Gun Club
Briefly known as Creeping Ritual, the Gun Club was formed in Los Angeles, USA in 1980. Led by vocalist Jeffrey Lee Pierce, the group was initially completed by Kid Congo Powers (b. Brian Tristan; guitar), Rob Ritter (bass) and Terry Graham (drums). FIRE OF LOVE established the unit's uncompromising style which drew from delta blues and psychobilly. The set included anarchic versions of Robert Johnson's Preaching The Blues and Tommy Johnson's Cool Drink Of Water, but progress was undermined by Congo's defection to the Cramps. MIAMI was the first of several Gun Club recordings for Animal Records, owned by ex- Blondie guitarist Chris Stein. Although lacking the passion of its predecessor, the album established the group as one of America's leading ‘alternative’ acts, but further changes in personnel, including the return of the prodigal Congo, ultimately blunted Pierce's confidence which was unaided by a self-destructive alcohol problem. He disbanded the group for a solo career in 1985; TWO SIDES OF THE BEAST was then issued in commemoration, but the singer later reconstituted the Gun Club with Kid Congo, Nick Sanderson (drums) and Romi Mori (bass) which continues to provide a benchmark for impulsive, powerful music.