The Slugs
Encyclopedia
The Slugs are a rock band from Chicago
, Illinois
. Starting in 1983, the band plays power pop heavily influenced by bands such as the Who
, the Beatles
, the Rolling Stones
and the Kinks
.
home. All three were co-workers at SportsVision (later renamed SportsChannel and FoxSports Chicago). By the early eighties, anxious to become a real band, the trio put out an add for a drummer which was answered by Chicago native, Mike Halston. The Slugs were officially formed on March 6, 1983.
Al Paulson left the group soon after, and they were later later joined by English vocalist Tristan Gallagher who left in 1985. The reduced group put out their first single, "Walking in Circles/Give Me a Sunday "in 1986 on Susstone Records. Their second single, "Back to the Playground/Now They Can All Lie Down" (Pravda Records).
In 1988, while still a trio, the Slugs put out their first album, Non-Stop Holiday on Pravda Records, the sleeve of which displays a photograph of an adolescent Mike Halston. The band toured extensively throughout the Midwest gaining a cult following but little notice from record companies.
In 1990, Johnny L (born John Lukashevich), formerly a sound man for the group, officially joined the band as lead guitarist, with Dag moving to rhythm guitar. Frequently taking long hiatuses due to tensions within the group, the Slugs creative output was meager. The band’s second album, Fort Fun (Pravda Records) was released in 1992 and their third, Junior (Famous Mistakes Records) in 2000. Even without popular acclaim, the Slugs frequently played to full houses at local Chicago
bars such as Schuba’s and the Hideout. There were rumors of a fourth album, but as of 2009, it has not been forthcoming.
The band announced in December, 2009 that they would reunite on January 22, 2010 for one show at the Abbey Pub in Chicago to celebrate Pravda Record's 25th anniversary along with other Pravda bands, the Service and Boom Hank.
as well as other songs such as Blue Swede
’s "Hooked on a Feeling," "Winter Wonderland" and The Kings
' "Switching to Glide." The majority of the songs are written by Dag Juhlin with some others by Gregg and Johnny L.
The Slugs released a video to the song "Margaret," the opening track of their album, Junior.
From 1992-1999, Dag Juhlin was lead guitarist for Poi Dog Pondering
. Dag began appearing with the group again as early as 2001, and by 2005 was an official member of the band again.
Johnny L released a solo album, Brain Pop, in 1999 on The Orchard label. Johnny played shows supporting this release with Slugs drummer Mike Halston and bass player of Chicago's Boom Hank, Clark Hayes.
Dag released a 2CD demo collection "House Music" in 1999, as well as a solo record, "Into The Woods" in 2004 on his own 11:14 Records.
Dag Juhlin is also a member of the Goldstars along with members of other Chicago indie rock icons, the New Duncan Imperials and Krinkles.
Dag and Gregg formed The Greenwoods in early 2005 along with former Daisy Chain/Mind Bomb drummer and fellow Park Ridge, Illinois native, Jim Bashaw and, for a time, singer Paul Tomasec. Tomasec performed one gig with the group and eventually left the (at that point still un-named) band after roughly six months. In December 2010, Gregg Juhlin broke up The Greenwoods via an announcement on the group's Facebook page, catching both his bandmates completely off guard.
Gregg Juhlin played bass and toured with The Service
, The New Duncan Imperials and Cheer-Accident
. Gregg Juhlin also played bass on several tracks of Johnny L's "Brain Pop" album.
Dag played a pair of shows as guitarist for Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices) in winter, 2007. More shows may take place in summer, 2008.
In 2010, Dag started a cover band called Expo '76 with keyboardist Kenn Goodman (The Service, New Duncan Imperials), drummer John Carpender (Michael McDermott, Barrelhouse Chuck) and bassist Ralph Baumel (The Crayfish).
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Starting in 1983, the band plays power pop heavily influenced by bands such as the Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, 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...
, the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The 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...
and the Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
.
Biography
The Slugs grew out of basement jam sessions of brothers, guitarist Dag and bassist Gregg (born, Dale Gregory) Juhlin and guitarist Al Paulson in Paulson’s Park Ridge, IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
home. All three were co-workers at SportsVision (later renamed SportsChannel and FoxSports Chicago). By the early eighties, anxious to become a real band, the trio put out an add for a drummer which was answered by Chicago native, Mike Halston. The Slugs were officially formed on March 6, 1983.
Al Paulson left the group soon after, and they were later later joined by English vocalist Tristan Gallagher who left in 1985. The reduced group put out their first single, "Walking in Circles/Give Me a Sunday "in 1986 on Susstone Records. Their second single, "Back to the Playground/Now They Can All Lie Down" (Pravda Records).
In 1988, while still a trio, the Slugs put out their first album, Non-Stop Holiday on Pravda Records, the sleeve of which displays a photograph of an adolescent Mike Halston. The band toured extensively throughout the Midwest gaining a cult following but little notice from record companies.
