Bantam Rooster
Bantam Rooster was an American garage punk band, formed in 1994 in Lansing, Michigan and disbanded in 2003. Bantam Rooster was a duo composed of vocalist and guitarist Thomas Jackson Potter and drummer Eric Cook with later members Mike Alonso (ex-Dirtys) and Nick Lloyd (ex-Buzzards) filling in on drums.
Known for their hillbilly-influenced garage punk sound, the duo fluctuated between the all-out rock of "Dumb it Down" to the more melodic & lyrical stylings of "Perceptive Pornstar". Jim Diamond, the music producer and one-time member of The Dirtbombs along with Potter, has been dubbed the "3rd Rooster", appearing occasionally live and producing.
The group were first signed to Crypt Records in 1996, releasing Deal Me In (1997) and Cross and the Switchblade (1999) to critical acclaim. In 2000, they moved to the revered Sympathy for the Record Industry imprint for the release of Fuck All Y'All, and received further exposure through their similar approach to their then label-mates, The White Stripes. Bantam Rooster disbanded in 2003 as Potter formed the funk rock band Detroit City Council.
Potter also did time in The Dirtbombs, appearing on their albums Ultraglide in Black and Dangerous Magical Noise. He was also in Seger Liberation Army.
Bantam Rooster was mentioned (and Potter as an unnamed character) in Elmore Leonard's novel Mr. Paradise.
They have also appeared in several books including "Detroit Rock City" by Steve Miller and "We Never Learn" by Eric Davidson as well as numerous documentaries including "It Came From Detroit" directed by James Petix.
Discography
- Watch Me Burn (Flying Bomb Records) (single), 1997
- Deal Me In (Crypt Records), 1997
- Cross and the Switchblade (Crypt Records), 1999
- Big Mess (Flying Bomb Records) (EP), 2000
- Fl (Sympathy for the Record Industry), 2000
- Mexican Leather (Big Neck Records), 2000