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The Long Ryders | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Genres | |
Years active | 1982–1987, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2016–present |
Labels | |
Members | Sid Griffin Stephen McCarthy Greg Sowders |
Past members | Barry Shank Des Brewer Tom Stevens |
Website | www |
The Long Ryders are an American alternative country and Paisley Underground band, principally active between 1982 and 1987,[6] who have periodically regrouped for brief reunions (2004, 2009, 2014, 2016). In 2019 they released a new studio album[7] – their first in 32 years[8] – and played a series of tour dates.
The Long Ryders were originally formed by several American musicians who were each multi-instrumentalists and influenced by Gram Parsons, the Byrds, country music and various punk rock groups. They were named after the Walter Hill film, the Long Riders.[6] The band featured Sid Griffin and Stephen McCarthy on vocals and guitar; Des Brewer on bass (later replaced by Tom Stevens); and Greg Sowders on drums.
Although two members were transplants from the American South, they became a popular Los Angeles rock band, forming in the early 1980s and originally associated with a movement called the Paisley Underground.[9] With a sound reminiscent of Rubber Soul-era Beatles, electric Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield and the Flying Burrito Brothers, but with a harder edge, they anticipated the alternative country music of the 1990s by a decade. Their early work contained influences of both punk (largely attributable to devoted record collector Griffin) and old-school country (championed by McCarthy). Former Byrd Gene Clark joined them on their first full-length album, 1984's Native Sons, adding vocals to the song "Ivory Tower".[6][10] Their initial studio release, the 10-5-60 EP, consisted of Griffin, Brewer, McCarthy, and Sowders. Brewer left after the release of 10-5-60. He was replaced by Tom Stevens, and that line-up remained in place as a recording unit until their eventual demise.[6]
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