Galactic Cowboys
Encyclopedia
Galactic Cowboys was a Heavy Metal
band based in Houston, Texas. They combined progressive metal with a style of vocals influenced by The Beatles
and the heavy playing style of thrash bands such as Anthrax
. They have been described as "possibly the most melodic metal band ever to exist in Christian or general markets." Although the band members are Christians, they did not consider the Galactic Cowboys to be a Christian band.
The band has toured with prominent hard rock and metal acts such as Anthrax
, Dream Theater
, King's X
and Overkill
.
by bassist Monty Colvin and drummer Alan Doss of the band The Awful Truth
. When The Awful Truth broke up, Colvin and Doss joined singer Ben Huggins and guitarist Dane Sonnier to form Galactic Cowboys.
In 1990, the band was signed to DGC
and released their self-titled debut album
in 1991. Despite some favorable criticism, the band was ignored by the label due to the success of Nirvana
's Nevermind during that same time. After poor sales and some touring, they returned to the studio and released Space In Your Face
in 1993. Space... was the band's break into the general market. The album featured two minor hits for the band with "If I Were A Killer" and "I Do What I Do", both of which received regular airplay at MTV
and the now-defunct radio station ZROCK. DGC released Galactic Cowboys from their recording contract, and the band parted ways with manager Sam Taylor and guitarist Dane Sonnier.
The band appeared in the 1994 movie Airheads
, under the name "Sons of Thunder". The one original song they performed for that movie, "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful", is not available anywhere, and only a short excerpt is heard in the movie.
After briefly breaking up, the band reorganized with Wally Farkas on guitars and a new recording contract with Metal Blade Records
. The band released a third album, Machine Fish
, and an EP
titled Feel The Rage
in 1996. The album The Horse That Bud Bought
followed in 1997, departing from the band's metal sound into a toned-down style.
The band recorded At the End of the Day in 1998, a concept album regarded by fans as the band's peak effort. Two weeks before the album's release, drummer Alan Doss left the band. Session drummer Erick Tatuaka performed drums on the subsequent tour.
Galactic Cowboys' final album, Let It Go
, was released in 2000 and featured lead vocal performances by each band member. King's X
drummer Jerry Gaskill
, a friend of the band, performed drums on the album.
Besides original songs, Galactic Cowboys have recorded cover versions of songs by KISS
, Petra
and Wings
.
As of 2009, the former members of the band continue to be active in the music scene. The band performed 3 reunion shows in August 2009 in Houston, Dallas, and Austin.
, Foo Fighters
, and the Ramones
, in addition to the aforementioned Galactic Cowboys. The third Crunchy album, Loserville (2007), includes a contribution by Kerry Livgren
of Kansas
.
In addition to playing in Crunchy, Monty currently hosts an irregular hour-long Internet podcast called "Monty's Rockcast" on his personal web site: http://www.montycolvin.net.
Monty is also a cousin of the now deceased Dee Dee Ramone
(Douglas Glenn Colvin), formerly of the Ramones. Monty's bass also provides a distinct sound which is much evident in Galactic Cowboys' sound.
. Gristle's first album, Cold Blue Sky, was released in downloadable format on July 17, 2010.
of King's X to release two ambient albums under the name Xenuphobe ("1.0", released in 2006 and "2.0: Electrolux", released in 2007). Recently, he established a new record label, Molken Music for a handful of artists with which he has had prior connections.
Wally co-produced and played guitar on the latest solo disc from Doug Pinnick
of King's X, Strum Sum Up. He is currently finishing work on his forthcoming solo album Past Due.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band based in Houston, Texas. They combined progressive metal with a style of vocals influenced by The Beatles
The Beatles
The 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...
and the heavy playing style of thrash bands such as Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. They have been described as "possibly the most melodic metal band ever to exist in Christian or general markets." Although the band members are Christians, they did not consider the Galactic Cowboys to be a Christian band.
The band has toured with prominent hard rock and metal acts such as Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
and Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
.
History
Galactic Cowboys was formed in 1989 in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
by bassist Monty Colvin and drummer Alan Doss of the band The Awful Truth
The Awful Truth (band)
The Awful Truth were a progressive metal band from the late 1980s based in Houston, Texas, United States.They were a three piece consisting of bassist Monty Colvin, drummer Alan Doss and guitarist David von Ohlerking. They only released one album, the eponymously-titled The Awful Truth...
