The Dirtbombs are an American

garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The sty ...

band based in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

, notable for blending diverse influences such as punk rock and

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '':wikt:soul, soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The ea ...

, while featuring a dual bass guitar, dual drum and guitar lineup. The Dirtbombs were formed by Mick Collins (of the influential garage punk band The Gories) as a side project and started recording songs by 1995.

History

In the nearly two decades since its conception, The Dirtbombs has been home to many Detroit rock musicians, both in the studio and on the road. As of September 2008 the band's lineup consists of Collins on guitar,

Ko Melina Ko Melina, also known as Ko Shih and Ko Melina-Zydeco, is a musician and radio DJ from Detroit, Detroit, Michigan. Biography A bartender at the Garden Bowl, a rock n' roll hotspot in Detroit, Melina befriended scene fixtures like Jack White ...

(formerly of Ko & The Knockouts) on a distorted "fuzz" baritone guitar and Ben Blackwell (owner of record label Cass Records) and

Pat Pantano The Dirtbombs are an American garage rock band based in Detroit, Michigan, notable for blending diverse influences such as punk rock and soul, while featuring a dual bass guitar, dual drum and guitar lineup. The Dirtbombs were formed by Mick ...

(formerly of the Come Ons) on the two drum sets. Noted producer

Jim Diamond James Diamond may refer to: *Jim Diamond (singer) (1951–2015), Scottish songwriter and singer **Jim Diamond (1988 album), ''Jim Diamond'' (1988 album) **Jim Diamond (1993 album), ''Jim Diamond'' (1993 album) *Jim Diamond (music producer) (born 19 ...

played bass from 1997 until 2004 and during that time Diamond also recorded and co-produced the Dirtbombs output with Mick Collins at his Ghetto Recorders studio in Detroit. Troy Gregory (formerly of

Flotsam and Jetsam In maritime law, flotsam'','' jetsam'','' lagan'','' and derelict are specific kinds of shipwreck. The words have specific nautical meanings, with legal consequences in the law of admiralty and marine salvage. A shipwreck is defined as the remai ...

, Prong, and lead singer of The Witches and Troy Gregory & The Stepsisters) played bass from June 2004 to September 5, 2008, also constituting one of the longest runs of any Dirtbombs member: the four-year line-up of Collins, Pantano, Blackwell, Melina, and Gregory is the longest lasting Dirtbombs line-up to date. For a brief time in 2002, the band featured back-up singers Deanne Iovan (also formerly of the Come Ons) and future bass player Ko, in addition to five musicians.

Early singles and ''Horndog Fest'' (1996–2000)

Originally conceived as a "singles band", the Dirtbombs were to record only 7" records each in a radically different style. The band's first single, "High Octane Salvation", was released in 1996. The band released two singles in 1997, and also appeared on the ''Ghettoblaster Volume 1'' compilation. They released another two singles in 1998. Los Angeles-based independent label In The Red Records persuaded the Dirtbombs to record an LP. Collins decided that if the band were to record a full-length album they would treat it like a giant single, centering on one musical idea or genre. The full-length 1998 debut '' Horndog Fest'' is a mix of heavy garage punk and pop-inclined rock 'n roll. The songs "I Can't Stop Thinking About It", "Granny's Little Chicken", and "Shake Shivaree" remain live staples. "I Can't Stop Thinking About It" was used in a Buick commercial in 2007 and was later covered acoustically by

the Romantics The Romantics are an American rock band formed in 1977 in Detroit. The band is often put under the banner of new wave and power pop. They were influenced by 1950s American rock and roll, Detroit's MC5, the Stooges, early Bob Seger, Motown ...

. In 2000, the band released 2 singles, as well as a split single with

The White Stripes The White Stripes were an American rock duo from Detroit formed in 1997. The group consisted of Jack White (songwriter, vocals, guitar, piano, and mandolin) and Meg White (drums and vocals). After releasing several singles and three albums wi ...

. They also appeared on the ''X-Mas Surprise Package Volume 3'' compilation, and backed Andre Williams on two songs on his "The Black Godfather" LP.

