The Long Ryders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Long Ryders (Sid Griffin, guitar, autoharp, bugle; Stephen McCarthy, guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, banjo ; Tom Stevens, bass; Greg Sowders, drums) were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s and originally associated with a movement sometimes called the Paisley Underground. With a sound reminiscent of Gram Parsons-era Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Flying Burrito Brothers, but with a harder edge, they anticipated the alternative country music of the 1990s by a decade. (Former Byrd Gene Clark added vocals to the song "Ivory Tower," on the 1984 Native Sons.) The group disbanded in 1987, but reunited in 2004 for a brief European tour, including a performance at the Glastonbury Festival. Further touring is possible for summer 2008.
Apart from occasional Long Ryders activity, Griffin, who relocated to London, has kept busy as a solo artist and bandleader (The Coal Porters, Western Electric), and as a music journalist and critic. McCarthy, after a stint leading his own band, Walker Stories, returned home to Richmond, Virginia; he played in the indie supergroup Gutterball with Steve Wynn and fellow Richmondites Bryan Harvey and Johnny Hott of House of Freaks, and in 2003 began playing with The Jayhawks. Stevens returned to his native Indiana, earned a degree in computer science and continues to release solo albums. And Sowders, who was married for a time to the singer Lucinda Williams, went to work in music publishing.
Origins & Lineup changes: The Long Ryders formed from the ashes of the Los Angeles band The Unclaimed. Founding members were Sid Griffin and the Long Ryders' original bassist Barry Shank. Their initial studio release (EP 10-5-60) consisted of Griffin (native of Kentucky), replacement bassist Chris (Des) Brewer from Australia, Stephen McCarthy (Richmond, VA) and Greg Sowders (Los Angeles, CA). Brewer was replaced after 10-5-60 by Tom Stevens (Elkhart, IN), thus forming the permanent lineup (Griffin, McCarthy, Sowders, Stevens) which would remain in place until their eventual breakup (and later reunion).
[edit] Albums
- 10-5-60 (1983)
- Native Sons (1984)
- State of Our Union (1985)
- Two-Fisted Tales (1987)
- Metallic B.O. (1989)
- BBC Radio One Live in Concert (1994)
- Anthology (1998)
- State Of Our Reunion (2004)
[edit] DVD
- Rockin' at the Roxy
