The Slugs were an American rock band from
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
, United States. Starting in 1983, the band played power pop influenced by bands such as
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
,
NRBQ
NRBQ is an American rock band founded by Terry Adams (piano), Steve Ferguson (guitar) and Joey Spampinato (bass). Originally the "New Rhythm and Blues Quintet", the group was formed around 1965. Adams disbanded it for a time, and the group re ...
,
XTC
XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge (guitars, vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass, vocals), the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing in ...
and
The Smithereens
The Smithereens are an American rock band from Carteret, New Jersey, United States. The group formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio (vocals & guitar), Jim Babjak (guitar & vocals), Mike Mesaros (bass guitar & vocals), and Dennis Diken (drum ...
.
Formation and members
The Slugs was started by brothers guitarist Dag and bassist Gregg Juhlin
and their friend guitarist Al Paulson in
Park Ridge, Illinois
Park Ridge is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a Chicago suburb. Per the 2020 census, the population was 39,656. It is located northwest of downtown Chicago. It is close to O'Hare International Airport, major expressways, a ...
. In the early 1980s, the trio put out an ad for a drummer that was answered by Chicago native Mike Halston, and the band officially formed on March 5, 1983.
Al Paulson eventually left the group, and English vocalist Tristan Gallagher joined but left in 1985. In the 1990s, Johnny L (born John Lukashevich) joined the band as guitarist.
Music
The group put out their first single, "Walking in Circles/Give Me a Sunday", in 1986 on
Susstones Records, and then a second single, "Back to the Playground/Now They Can All Lie Down", was issued on
Pravda Records
Pravda Records is an American independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, representing a diverse roster of indie rock, soul, pop, and experimental artists.
History
Pravda Records was founded by Kenn Goodman in 1984. Prav ...
in 1987.
In 1988, while still a trio, the Slugs put out their first album, ''Non-Stop Holiday'', on Pravda Records.
The record sleeve displayed a photograph of an adolescent Mike Halston.
The band subsequently released two more albums: ''Fort Fun'' (1992, Pravda Records) and ''Junior'' (2000,
Famous Mistakes Records).
Reunions
The band announced that they would reunite on January 22, 2010 for one show at the Abbey Pub in Chicago to celebrate Pravda Records' 25th anniversary, along with Pravda bands the Service and Boom Hank.
On June 25, 2022, the band reunited to play PravdaFest, a celebration of the 38th anniversary of the founding of Pravda Records.
Discography
Albums
* ''Non-Stop Holiday'' (
Pravda
''Pravda'' ( rus, Правда, p=ˈpravdə, a=Ru-правда.ogg, "Truth") is a Russian broadsheet newspaper, and was the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, when it was one of the most influential papers in the ...
, 1988)
* ''Fort Fun'' (Pravda, 1992)
* ''Junior'' (Pravda, 2000)
Singles
* "Walking In Circles" b/w "Give Me Strength" (Susstones, 1980)
* "Back To The Playgrounds" b/w "Now They Can All Lie Down" (Pravda, 1987)
Compilation appearances
* ''20 Explosive Dynamic Super Smash Hit Explosions!'' (Pravda, 1991) - "Hooked On A Feeling"
* ''Super Fantastic Mega Smash Hits!'' (Attic/Limited, 1995) - "Hooked On A Feeling"
* ''20 Supersonic Mega Explosive Hits'' (Runt, 1995) - "Hooked On A Feeling"
* ''1985-1995 Pravda Records 10-Year Anniversary Compilation'' (Pravda, 1995) - "Breathe, Don't Push"
* ''Super Fantastic Mega Smash Hits'' cassette (Pravda/Backyard, 1995) - "Hooked On A Feeling"
* ''Urbs In Horto: A Chicago Indiepop Compilation'' (
Johann's Face, 2003) - "Honey Rose"
* ''Flushed Away Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' (
Astralwerks, 2006) - "Ice Cold Rita"
* ''The Farmer's Weather'' CDr (Zero Qualms, 2017) - "I Don't Like Slugs"
References
External links
The Slugs official website*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slugs, The
Musical groups from Chicago
American power pop groups