In 1990, Johnny L (born John Lukashevich), formerly a sound man for the group, officially joined the band as lead guitarist, with Dag moving to rhythm guitar. Frequently taking long hiatuses due to tensions within the group, the Slugs creative output was meager. The band’s second album, Fort Fun (Pravda Records) was released in 1992 and their third, Junior (Famous Mistakes Records) in 2000. Even without popular acclaim, the Slugs frequently played to full houses at local Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
bars such as Schuba’s and the Hideout. There were rumors of a fourth album, but as of 2009, it has not been forthcoming.
The band announced in December, 2009 that they would reunite on January 22, 2010 for one show at the Abbey Pub in Chicago to celebrate Pravda Record's 25th anniversary along with other Pravda bands, the Service and Boom Hank.
Music
The Slug’s onstage demeanor can be described as raucous, irreverent and energetic, an energy that is only rarely translated in their recorded music. The band often breaks into outright comedy on stage trading inside jokes with each other and their core fans. They frequently launch into cover versions of songs from the WhoThe Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
as well as other songs such as Blue Swede
Blue Swede
Blue Swede was a Swedish rock band from the early to mid 1970s, that succeeded with a few singles which were covers of other artists' material.-Career:...
’s "Hooked on a Feeling," "Winter Wonderland" and The Kings
The Kings
The Kings are a Canadian band formed in the 1970s, best known for their 1980 North American hit "This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide".-Recording history:The Kings were formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Oakville, Ontario in the late 1970s...
' "Switching to Glide." The majority of the songs are written by Dag Juhlin with some others by Gregg and Johnny L.
The Slugs released a video to the song "Margaret," the opening track of their album, Junior.
Other projects
Before the Slugs, Dag Juhlin was in a band called Horizon and Dag and Gregg were in a band called Chaser. Drummer Mike Halston was bandmates with James Pintozzi in 1981 & 1982 (later bass player for Johnny L band).From 1992-1999, Dag Juhlin was lead guitarist for Poi Dog Pondering
Poi Dog Pondering
Poi Dog Pondering is an American musical group, noted for its cross-pollination of diverse musical genres, including various forms of acoustic folk music, and electronic music. Founded in Hawaii in 1985, the band moved to Austin, Texas in 1987, where they recorded their first three albums...
. Dag began appearing with the group again as early as 2001, and by 2005 was an official member of the band again.
Johnny L released a solo album, Brain Pop, in 1999 on The Orchard label. Johnny played shows supporting this release with Slugs drummer Mike Halston and bass player of Chicago's Boom Hank, Clark Hayes.
Dag released a 2CD demo collection "House Music" in 1999, as well as a solo record, "Into The Woods" in 2004 on his own 11:14 Records.
Dag Juhlin is also a member of the Goldstars along with members of other Chicago indie rock icons, the New Duncan Imperials and Krinkles.
Dag and Gregg formed The Greenwoods in early 2005 along with former Daisy Chain/Mind Bomb drummer and fellow Park Ridge, Illinois native, Jim Bashaw and, for a time, singer Paul Tomasec. Tomasec performed one gig with the group and eventually left the (at that point still un-named) band after roughly six months. In December 2010, Gregg Juhlin broke up The Greenwoods via an announcement on the group's Facebook page, catching both his bandmates completely off guard.
Gregg Juhlin played bass and toured with The Service
The Service
The Service is an essay written in 1840 by Henry David Thoreau. He submitted it to The Dial for publication, but they declined to print it...
, The New Duncan Imperials and Cheer-Accident
Cheer-Accident
Cheer-Accident is an American indie rock ensemble headed by Thymme Jones. Jones took the name of the band from a Hallmark Cards shopping display, and first formed the group in 1981 with singer Jim Drummond and drummer Mike Greenlees.-Biography:...
. Gregg Juhlin also played bass on several tracks of Johnny L's "Brain Pop" album.
Dag played a pair of shows as guitarist for Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices) in winter, 2007. More shows may take place in summer, 2008.
In 2010, Dag started a cover band called Expo '76 with keyboardist Kenn Goodman (The Service, New Duncan Imperials), drummer John Carpender (Michael McDermott, Barrelhouse Chuck) and bassist Ralph Baumel (The Crayfish).
Discography
- "Walking in Circles", single, -- Susstones, 1986
- "Back to the Playgrounds" -- single, Pravda, 1987
- Non-Stop Holiday -- Pravda, 1988
- 20 Explosive Dynamic Super Smash Hit Explosions -- cover of Hooked on a Feeling (Pravda, 1991)
- Fort Fun – Pravda, 1992
- Super Fantastic Mega Smash Hits! - Hooked on a Feeling - (BMG/Backyard/Pravda, 1995)
- "Margaret" - Home Brewed in the Windy City - (WXRT/Starbucks, 1999)
- Junior – Famous Mistakes, 2000
- "Honey Rose" - Urbs in Horto compilation (Johann's Face) 2003
- Table Scraps - compilation/retrospective - fan club release 2005