Deadboy & the Elephantmen
Encyclopedia
Deadboy & the Elephantmen was an American
indie rock
band from 2000 to 2007. Based in Houma, Louisiana
, the band was fronted by Dax Riggs
(formerly of Acid Bath
and Agents of Oblivion
).
After disputes with an independent label over the distribution of their debut album If This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky
, the band signed a three-record deal with Fat Possum
. For the latter part of 2005, and most of 2006, they toured in support of their major label debut, We Are Night Sky
, playing from bars and smaller venues to Lollapalooza
, Austin City Limits
, and Bonnaroo. In early 2006, Riggs recruited his former Agents of Oblivion bandmate, Alex Bergeron, to play bass on tour. Later that year, the band was primarily a duo of Riggs and Tessie Brunet. This line-up was often compared to The White Stripes
in reviews, and their music is sometimes referred to as "swamp rock." By 2007, Brunet left the band and Riggs went on to a solo career.
. The earliest incarnations of DBATEM were little more than Dax Riggs
playing solo shows under the moniker when not using his own name or the rarely used T-Daks & His White Plastic Soul. He would play early versions of Deadboy songs along with covers of Leonard Cohen
, Bonnie "Prince" Billy
and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
, among others.
As time went on, Riggs began expanding the band and by early 2001 had a full line-up.
Deadboy's first album, If This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky was released in 2002. The album was discontinued and for a time was extremely hard to find. However, it has recently been re-released by Rotten Records and Fat Possum. Fat Possum's re-issue altered the artwork, spine and disc to say Dax Riggs instead of deadboy and The Elephantmen. Rotten's re-issue kept the original art intact.
Following the first album Dax Riggs sought new musicians after a couple of the band members quit. The line-up for the first album consisted of Jason Dupre on the guitar, Christopher Gautreaux on the bass, and Jeff LeCompte on the drums. Niki Rhodes Jr. then rejoined the project again, after leaving it the first time, and Christopher(Sax and keys) began working with him on futuristic techno rock. Other musicians where then brought in after Christopher and Niki left the group, and New York City
-based Nasty Little Man
handled the band's live promotions. It was during this time that Brunet was recruited and the two began recording.
An EP, Song Mechanism
, was released in late 2004. It was distributed by Riggs through Deadboy's website and various local Louisiana music stores. It too has been discontinued though all four tracks from the EP later appeared on We Are Night Sky.
We Are Night Sky
was made available for purchase online in late 2005, but its official release date was February 7, 2006. While it is technically the second full-length album for Deadboy & The Elephantmen, it is the first featuring the simpler two-person lineup and is better distributed than previous efforts, and as such is often referred to as their 'debut' album.
Upon discovering We Are Night Sky, Henry Rollins
began championing the band on his radio show Harmony in My Head
and his TV show The Henry Rollins Show
. He has since had the band on the latter to perform "Stop, I'm Already Dead".
In late 2006, Brunet left the band, but it has yet to be stated as to why and under what terms. On April 16, 2007 it was announced that the band was no more, and further records will be released under Dax Riggs' own name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from 2000 to 2007. Based in Houma, Louisiana
Houma, Louisiana
Houma is a city in and the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's powers of government have been absorbed by the parish, which is now run by the Terrebonne Parish...
, the band was fronted by Dax Riggs
Dax Riggs
Dax David Riggs , is an American musician from Houma, Louisiana, most well known for formerly fronting the sludge band Acid Bath in the 1990s. Dax has been a part of many projects since then, including Agents of Oblivion and Deadboy & the Elephantmen. In 2007 he began releasing material under his...
(formerly of Acid Bath
Acid Bath
Acid Bath was a seminal American sludge metal band from Houma, Louisiana that was active from 1991 to 1997. Acid Bath combined doom metal roots with influences from black metal, death metal, gothic rock, blues, folk, and country...
and Agents of Oblivion
Agents of Oblivion
Agents of Oblivion was an American alternative rock band from Louisiana that evolved from the ashes of Acid Bath. Fronted by Dax Riggs, their sound encapsulated psychedelic rock and blues-rock elements creating swamp rock.-History:...
).
After disputes with an independent label over the distribution of their debut album If This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky
If This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky
If This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky is the debut album by Deadboy & the Elephantmen, fronted by Dax Riggs, formerly of Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion. The album was re-released on February 5, 2008 under Dax Riggs' name only, and again in 2010 by Rotten Records, using the bands proper title...
, the band signed a three-record deal with Fat Possum
Fat Possum Records
Fat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
. For the latter part of 2005, and most of 2006, they toured in support of their major label debut, We Are Night Sky
We Are Night Sky
We Are Night Sky is the second full-length album of Deadboy & the Elephantmen. However it is often considered to be their first album, due to its sole major label level. It is also the first full length album to feature drummer Tessie Brunet....
, playing from bars and smaller venues to Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
, Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
, and Bonnaroo. In early 2006, Riggs recruited his former Agents of Oblivion bandmate, Alex Bergeron, to play bass on tour. Later that year, the band was primarily a duo of Riggs and Tessie Brunet. This line-up was often compared to The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
in reviews, and their music is sometimes referred to as "swamp rock." By 2007, Brunet left the band and Riggs went on to a solo career.
