The Slugs
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| The Slugs | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Chicago, IL |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Years active | 1983-present |
| Label(s) | Pravda Records, Chicago Famous Mistakes, Chicago |
| Website | http://www.theslugs.com |
| Members | |
| Dag Juhlin Greg Juhlin Johnny L. Mike Halston |
|
| Former members | |
| Al Paulson Tristan Gallagher |
|
The Slugs are a rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Starting in 1983, the band plays power pop heavily influenced by bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Kinks.
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[edit] Biography
The Slugs grew out of basement jam sessions of brothers, guitarist Dag and bassist Gregg (born, Dale Gregory) Juhlin and guitarist Al Paulson in Paulson’s Park Ridge, Illinois home. All three were co-workers at SportsVision (later renamed SportsChannel and FoxSports Chicago). By the early eighties, anxious to become a real band, the trio put out an add for a drummer which was answered by Chicago native, Mike Halston. The Slugs were officially formed on March 6, 1983.
Al Paulson left the group soon after, and they were later later joined by English vocalist Tristan Gallagher who left in 1985. The reduced group put out their first single, "Walking in Circles/Give Me a Sunday "in 1986 on Susstone Records. Their second single, "Back to the Playground/Now They Can All Lie Down" (Pravda Records).
In 1988, while still a trio, the Slugs put out their first album, Non-Stop Holiday on Pravda Records, the sleeve of which displays a photograph of an adolescent Mike Halston. The band toured extensively throughout the Midwest gaining a cult following but little notice from record companies.
In 1990, Johnny L (born John Lukashevich), formerly a sound man for the group, officially joined the band as lead guitarist, with Dag moving to rhythm guitar. Frequently taking long hiatuses due to tensions within the group, the Slugs creative output was meager. The band’s second album, Fort Fun (Pravda Records) was released in 1992 and their third, Junior (Famous Mistakes Records) in 2000. Even without popular acclaim, the Slugs frequently played to full houses at local Chicago bars such as Schuba’s and the Hideout. There were rumors of a fourth album, but the band has been on virtually indefinite hiatus since the release of Junior.
[edit] Music
The Slug’s onstage demeanor can be described as raucous, irreverent and energetic, an energy that is only rarely translated in their recorded music. The band often breaks into outright comedy on stage trading inside jokes with each other and their core fans. They frequently launch into cover versions of songs from the Who as well as other songs such as Blue Swede’s "Hooked on a Feeling," "Winter Wonderland" and The Kings' "Switching to Glide." The majority of the songs are written by Dag Juhlin with some others by Gregg and Johnny L.
[edit] Other Projects
Before the Slugs, Dag Juhlin was in a band called Horizon and Dag and Gregg were in a band called Chaser. Drummer Mike Halston was bandmates with James Pintozzi in 1981 & 1982 (later bass player for Johnny L band).
From 1992-1999, Dag Juhlin was lead guitarist for Poi Dog Pondering. Dag began appearing with the group again as early as 2001, and by 2005 was an official member of the band again.
Johnny L released a solo album, Brain Pop, in 1999 on The Orchard label. Johnny played shows supporting this release with Slugs drummer Mike Halston and bass player of Chicago's Boom Hank, Clark Hayes.
Dag released a 2CD demo collection "House Music" in 1999, as well as a solo record, "Into The Woods" in 2004 on his own 11:14 Records.
Dag Juhlin is also a member of the Goldstars along with members of other Chicago indie rock icons, the New Duncan Imperials and Krinkles.
Dag and Gregg formed The Greenwoods in early 2005 along with former Daisy Chain/Mind Bomb drummer and fellow Park Ridge, Illinois native, Jim Bashaw.
Gregg Juhlin played bass and toured with The Service, The New Duncan Imperials and Cheer-Accident. Gregg Juhlin also played bass on several tracks of Johnny L's "Brain Pop" album.
Dag played a pair of shows as guitarist for Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices) in winter, 2007. More shows may take place in summer, 2008.
[edit] Discography
- "Walking in Circles", single, -- Susstones, 1986
- "Back to the Playgrounds" -- single, Pravda, 1987
- Non-Stop Holiday -- Pravda, 1988
- 20 Explosive Dynamic Super Smash Hit Explosions -- cover of Hooked on a Feeling (Pravda, 1991)
- Fort Fun – Pravda, 1992
- Super Fantastic Mega Smash Hits! - Hooked on a Feeling - (BMG/Backyard/Pravda, 1995)
- "Margaret" - Home Brewed in the Windy City - (WXRT/Starbucks, 1999)
- Junior – Famous Mistakes, 2000
- "Honey Rose" - Urbs in Horto compilation (Johann's Face) 2003
- Table Scraps - compilation/retrospective - fan club release 2005
[edit] Trivia
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The Slugs released a video to the song "Margaret," the opening track of their album, Junior.
Several Slugs songs have appeared on episodes of the television shows, Felicity, Party of Five, Melrose Place, and Dawson's Creek.
The Slugs played a 20th anniversary concert on December 13, 2003 at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago.
Dag was interviewed for a forthcoming book on the Chicago rock scene during the 90's, written by noted local radio personality James Van Osdol.
Mike Halston is a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys) as a performer and member of the Producers and Engineers wing.
The Slugs were the subject of a one hour special episode of Local Anesthetic with Richard Milne on WXRT radio in Chicago, corresponding with the release of the CD "Junior" in the spring of 2000.
As Video Cooridnator for Northwestern University Football between 1995 - 2004, Gregg was part of three Big Ten championships.
