The Sidewinders
Encyclopedia
The Sidewinders were a rock band from Tucson, Arizona
, who released two major-label albums and scored two radio hits in the US before a lawsuit forced a change of name. Another album was released on a major label but by that time the band had nearly broken up. Since then the band has reunited and dissolved several times.
/Mammoth Records
, where they released two full-length albums, 1989's Witchdoctor and 1990's Auntie Ramos' Pool Hall. Witchdoctor cracked the lower echelons of the Billboard 200
at #169, on the strength of two modern rock radio hits; the band scored exposure on MTV
and VH1
and embarked on a worldwide tour, but the band's career was soon sidelined due to legal problems. In 1991, a North Carolina cover band
known as Sidewinder sued the group over the use of its name, and it took two years to sort out the proceedings and secure the release of their next album, now under the name Sand Rubies.
As the Sand Rubies, they released an album on Polydor
/Atlas in 1993; at one point, Pearl Jam
served as their opening act. However, due to attrition over the period of legal troubles, the rhythm section of the band had departed, and the Sand Rubies dissolved during a tour in 1993, just as two other Arizona rock bands, Gin Blossoms
and The Refreshments, were attracting mainstream attention.
A few one-off shows were given in 1995 and 1996 before an official Sand Rubies reunion was announced in October 1996. A show at SXSW followed in 1997, as did a new album, Return of the Living Dead, in 1998. They were able to independently release a best-of collection of tracks from their major label years entitled The Sidewinders Sessions, and an all-covers album, Release the Hounds, ensued in 1999 along with a tour of Europe. The band broke up again, followed by short reunion stints in 2001-02 and 2006 to support renewed local touring and special rereleases.
Sand Rubies
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, who released two major-label albums and scored two radio hits in the US before a lawsuit forced a change of name. Another album was released on a major label but by that time the band had nearly broken up. Since then the band has reunited and dissolved several times.
History
The Sidewinders formed in the spring of 1985 by guitarist Rich Hopkins and vocalist David Slutes. The group released its first record, Cuacha!, in 1988, and subsequently signed to RCARCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
/Mammoth Records
Mammoth Records
Founded by Jay Faires in 1989 in Carrboro, North Carolina, Mammoth Records was one of the premiere independent record labels of the 1990s. Its roster featured such diverse talent as Antenna, Blake Babies, Chainsaw Kittens, Dash Rip Rock, Dillon Fence, Far Too Jones, Frente!, Fun-Da-Mental, Fu...
, where they released two full-length albums, 1989's Witchdoctor and 1990's Auntie Ramos' Pool Hall. Witchdoctor cracked the lower echelons of the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at #169, on the strength of two modern rock radio hits; the band scored exposure on 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 VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
and embarked on a worldwide tour, but the band's career was soon sidelined due to legal problems. In 1991, a North Carolina cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
known as Sidewinder sued the group over the use of its name, and it took two years to sort out the proceedings and secure the release of their next album, now under the name Sand Rubies.
As the Sand Rubies, they released an album on Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
/Atlas in 1993; at one point, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
served as their opening act. However, due to attrition over the period of legal troubles, the rhythm section of the band had departed, and the Sand Rubies dissolved during a tour in 1993, just as two other Arizona rock bands, Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms is an American pop rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to what appeared to be the actor's gin-ravaged nose, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea...
and The Refreshments, were attracting mainstream attention.
A few one-off shows were given in 1995 and 1996 before an official Sand Rubies reunion was announced in October 1996. A show at SXSW followed in 1997, as did a new album, Return of the Living Dead, in 1998. They were able to independently release a best-of collection of tracks from their major label years entitled The Sidewinders Sessions, and an all-covers album, Release the Hounds, ensued in 1999 along with a tour of Europe. The band broke up again, followed by short reunion stints in 2001-02 and 2006 to support renewed local touring and special rereleases.
Members
- Rich Hopkins-guitar
- David Slutes-vocals
- Bruce Halper-drums
- Mark Perrodin-bass
- Andrea Curtis-drums
- Ken Andree-Bass
Discography
Sidewinders- Cuacha! (San Jacinto Records), 1988; re-released twice
- Witchdoctor (Mammoth RecordsMammoth RecordsFounded by Jay Faires in 1989 in Carrboro, North Carolina, Mammoth Records was one of the premiere independent record labels of the 1990s. Its roster featured such diverse talent as Antenna, Blake Babies, Chainsaw Kittens, Dash Rip Rock, Dillon Fence, Far Too Jones, Frente!, Fun-Da-Mental, Fu...
/RCA RecordsRCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
), 1989 - 7 & 7 Is EP (Mammoth/RCA), 1990
- Auntie Ramos' Pool Hall (Mammoth/RCA) 1990
- The Sidewinders Sessions (Contingency Records), 1998
Sand Rubies
- Goodbye EP (Polydor RecordsPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
/Atlas Records), 1993 - Sand Rubies (Polydor RecordsPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
/Atlas Records), 1993 - Sand Rubies Live (San Jacinto Records), 1996
- Return of the Living Dead (San Jacinto Records)/(Contingency Records), 1998
- Release the Hounds (San Jacinto Records)/(Contingency Records), 1999
- Goodbye: Live at Alte Malzerei (San Jacinto Records)/(Blue Rose Records), 2002
- Mas Cuacha (San Jacinto Records)/(Blue Rose Records), 2007
Charting singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Modern Rock | |||
| 1989 1989 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR... |
"Witch Doctor" | #18 | Witchdoctor |
| 1990 1990 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze... |
"We Don't Do That Anymore" | #23 | Auntie Ramos' Pool Hall |