''Ultraglide in Black'' and the Detroit rock and roll revival (2001–2003)

The Dirtbombs enjoyed a boost in recognition after the release of their second album, '' Ultraglide in Black'', in 2001, a collection of nearly all soul, R&B, and

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''mot ...

covers, with one original track - "Your Love Belongs Under A Rock". Around this time, a

garage rock revival Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The sty ...

became vibrant in the American and European underground, led in part by fellow Detroit band the White Stripes, and the Dirtbombs were part of a multitude of Detroit bands that subsequently received attention from the music industry. Opening for the White Stripes (and with

Jack White John Anthony White (; born July 9, 1975), commonly known as Jack White, is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the duo the White Stripes. White has enjoyed consistent critical and popular success and is widely c ...

acknowledging the Gories as a major influence) brought the band increased publicity as well. In 2005,

MSNBC.com MSNBC (originally the Microsoft National Broadcasting Company) is an American news-based pay television cable channel. It is owned by NBCUniversala subsidiary of Comcast. Headquartered in New York City, it provides news coverage and politic ...

listed ''Ultraglide'' on their list of the top albums of the past 20 years. "Ode to a Black Man" was taken from the LP for a 2001 single. A five-song EP, ''Chariots of the Gods?'', was also released that year, and the band appeared on the Jack White-produced ''Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit'' compilation that year as well. Two new singles were issued in 2002. That same year, the Dirtbombs appeared on four compilations, as well as on Troy Gregory's solo album, ''Sybil''. The band also toured extensively during this time, playing in Europe and Australia, in addition to the U.S. and Canada.

''Dangerous Magical Noise'' (2003–2004)

In 2003 the band released their third LP, '' Dangerous Magical Noise''. This album was originally going to be done in the style of

bubblegum pop Bubblegum (also called bubblegum pop) is pop music in a catchy and upbeat style that is considered disposable, contrived, or marketed for children and adolescents. The term also refers to a rock and pop subgenre, originating in the United States ...

, but Collins ultimately chose to stick with a radio-friendly pop rock style, described by the band as being " the car-commercial record". The album featured a re-recorded version of their contribution to the ''Sympathetic Sounds'' compilation, "I'm Through with White Girls" written and sung by

. The single "Motor City Baby" was featured on Little Steven's Underground Garage as the "Coolest Song in the World". The band, with Jim Diamond and Tom Potter on bass, was featured on a Dutch television documentary about the Detroit rock scene that also profiled the White Stripes and the Paybacks. Mick took the filmmakers on a tour of the Detroit music scene, and drummed for the White Stripes while they sang Loretta Lynn's "Rated X". The documentary concluded with the three of them bowling. In 2004 the band headlined the Rock City Fest in Detroit (the show being Jim Diamond's final show with the band). 2004 was also a major year of record releasing: The band released a split LP with King Khan and the Shrines called ''Billiards at Nine Thirty'', a second single from ''Dangerous Magical Noise'', "Earthquake Heart", and a pair of new singles. Split singles were also issued, one backed with a Gories song, one with Justin Robertson, and one with ADULT.

''If You Don't Already Have a Look'' and involvement with films (2005–2007)

In 2005 the band released '' If You Don't Already Have a Look'' a 2-disc collection of their singles and rarities, as well as six new songs. The band was showcased at the Motor City Music Conference and later in the year they toured Europe making stops in many places on the continent, including the Primavera Sound Festival in Spain and headlining tour dates in

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb stands near the international border between Croatia and Sl ...

and Belgrade. A new split with the Love Supremes was issued, and the band also appeared on a Gun Club tribute record that year. In the summer of 2006, the song "Trainwreck" was used in a

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...

television commercial. In October, the band played in Rivera Court at the

Detroit Institute of Arts The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, has one of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States. With over 100 galleries, it covers with a major renovation and expansion project complet ...

for the premiere of a documentary film called ''It Came From Detroit'', in which the band was featured prominently in interviews and live footage. In May 2007 The Dirtbombs were invited by director Julian Schnabel to play at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...

in honor of their song "Chains of Love", from the ''Ultraglide'' LP, being featured in his award-winning '' The Diving Bell and the Butterfly''. In September, the band played at the reopening of the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac, Michigan. The band released one single in 2007, a cover of the

Black Lips Black Lips is an American garage rock band from Atlanta, Georgia formed in 1999. History The band formed in Dunwoody, Georgia after guitarist Cole Alexander and bassist Jared Swilley left the Renegades, and guitarist Ben Eberbaugh left the Rer ...

