Bolton
Scott "Scottzilla" Churilla
Past_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 long needed break from the road. 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 fulltime drummer.

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 of the band the Didjits for the recording of their third album, "The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers", and the subsequent tour. He 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.

Band members

Current members

*Eddie Spaghetti – bass (1988–present), lead vocals (1989–present)
*Ron "Rontrose" Heathman – guitars, backing vocals (1988–1995, 1996–present)
*Dan "Thunder" Bolton – guitars, backing vocals (1988–2003, 2005–present)
*Scott "Scottzilla" Churilla – drums (2006–present)

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)

Discography

Albums

* "The Songs All Sound the Same" — 1992, eMpty Records (singles collection)
* "The Smoke of Hell" — 1992, Sub Pop
* "La Mano Cornuda" — 1994, Sub Pop
* "The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers" — 1995, Sub Pop
* "Must've Been High" — 1997, Sub-Pop (country)
* "How the Supersuckers Became the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World" — 1999, Sub Pop
* "The Evil Powers of Rock 'N' Roll" — 1999, KOCH
* "Must've Been Live" — 2002, Mid-Fi (live) (country)
* "Splitsville 1" — 2002 (split with Electric Frankenstein)
* "Motherfuckers Be Trippin'" — 2003, Mid-Fi
* "Live at the Magic Bag" — 2004, Mid-Fi (live)
* "Live at the Tractor Tavern" — 2004, Mid-Fi (live) (country)
* "Devil's Food" — 2005, Mid-Fi (singles collection)
* "Paid — 2006
* "Live at the Whole Foods Market Digital Download; 2007
* "Get It Together — 2008

ingles

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" [http://www.vinylnet.co.uk/record-label-discographies.asp link]

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, and White Zombie. The Murder City Devils name check Eddie Spaghetti in their song "Lemuria Rising."

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 concertsto benefit the three's legal defense fund, in addition to being involved in a benefit albumentitled "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."

References

* [http://www.supersuckers.com/bio.php Official band bio page]
* [http://www.supersuckers.com/albums.php Official album discography]
* [http://www.supersuckers.com/singles.php Official singles discography]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.supersuckers.com Official Band Site]
* [http://www.epitunes.com/Artists/Supersuckers Supersuckers Music and Tour Dates]
* [http://www.highanddrymovie.com High and Dry: Where the Desert Meets Rock and Roll] - documentary about the Tucson Music Scene feat. music and interviews with The Supersuckers
* [http://www.archive.org/details/Supersuckers Supersuckers collection] at the Internet Archive's live music archive