The Little Killers
Encyclopedia
The Little Killers were an American rock and roll
band who formed in New York City
, New York
, U.S.
in 2001. They played punky garage rock
inspired by the likes of Chuck Berry
, the New York Dolls
, and Johnny Burnette
's Rock & Roll Trio.
The band featured vocalist and guitarist Andy Maltz, the rhythm sections of Sara Nelson (bass and backing vocals) and Kari Boden (drums and backing vocals).
After signing to Crypt Records
, The Little Killers released their self-titled début album in September 2003. It became a hit in garage punk
circles, although it didn't make the band as big as label-mates such as Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
.
They also released two non-album singles, "Better Be Right" (2003) and "You Got It Made" (2004). That year also saw them play one of the final Peel Sessions broadcasts from the legendary John Peel
radio show, before he died in 2004.
In 2006, they released their second and final album, A Real Good One, on the Gern Blandsten Records
label.
The Little Killers toured exstensively in the US, Europe, and Australia before disbanding in 2007.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band who formed in 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...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2001. They played punky garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
inspired by the likes of Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, and Johnny Burnette
Johnny Burnette
John Joseph "Johnny" Burnette was an American rockabilly musician. Along with his older brother Dorsey Burnette, and also a friend named Paul Burlison, Burnette was a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio. He was the father of 1980s rockabilly singer Rocky Burnette.-Early life:Johnny Burnette...
's Rock & Roll Trio.
The band featured vocalist and guitarist Andy Maltz, the rhythm sections of Sara Nelson (bass and backing vocals) and Kari Boden (drums and backing vocals).
After signing to Crypt Records
Crypt Records
Crypt Records is a Hamburg-based record label and record store founded by Tim Warren. The label is perhaps best known for issuing the eight-volume Back From The Grave Series of garage rock compilations, although its reissues and releases include surf, rockabilly, punk rock, exotica, garage punk,...
, The Little Killers released their self-titled début album in September 2003. It became a hit in garage punk
Garage punk
Garage punk is a fusion of garage rock and punk rock. It is fast-paced lo-fi music characterized by a dirty, choppy guitar sound—usually played by bands who are on independent record labels or who are unsigned...
circles, although it didn't make the band as big as label-mates such as Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion are an American alternative rock trio, formed in 1991 and based out of New York City, New York. The band consists of Judah Bauer on guitar, backing vocals, harmonica and occasional lead vocals, Russell Simins on drums and Jon Spencer on vocals, guitar and theremin...
.
They also released two non-album singles, "Better Be Right" (2003) and "You Got It Made" (2004). That year also saw them play one of the final Peel Sessions broadcasts from the legendary John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
radio show, before he died in 2004.
In 2006, they released their second and final album, A Real Good One, on the Gern Blandsten Records
Gern Blandsten Records
Gern Blandsten Records is an independent record label based in River Edge, New Jersey.The label's acts have included The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Canyon, Chisel, the Van Pelt, Radio 4, The Flesh, and Rye Coalition...
label.
The Little Killers toured exstensively in the US, Europe, and Australia before disbanding in 2007.