Galactic Cowboys

Galactic Cowboys
Galactic Cowboys, 1991
Galactic Cowboys, 1991
Background information
OriginHouston, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1989–2000
  • 2009
  • 2013
  • 2016–present
Labels
MembersMonty Colvin
Ben Huggins
Alan Doss
Dane Sonnier
Past membersWally Farkas
Websitegalacticcowboys.com

Galactic Cowboys are an American heavy metal band based in Houston, Texas. They combine progressive metal with a vocal style influenced by The Beatles and the heavy playing style of thrash bands such as Anthrax. They have been described as "possibly the most melodic metal band ever to exist in Christian or general markets."[1] Although the band members are Christians, they did not consider Galactic Cowboys to be a Christian band.[2] The band has toured with prominent hard rock and metal acts such as Anthrax, Dream Theater, King's X and Overkill.[3] Despite their general lack of commercial success, the band garnered a cult following throughout its existence.[4][5]

Galactic Cowboys first gained attention through their association with producer/manager Sam Taylor and tours with King's X, and were subsequently offered a major label record contract by DGC Records. The band's debut album, Galactic Cowboys (1991), was overshadowed by the surprise success of Nirvana's Nevermind shortly after its release, and the band were dropped from DGC following the release of the similarly unsuccessful follow-up album Space In Your Face (1993). The band signed to Metal Blade Records in 1995, and released four albums with the label, featuring a simpler heavy metal/alternative metal sound, before breaking up two months prior to the release of the band's sixth studio album, Let It Go, in 2000.[3][6][7][8] Following a number of reunion shows in 2009 and 2013, Galactic Cowboys was reformed in 2016 with the original line-up, and released their first studio album in seventeen years, Long Way Back to the Moon, in 2017 through Mascot Records.

  1. ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Galactic Cowboys". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 353–354. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  2. ^ "Galactic Cowboys FAQ item No. 23". Archived from the original on February 5, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Breez, Bay (January 2008). "Monty Colvin (interview)". Music Mayhem. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  4. ^ Holt, Sam (September 26, 2017). "Group Galactic Cowboys Announce New Album 'Long Way Back To The Moon'". Flick Of The Finger. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Stratmann, Holger, ed. (1998). "Galactic Cowboys". Rock Hard Enzyklopädie [Rock Hard Encyclopedia] (in German). Germany: Rock Hard GmbH. pp. 127–128. ISBN 3-9805171-0-1. Despite excellent records, the [Galactic] Cowboys seem to be forever stuck on the threshold between cult status and mainstream success.
  6. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (April 20, 1996). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ Rowland, Hobart. "The Resurrection of Sam Taylor". Houston Press. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Hart, Frank (July–August 2000). "Galactic Cowboys: The last Ride?". HM Magazine (84): 42. ISSN 1066-6923. Archived from the original on September 18, 2000. Retrieved April 24, 2007.