. When The Awful Truth broke up, Colvin and Doss joined singer Ben Huggins and guitarist Dane Sonnier to form Galactic Cowboys.
In 1990, the band was signed to DGC
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
and released their self-titled debut album
Galactic Cowboys (album)
Galactic Cowboys is the eponymous debut album from the band of the same name. The album was called "The most exciting release of 1991" by HM Magazine editor Doug Van Pelt.-Notes:...
in 1991. Despite some favorable criticism, the band was ignored by the label due to the success of Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
's Nevermind during that same time. After poor sales and some touring, they returned to the studio and released Space In Your Face
Space in Your Face
Space In Your Face is the second studio album from heavy metal band Galactic Cowboys.-Trivia:* The man on the cover of "Space In Your Face" is David Kitchens, former ranch hand for singer Ben Huggins’ brother-in-law, as he was the only person they could find who fit in the suit.* During the song...
in 1993. Space... was the band's break into the general market. The album featured two minor hits for the band with "If I Were A Killer" and "I Do What I Do", both of which received regular airplay at MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and the now-defunct radio station ZROCK. DGC released Galactic Cowboys from their recording contract, and the band parted ways with manager Sam Taylor and guitarist Dane Sonnier.
The band appeared in the 1994 movie Airheads
Airheads
Airheads is a 1994 American comedy film written by Rich Wilkes and directed by Michael Lehmann. It stars Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi and Adam Sandler as a band of loser musicians called "The Lone Rangers" who take a radio station hostage, just so that their song would get played on the radio...
, under the name "Sons of Thunder". The one original song they performed for that movie, "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful", is not available anywhere, and only a short excerpt is heard in the movie.
After briefly breaking up, the band reorganized with Wally Farkas on guitars and a new recording contract with Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
. The band released a third album, Machine Fish
Machine Fish
Machine Fish is the third studio album from heavy metal band Galactic Cowboys and their first for Metal Blade Records. The album is heavier, more straightforward, and less progressive than their previous release...
, and an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled Feel The Rage
Feel the Rage
Feel the Rage is an EP released by heavy metal band Galactic Cowboys.-Notes:*The artwork is a painting by bassist Monty Colvin.*A new song "Paradigm Shift" is the second track on this EP, while the title track originally appeared on the Machine Fish album.*This EP contains two covers; "I Want You"...
in 1996. The album The Horse That Bud Bought
The Horse That Bud Bought
The Horse That Bud Bought is the fourth studio album from heavy metal band Galactic Cowboys. The album title comes from the lyrics to the song "Oregon", which the title is also based on...
followed in 1997, departing from the band's metal sound into a toned-down style.
The band recorded At the End of the Day in 1998, a concept album regarded by fans as the band's peak effort. Two weeks before the album's release, drummer Alan Doss left the band. Session drummer Erick Tatuaka performed drums on the subsequent tour.
Galactic Cowboys' final album, Let It Go
Let It Go (Galactic Cowboys Album)
Let It Go is the final album released by heavy metal band, Galactic Cowboys. It was released in 2000.-Notes:* The boy on the cover of this album is the son of Donovan White, who played guitar on the Crunchy album All Day Sucker....
, was released in 2000 and featured lead vocal performances by each band member. King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
drummer Jerry Gaskill
Jerry Gaskill
Jerry Gaskill is an American rock musician who is the drummer for the progressive metal band King's X.-History:...
, a friend of the band, performed drums on the album.
Besides original songs, Galactic Cowboys have recorded cover versions of songs by KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
and Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
.
As of 2009, the former members of the band continue to be active in the music scene. The band performed 3 reunion shows in August 2009 in Houston, Dallas, and Austin.
Monty Colvin
Bassist and backing vocalist for Galactic Cowboys from 1991 until 2000, Monty Colvin embarked on a solo career in 2000 with his band project Crunchy. The first album, All Day Sucker, released in 2001, defined the Crunchy sound as fun, pop punk with a slight heavy guitar edge. On Crunchy's second album, Clown School Dropout, the band was stripped down to Monty playing most of the instruments and bringing in a hired drummer; here Monty added a bit more crunch to the formula. Band influences include the Wildhearts, Cheap TrickCheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, and the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, in addition to the aforementioned Galactic Cowboys. The third Crunchy album, Loserville (2007), includes a contribution by Kerry Livgren
Kerry Livgren
Kerry Allen Livgren is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.-Biography:...
of Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
.
