Gallon Drunk
Encyclopedia
Gallon Drunk are an English
band
formed in London
in 1988. Their swamp rock sound contains a variety of influences, from punk
to jazz
and the novels of Derek Raymond
(especially I Was Dora Suarez
), and is noted for its dark subject matter.
, such as the Hollywood Bowl
and Madison Square Gardens in New York
, as a guest of Morrissey
.
The band continues to record and tour, the latest release being 2007's The Rotten Mile album on the Fred record label, with a new album due in Autumn 2011.
Founder, frontman and sole consistent member James Johnston has also played in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
, with whom he joined for a Lollapalooza
tour in 1994 before serving as a full-time member from 2003—2008. He is currently a member of Faust
, Ulan Bator, and Big Sexy Noise with Lydia Lunch
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
formed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1988. Their swamp rock sound contains a variety of influences, from punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
to jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and the novels of Derek Raymond
Derek Raymond
Robert William Arthur Cook , better known since the 1980s by his pen name Derek Raymond, was an English crime writer, credited with being the founder of English noir.-Early life:...
(especially I Was Dora Suarez
I Was Dora Suarez
I was Dora Suarez is a detective novel by Derek Raymond.-Plot summary:As the fourth novel in the Factory series opens, young prostitute Dora Suarez is axed into pieces. The killer then smashes the head of her friend, an 86-year-old widow...
), and is noted for its dark subject matter.
Biography
After forming in 1990, Gallon Drunk released their debut full-length album, You, the Night...and the Music in 1992. The following year, they enjoyed popularity in the wake of their second album, From The Heart of Town, which saw the band play venues in the U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, such as the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
and Madison Square Gardens in New York
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...
, as a guest of Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
.
The band continues to record and tour, the latest release being 2007's The Rotten Mile album on the Fred record label, with a new album due in Autumn 2011.
Founder, frontman and sole consistent member James Johnston has also played in 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 :...
, with whom he joined for a 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...
tour in 1994 before serving as a full-time member from 2003—2008. He is currently a member of Faust
Faust (band)
Faust are a German krautrock band. Formed in 1971 in Wümme, the group was originally composed of Werner "Zappi" Diermaier, Hans Joachim Irmler, Arnulf Meifert, Jean-Hervé Péron, Rudolf Sosna and Gunther Wüsthoff, working with record producer Uwe Nettelbeck and engineer Kurt Graupner.-History:Faust...
, Ulan Bator, and Big Sexy Noise with Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch is an American singer, poet, writer, and actress whose career was spawned by the New York No Wave scene...
.
Studio albums
- You, The Night... And The Music (1992) Clawfist
- From The Heart of the Town (1993) Clawfist/SireSire RecordsSire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
(UK #67) - In The Long Still Night (1996) City Slang
- Black Milk (1999)
- Fire Music (2002) Sweet Nothing
- The Rotten Mile (2007)
Compilations etc.
- Tonite... The Singles Bar (1991) Clawfist
- Peel Sessions (1992) Clawfist/Dutch East India (split with Breed)
- Dora Suarez (1993) Clawfist
- Bear Me Away (2003) Sweet Nothing
- Live At Klub 007 (2009) - live album recorded on March 12, 2008 in Prague at klub 007 by the crew of the Prague independent radio station Radio 1
Singles/EPs
- "Snakepit" (1988) Gallon Drunk
- "Ruby" (1990) Clawfist
- "Draggin' Along" (1991) Clawfist
- "The Last Gasp" (1991) Clawfist
- "Some Fool's Mess" (1991) Clawfist
- "Bedlam" (1992) Clawfist
- "Live at the Madison Square Gardens, 18 September 1992" (1992) Clawfist (Limited Promo)
- "You Should Be Ashamed" (1993) Clawfist
- "Known Not Wanted" (1993) (b-side by TindersticksTindersticksTindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...
) - Savage Soundtracks for Swinging Lovers EP (1993) Blue Eyed Dog (with Barry AdamsonBarry AdamsonBarry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997...
) - Traitor's Gate EP (1995) Gallon Drunk
- "Two Clear Eyes" (1996) City Slang
- "To Love Somebody" (1997) City Slang
- "Hurricane" (1998) Itchy Teeth (12"/CDS released under the name J.J. Stone, featuring Johnson, White, and Edwards)
- "Blood Is Red" (2000) FM
- "Things Will Change" (2001) Sweet Nothing