Representative Albums: "Wild Blue Yonder", "Two Headed Cow", "Safari
Representative Songs: "Sing, Sing, Sing", "Michelle", "Go This Way
Biography
Retro-rockabilly maniacs the Flat Duo Jets paired singer/guitarist Dexter Romweber and drummer Crow; though based throughout much of their career in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the duo first gained widespread exposure appearing live in the 1986 music documentary Athens, Georgia: Inside/Out. Despite critical acclaim, they did not issue their self-titled debut LP until 1990, resurfacing a year later with Go Go Harlem Baby; indie-label stalwarts throughout the course of records including 1992's In Stereo, 1993's White Trees and 1996's Red Tango, Flat Duo Jets finally signed to major label Outpost to release 1998's Lucky Eye. 2008 saw the release of the soundtrack to the Dexter Romweber/Flat Duo Jets documentary Two-Headed Cow. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Flat Duo Jets was a rockabilly band from Carrboro and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They were a major influence on several bands of the 1990's and 2000's, including The White Stripes. In inteviews, Jack White (the White Stripes' lead singer and guitarist) has often acknowledged Dexter Romweber's influence. Their first album, Flat Duo Jets, was recorded direct to two tracks in a garage in the late 1980's but not released until early 1990. Also in early 1990 the band opened for The Cramps on a national tour. Jim Dickinson produced their second LP, Go Go Harlem Baby. Their ninth and last studio album, Lucky Eye, was their first major label release (Outpost Records), and was produced by Scott Litt, best known as a producer of R.E.M..
Singer/guitarist Dexter Romweber has pursued a solo career since the 1999 breakup of the Flat Duo Jets and has toured with Cat Power, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Neko Case and others. His younger sister, Sara Romweber (who is a founding member of Snatches of Pink), plays drums with her brother as the Dexter Romweber Duo.
Flat Duo Jets' drummer Crow Smith resurfaced in 2005 with a debut solo album of his own. Bassist Tone Mayer, who joined the duo around 1988, departed circa 1990 to join The Chicken Wire Gang.
Nearly ten years after the band's demise a live soundtrack to "Two Headed Cow", a documentary film about Dexter and the Flat Duo Jets, was released in 2008.