' "Oh Katrina".

''We Have You Surrounded'' (2008–2009)

Recording of '' We Have You Surrounded'', the fourth In The Red LP, began in November 2006 as a five-song EP. The length of time since the band's last full-length, 2003's ''Dangerous Magical Noise'', led to the decision to finish it as an LP, once again postponing the bubblegum record. Recording resumed in the summer of 2007, and ''We Have You Surrounded'' was released in February 2008. Far from being bubblegum, the album's themes are dark. The song "Leopard Man at C & A" features lyrics taken from comic book writer

Alan Moore Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English author known primarily for his work in comic books including ''Watchmen'', '' V for Vendetta'', ''The Ballad of Halo Jones'', ''Swamp Thing'', ''Batman:'' ''The Killing Joke'', and ''From Hell ...

's poem of the same name, (described by Collins as "a fabulous take on urban paranoia"). In support of ''We Have You Surrounded'', the band embarked on tours of the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Festival appearances included the Golden Plains Festival in Australia, The

Voodoo Music Experience The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience (formerly The Voodoo Music Experience), commonly referred to as Voodoo or Voodoo Fest, is a multi-day music and arts festival held in City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Voodoo Experience has hosted more t ...

in New Orleans, the Afro Punk Festival in Brooklyn, and the

All Tomorrow's Parties "All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released on the group's 1967 debut studio album, '' The Velvet Underground & Nico''. Inspiration for the song came from Reed's observation of Andy War ...

's Nightmare Before Christmas Festival in England. In July 2008, the band returned to the eastern U.S., opening for Spiritualized, and later touring with

TV on the Radio TV on the Radio (TVOTR) is an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2001. The band consists of Tunde Adebimpe (vocals, loops), David Andrew Sitek (guitars, keyboards, loops), Kyp Malone (vocals, guitars, bass, loops), and ...

in the Fall. Five singles were issued in 2008: a cover of a

Suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and ...

song on the Irish label Infirmary Phonographic; an

INXS INXS (a phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. The band's founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farris ...

covers single on Australian label Stained Circles; a

Sparks Sparks may refer to: Places *Sparks, Georgia * Sparks, Kansas *Sparks, Kentucky *Sparks, Maryland * Sparks, Nebraska *Sparks, Nevada *Sparks, Oklahoma *Sparks, Texas * Sparks, Bell County, Texas * Sparks, West Virginia Books * ''Sparks'' (Raffi ...

covers single on In The Red, which includes "Sherlock Holmes", also found on ''We Have You Surrounded'' and an iTunes compilation; and two splits on Cass Records with 2008 touring partners - a cover of Detroit proto-punk band

Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

on a split with touring partner

Kelley Stoltz Kelley Stoltz (born 1971) is an American singing, singer, songwriter and musician. He currently resides in San Francisco, California. His music has been compared to that of Brian Wilson, Velvet Underground, Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen. Musica ...

and a split with

Dan Sartain Daniel Fredrick Sartain (August 13, 1981 – March 20, 2021) was an American musician. His music encompasses a variety of genres, including rockabilly, punk rock and the blues. Career After releasing two self-produced albums through independe ...

. While touring for ''We Have You Surrounded'', Ko Melina stopped playing her parts on a "fuzzed" bass and instead started playing a baritone guitar.

''Daddy Rockin' Strong'' LP and ''Party Store'' (2010–2011)

In 2010, The Dirtbombs recorded the title track for Daddy Rockin Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & The Diablos. In February 2011, the band released their fifth LP, ''

Party Store In the United States, a party store is a store that sells supplies for parties. Merchandise may include: * Balloons and streamers * Wrapping paper, greeting cards * Cake decoration items * Seasonal holiday items (Christmas, Hanukkah, July 4th, Hall ...

