The Supersuckers

The Supersuckers
The Supersuckers performing live in September 2006.
Background information
Also known as	The Black Supersuckers The Junkyard Dogs
Origin	Tucson, Arizona, USA
Genres	Rock Garage punk Grunge Cowpunk
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Sub Pop, Mid-Fi
Website	Official Band Site
Members
Eddie Spaghetti "Metal" Marty Chandler Dan "Thunder" Bolton Scott "Scottzilla" Churilla
Former members
Dancing Eagle Rontrose Heathman Rick Sims Dusty Watson Eric Martin

The Supersuckers are an American rock band. They are the self-proclaimed "Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band in the World." Following the relative success of their 1997 foray into country music with the release of Must've Been High, they have also been known to play country shows under various names, including, of course, The Supersuckers.

As of November 2009, the members are Eddie Spaghetti on bass and lead vocals; "Metal" Marty Chandler and Dan "Thunder" Bolton on guitars; and Scott Churilla on drums.

History

The Supersuckers formed in 1988 as The Black Supersuckers in Tucson, AZ. The original line-up was Eddie Spaghetti on bass, Dan "Thunder" Bolton and Rontrose Heathman on guitars, Dancing Eagle on drums, and Eric Martin as the lead singer. In 1989, they moved to Seattle, WA. Here, Eric Martin left the band. The song "Marie" was allegedly dedicated to Martin's mother after his death. The remaining members decided to continue as a four piece with Eddie Spaghetti taking over the vocalist role. They recorded numerous singles for various small labels before being signed to Sub Pop. A sampling of these are collected on the 1992 release The Songs All Sound the Same. Their first album with Sub Pop, The Smoke of Hell, was released in 1992.

In 1995, guitarist Rontrose Heathman temporarily left the band. He was replaced by Rick Sims, formerly of the band the Didjits (and the Gaza Strippers), for the recording of their third album, The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers, and the subsequent tour. Heathman returned for the recording of their fourth album, Must've Been High, which, as their first country album, was a major turning point for the band. Their fifth and final album with Sub-Pop was their greatest hits release, 1999's How the Supersuckers Became the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World. That same year they released their fifth studio album, The Evil Powers of Rock 'N' Roll.

In 2001, the band formed their own record label, Mid-Fi Recordings. In addition to numerous singles and several live recordings, the band released their sixth studio album, Motherfuckers Be Trippin' on this label. As of May 2005, their most recent release is the singles collection Devil's Food.

In October 2009, Rontrose Heathman again parted ways with the band for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by "Metal" Marty Chandler.

On tour, the Supersuckers always close their show with a "fake encore," where the band and the audience go through a 15 second pretend exit and stage entrance.

Associations

The Supersuckers have recorded with many artists including: Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Kelley Deal of The Breeders, and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. They have appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno backing Willie Nelson. They have toured with numerous bands such as Mudhoney, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, The Ramones, Motörhead, Flogging Molly, Toadies, Supagroup, the Butthole Surfers, The Reverend Horton Heat, The New York Dolls, The Dwarves, White Zombie, and Nashville Pussy. The Murder City Devils name check Eddie Spaghetti in their song "Lemuria Rising."

Causes

The band has been involved in several charitable causes over their career, notably playing a few Farm Aid shows. But the cause they seem to tout above all others, apart from themselves, is that of the West Memphis 3. They have held a number of eBay auctions and concerts to benefit the three's legal defense fund, in addition to being involved in a benefit album entitled Free the West Memphis 3, of which Eddie Spaghetti was one of the producers.

The band also played at the VladiROCKstok '96 Music Festival in Vladivostok, Russia. According to a CBS News report, Russian fans enjoyed their hard-driving style and cowboy hats, while the festival supported Friends of the Earth and a local children's fund. According to lore, the heavy police presence and temporary stage barriers inspired their song "Barricade."

Band members

Current members

• Eddie Spaghetti – bass (1988–present), lead vocals (1989–present)
• Dan "Thunder" Bolton – guitars, backing vocals (1988–2003, 2005–present)
• Scott "Scottzilla" Churilla – drums (2006–present)
• "Metal" Marty Chandler – guitars, backing vocals (2009–present)

Former members

• Dancing Eagle – drums, backing vocals (1988–2005)
• Rick Sims – guitars, backing vocals (1995–1996)
• Dusty Watson – drums (2005–2006)
• Eric Martin – lead vocals (1988–1989)
• Ron "Rontrose" Heathman – guitars, backing vocals (1988–1995, 1996–2009)

Discography

Albums

• The Songs All Sound the Same — 1992, eMpty Records (singles collection)
• The Smoke of Hell — 1992, Sub Pop
• Good Livin' Platter-1993. Recorded as Junkyard Dogs. Album of cover songs done country style.
• La Mano Cornuda — 1994, Sub Pop
• The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers — 1995, Sub Pop
• Must've Been High — 1997, Sub-Pop (country)
• How the Supersuckers Became the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World — 1999, Sub Pop
• The Evil Powers of Rock 'N' Roll — 1999, KOCH
• Must've Been Live — 2002, Mid-Fi (live) (country)
• Splitsville 1 — 2002 (split with Electric Frankenstein)
• Motherfuckers Be Trippin' — 2003, Mid-Fi
• Live at the Magic Bag — 2004, Mid-Fi (live)
• Live at the Tractor Tavern — 2004, Mid-Fi (live) (country)
• Devil's Food — 2005, Mid-Fi (singles collection)
• Paid — 2006
• Live at the Whole Foods Market Digital Download; 2007
• Get It Together — 2008

Singles

7" Single Releases on the Sub Pop label

• SP125 Like A Big Fuckin' Train / Luck / I Say Fuck / Caliente / Retarded Bill / Four Stroke 7"
• SP170 Hell City Hell / Dead Homiez 7"
• SP225 She's My Bitch / Drinkin N Drivin 7"
• SP249 400 Bucks / Caliente 7" (With The Reverend Horton Heat)
• SP296 Born With A Tail / Are You Ready? 7"
• SP314 Born With A Tail / Run Like A Motherfucker 7"
• SP315 Marie / 19th Most Powerful Woman In Rock 7"
• SP384 Leave This Town / Mother Mary 7"

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References

• Official band bio page
• Interview With The Voodoo
• Official album discography
• Official singles discography

Footnotes

External links

• Official Band Site
• Supersuckers Music and Tour Dates
• High and Dry: Where the Desert Meets Rock and Roll - documentary about the Tucson Music Scene feat. music and interviews with The Supersuckers
• Supersuckers collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
• Interview with Rontrose and Spaghetti on Jekyll and Hyde. By Siegel & Fluss, Israel
• 2009 SplatterTribe.tv Interview With Eddie Spaghetti