In addition to playing in Crunchy, Monty currently hosts an irregular hour-long Internet podcast called "Monty's Rockcast" on his personal web site: http://www.montycolvin.net.
Monty is also a cousin of the now deceased Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
(Douglas Glenn Colvin), formerly of the Ramones. Monty's bass also provides a distinct sound which is much evident in Galactic Cowboys' sound.
Alan Doss
Since leaving the music industry for a while, Alan has involved himself with managing and producing. Most recently, he has served in that capacity for the bands Ashbury Keys and Jambi's Revenge, also contributing instrumental work (on keyboards and bass) to the outputs of those bands.Ben Huggins
Ben's musical activities of late have included recording and playing with his new band Gristle, in addition to guest appearances with artists such as The PhlegmaticsThe Phlegmatics
The Phlegmatics are a power pop band from Houston, Texas. They are distinguished by their songs about video games, sexual angst, ancient history, social ineptitude and other viewpoints of the societal outsider, set to a powerful, melodic and quirky sound...
. Gristle's first album, Cold Blue Sky, was released in downloadable format on July 17, 2010.
Wally Farkas
Wally has worked as a distributor for hip hop artists in the Houston area. He teamed with Ty TaborTy Tabor
Ty Tabor is the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the progressive metal band, King's X....
of King's X to release two ambient albums under the name Xenuphobe ("1.0", released in 2006 and "2.0: Electrolux", released in 2007). Recently, he established a new record label, Molken Music for a handful of artists with which he has had prior connections.
Wally co-produced and played guitar on the latest solo disc from Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
of King's X, Strum Sum Up. He is currently finishing work on his forthcoming solo album Past Due.
Dane Sonnier
Since leaving Galactic Cowboys, Dane has kept involved in the music world, most notably in The Sonnier Brothers Band, the band he formed with his brother Len, who also plays lead guitar in Gristle.Band members
- Monty Colvin - BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1991–2000) - Alan Doss - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboardsSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
(1991–1998) - Wally Farkas - Guitar, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboards (1995–2000) - Ben Huggins - Lead vocals, guitar, blues harpBlues harpThe Richter-tuned harmonica, or 10-hole harmonica or blues harp , is the most widely known type of harmonica...
(1991–2000) - Dane Sonnier - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals (1991–1995)
Discography
- Galactic CowboysGalactic Cowboys (album)Galactic Cowboys is the eponymous debut album from the band of the same name. The album was called "The most exciting release of 1991" by HM Magazine editor Doug Van Pelt.-Notes:...
August 20, 1991 - Space In Your FaceSpace in Your FaceSpace In Your Face is the second studio album from heavy metal band Galactic Cowboys.-Trivia:* The man on the cover of "Space In Your Face" is David Kitchens, former ranch hand for singer Ben Huggins’ brother-in-law, as he was the only person they could find who fit in the suit.* During the song...
June 8, 1993 - Machine FishMachine FishMachine Fish is the third studio album from heavy metal band Galactic Cowboys and their first for Metal Blade Records. The album is heavier, more straightforward, and less progressive than their previous release...
January 30, 1996 - Feel the RageFeel the RageFeel the Rage is an EP released by heavy metal band Galactic Cowboys.-Notes:*The artwork is a painting by bassist Monty Colvin.*A new song "Paradigm Shift" is the second track on this EP, while the title track originally appeared on the Machine Fish album.*This EP contains two covers; "I Want You"...
(EP) October 8, 1996 - The Horse That Bud BoughtThe Horse That Bud BoughtThe Horse That Bud Bought is the fourth studio album from heavy metal band Galactic Cowboys. The album title comes from the lyrics to the song "Oregon", which the title is also based on...
July 15, 1997 - At The End Of The Day September 22, 1998
- Let It GoLet It Go (Galactic Cowboys Album)Let It Go is the final album released by heavy metal band, Galactic Cowboys. It was released in 2000.-Notes:* The boy on the cover of this album is the son of Donovan White, who played guitar on the Crunchy album All Day Sucker....
June 20, 2000
Music videos
Music videos were produced for the following songs:- "Evil Twin"
- "Fear Not"
- "Feel the Rage"
- "I'm Not Amused"
- "If I Were a Killer"
- "Nothing to Say"
External links
- Official Website(taken down as of July 1, 2010)
- Galactic Cowboys Message Board - fan forum