Background
Deadboy & the Elephantmen first appeared in late 2000, following in the wake of the break-up of Agents of OblivionAgents of Oblivion
Agents of Oblivion was an American alternative rock band from Louisiana that evolved from the ashes of Acid Bath. Fronted by Dax Riggs, their sound encapsulated psychedelic rock and blues-rock elements creating swamp rock.-History:...
. The earliest incarnations of DBATEM were little more than Dax Riggs
Dax Riggs
Dax David Riggs , is an American musician from Houma, Louisiana, most well known for formerly fronting the sludge band Acid Bath in the 1990s. Dax has been a part of many projects since then, including Agents of Oblivion and Deadboy & the Elephantmen. In 2007 he began releasing material under his...
playing solo shows under the moniker when not using his own name or the rarely used T-Daks & His White Plastic Soul. He would play early versions of Deadboy songs along with covers of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
, among others.
As time went on, Riggs began expanding the band and by early 2001 had a full line-up.
Deadboy's first album, If This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky was released in 2002. The album was discontinued and for a time was extremely hard to find. However, it has recently been re-released by Rotten Records and Fat Possum. Fat Possum's re-issue altered the artwork, spine and disc to say Dax Riggs instead of deadboy and The Elephantmen. Rotten's re-issue kept the original art intact.
Following the first album Dax Riggs sought new musicians after a couple of the band members quit. The line-up for the first album consisted of Jason Dupre on the guitar, Christopher Gautreaux on the bass, and Jeff LeCompte on the drums. Niki Rhodes Jr. then rejoined the project again, after leaving it the first time, and Christopher(Sax and keys) began working with him on futuristic techno rock. Other musicians where then brought in after Christopher and Niki left the group, and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based Nasty Little Man
Nasty Little Man
Nasty Little Man is a public relations firm based in New York City designed specifically to promote musicians and bands. It was founded in 1992 by Steve Martin, a freelance music journalist...
handled the band's live promotions. It was during this time that Brunet was recruited and the two began recording.
An EP, Song Mechanism
Song Mechanism
Originally distributed through Deadboy & the Elephantmen's website, and also by various local Louisiana music stores, Song Mechanism showcases four songs that were later included in Deadboy's second full-length album We Are Night Sky...
, was released in late 2004. It was distributed by Riggs through Deadboy's website and various local Louisiana music stores. It too has been discontinued though all four tracks from the EP later appeared on We Are Night Sky.
We Are Night Sky
We Are Night Sky
We Are Night Sky is the second full-length album of Deadboy & the Elephantmen. However it is often considered to be their first album, due to its sole major label level. It is also the first full length album to feature drummer Tessie Brunet....
was made available for purchase online in late 2005, but its official release date was February 7, 2006. While it is technically the second full-length album for Deadboy & The Elephantmen, it is the first featuring the simpler two-person lineup and is better distributed than previous efforts, and as such is often referred to as their 'debut' album.
Upon discovering We Are Night Sky, Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
began championing the band on his radio show Harmony in My Head
Harmony in My Head
"Harmony in My Head" is a song by Buzzcocks. It was released as a single in 1979, reaching number 32 in the British charts. It is one of few Buzzcocks songs written and sung by guitarist Steve Diggle, and gives its title to his autobiography....
and his TV show The Henry Rollins Show
The Henry Rollins Show
The Henry Rollins Show was a weekly talk show hosted by Henry Rollins on the Independent Film Channel . The show featured Rollins' monologues, interviews with celebrities and uncensored musical performances. The show was canceled after the wrap of its second season.-Sections:Each episode features...
. He has since had the band on the latter to perform "Stop, I'm Already Dead".
In late 2006, Brunet left the band, but it has yet to be stated as to why and under what terms. On April 16, 2007 it was announced that the band was no more, and further records will be released under Dax Riggs' own name.
Discography
- If This Is Hell, Then I'm LuckyIf This Is Hell, Then I'm LuckyIf This Is Hell, Then I'm Lucky is the debut album by Deadboy & the Elephantmen, fronted by Dax Riggs, formerly of Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion. The album was re-released on February 5, 2008 under Dax Riggs' name only, and again in 2010 by Rotten Records, using the bands proper title...
, 2002 - Song MechanismSong MechanismOriginally distributed through Deadboy & the Elephantmen's website, and also by various local Louisiana music stores, Song Mechanism showcases four songs that were later included in Deadboy's second full-length album We Are Night Sky...
EP, 2004 (Self-released/distributed) - We Are Night SkyWe Are Night SkyWe Are Night Sky is the second full-length album of Deadboy & the Elephantmen. However it is often considered to be their first album, due to its sole major label level. It is also the first full length album to feature drummer Tessie Brunet....
, 2005/2006 (Fat Possum RecordsFat Possum RecordsFat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
)
Covers
Songs covered by deadboy & the Elephantmen.- Leonard CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
- I'm Your Man - Leonard CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
- Chelsea Hotel No. 2 - Pixies - Wave of Mutilation
- Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
- As I Sat Sadly By Her Side - Bonnie "Prince" BillyWill OldhamWill Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
- Grand Dark Feeling of Emptiness - The Rolling StonesThe Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
- Dead Flowers - Nick DrakeNick DrakeNicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
- Been Smokin' Too Long - Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
- Death Is Not The End - The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
- Yesterday - Richard Thompson - Wall of Death
External links
- Official Website
- A Board With No Name - Dax Riggs/deadboy and the Elephantmen forum
- DeathsGarden - DaxRiggs Myspace FanPage
- Deadboy & the Elephantmen collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive - Tinymixtapes live review