''. A sequel of sorts to ''Ultraglide In Black'', ''Party Store'' features rock covers of early

Detroit techno Detroit techno is a type of techno music that generally includes the first techno productions by Detroit-based artists during the 1980s and early 1990s. Prominent Detroit techno artists include Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes, Derrick May, Jeff M ...

and

house music House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago's underground club culture in the late 1970s, as DJs began altering ...

. A companion remix album was released by Scion's Scion A/V label.

''Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-blooey!'' (2013)

In September 2013, ''Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-blooey!'', the long-promised bubblegum record, was finally released.

Live experience

The Dirtbombs have a long and widely praised history as a live act. ''Spin'' magazine listed the Dirtbombs at number 10 in their list of "Top 25 Live Bands Now" in the September 2006 issue. The band has opened for a diversity of famous acts: In 2002, the band opened for Blondie on their Michigan and Illinois tour dates, and in subsequent years, they've opened for

Mudhoney Mudhoney is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1988, following the demise of Green River. Its members are singer and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm, lead guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Guy Maddison and drummer Dan Peters. ...

Radio Birdman Radio Birdman is an Australian punk rock band formed by Deniz Tek and Rob Younger in Sydney in 1974. The group influenced the work of many successful, mainstream bands, and are now considered instrumental in Australia's musical growth. Hi ...

and Spiritualized. Over the years, the band has headlined tours with such up and coming bands as

The Killers The Killers are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After going through a number of short-term bass players and drum ...

, the

, Be Your Own Pet, and

Jay Reatard James Lee Lindsey Jr. (May 1, 1980 – January 13, 2010), known professionally as Jay Reatard, was an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. He was signed to Matador Records. He released recordings as a solo artist and as a member of the Re ...

, many of which would go on to become major label acts. In 2002, rising art-punk band

Yeah Yeah Yeahs The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O (born Karen Lee Orzolek), guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are comp ...

opened for the Dirtbombs at the relatively small

Bowery Ballroom The Bowery Ballroom is a New York City live-music venue located at 6 Delancey Street in the neighborhood of Bowery in Manhattan. The Bowery Ballroom holds something of a cult status among musicians as well as audiences. ''Rolling Stone'' magaz ...

in New York. Four years later, the Dirtbombs would open for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the massively larger Roseland Ballroom, also in New York City. The band jokingly refers to this trend as "The Dirtbombs Curse".

Former members

* Troy Gregory: Bass, Vocals * Andre Williams: vocals * Dana Spicer (Eric S. Johnson, aka Wedgehead): bass/fuzz * Tom Lynch: bass * Chris Fachini: drums * Scott: drums * Ewolf: drums * Chandy (Chris Handyside): drums * Joe Greenwald: bass/fuzz *

: bass, vocals * Deanne Iovan: bass/fuzz, backing vocals * Dion Fischer: baritone fuzz * Nick Lloyd: drums * Ryan Pritts: drums * Tom Potter: fuzz bass, backing vocals * Patrick Keeler: drums (a couple of shows in June 2004)

Discography

Albums

EPs

* ''Chariot of the Gods?'' EP (

Au Go Go Records Au Go Go Records is the name of a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label. It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland from a house in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 1979 and was later operated by Greta Moon. The label star ...

, 2001)

Compilation albums

Singles

*High Octane Salvation 7" (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1996) *All Geeked Up 7" (In The Red, 1997) *Tina Louise 7" (Flying Bomb Records, 1998) *Maybe Your Baby 7" (High Maintenance, 1998) *Stuck Under My Shoe 7" (Some Assembly Required, 1998) *Headlights On 7" (Solid Sex Lovie Doll Records, 2000) *Brucia I Cavi 7" (Hate Records, 2000) *Ode to a Black Man 7" (Sweet Nothing, 2001) *Australian Sing a Long with the Dirtbomb Singers 7" (Zerox Records, 2002) *Pray for Pills 7" (Corduroy Records, 2002) *Motor City Baby 7" (Sweet Nothing, 2003) *Earthquake Heart 7" (Velvet Tiger, 2004) *Merit 7" (Kapow Records, 2004) *Crashdown Day 7" (Corduroy Records, 2004) *Tanzen Gehn' 7" (Soundflat Records, 2005) *Brand New Game 7" (Munster Records, 2005) *Oh Katrina 7" (Noiseless/Live From Detroit, 2007) *Rocket USA 7" (Infirmary Phonographic, 2008) *Need You Tonight 7" (Stained Circles, 2008) *The Dirtbombs... Play Sparks 7" (In the Red, 2008) *Race to the Bottom 12" (Cass Records, 2009) *Kick Me 7" (Cass Records, 2010)

Split records with others

* "Cedar Point '76", with The White Stripes (Extra Ball Records, 2000) * "King's Led Hat", with The Gories (Fortune Teller Records, 2004) * "She Played Me Like a Booger", with Justin Robertson (Slut Smalls, 2004) * "Lost Love", with ADULT. (Cass Records/Ersatz Audio, 2004) * "Billiards at Nine-Thirty", with King Khan And His Shrines (Sounds of Subterrania, 2004) * "No Expectations", with The Love Supremes (Norton Records, 2005) * " Missionary Man", with The

(Cass Records, 2006) * "Kung Fu", with the Voltaire Brothers and Pitch Black City (Mahogani Music, 2007) * "Politicians in My Eyes", with

(Cass Records, 2008) * "Politicians in My Eyes", with The Terrible Twos(Detroit) and

(Cass Records, 2008) * "Secret Code", with Davila 666 (Scion Audio Visual, 2010)

Appeared on compilations

*''Ghettoblaster: A Detroit Music Sampler 1997 Volume 1'' CD (Motor City Brewing Works, 1997) *''I Hate Music'' CD (

P-Vine P-Vine Records is an independent record label based in Tokyo, Japan. History It was started in 1976 by Blues Interactions, a firm founded in 1975 by Yasufumi Higurashi and Akira Kochi, as a record label focused on black music. The label name c ...

, 1999) *''Hot Pinball Rock'' Vol. 1 CD (Extra Ball Records, 2000) *''X-Mas Surprise Package Volume 3'' 7" (Flying Bomb Records, 2000) *''Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit'' LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2001) *''Hometaping'' - Volume 1 CD (Kerrang!, 2002) *Troy Gregory's ''Sybil'' CD (Fall Of Rome Records) *''Rough Trade Shops Rock And Roll'' 2xCD (Mute, 2002) *''X-Mas Surprise Package (The Collector's Edition)'' CD (Flying Bomb Records, 2002) *''Ghettoblaster Volume 2'' CD (Motor City Brewing Works, 2002) *''Playing Favourites'' LP (Illustrious Artists, 2003) *''Revolver USA Sampler Autumn 2003'' CD (Revolver USA, 2003) *''Detroit Breakdown - The Rocked Out Motor City Music Sampler'' CD (PBS 106.7FM, 2004) *''Superfuzz'' CD (Lowfly Records, 2005) *''Salvo of 24 Gunshots - Tribute to Gun Club'' LP/CD (Unrecording Records, 2005) *''Static Disaster The UK. In the Red Records Sampler'' CD (In The Red, 2005) *''Daddy Rockin Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & The Diablos'' LP (The Wind, Norton, 2010)

References

External links

MySpace page: The Dirtbombs (semi-official page/fan club)

Fan site: The Dirtbombs Fans

Nov 2008 Interview
with L.A. Record
The Dirtbombs collection
at the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music ...

's live music archive *
The Dirtbombs page
at Sounds of Subterrania {{DEFAULTSORT:Dirtbombs, The Garage rock groups from Michigan Garage punk groups Musical groups from Detroit Indie rock musical groups from Michigan Punk rock groups from Michigan In the Red artists 1992 establishments in Michigan