"Mojo Powered"
Atlanta, Georgia's Premier Death Rock Band, 1985-1987
History of the Band
The Tombstones emerged in 1985
during the heyday of the punk rock scene in Atlanta, Georgia. They are often
remembered as one of the many unofficial "house bands" at Atlanta's now-famous (and
now defunct) Metroplex nightclub during the club's latter years. The Tombstones shared the stage with
such notable bands as The Circle Jerks, The Lords of the New Church,
Divine Horsemen, D.R.I., and Bad Brains, as well as a slew
of great local talent.
The Tombstones sought to meld a punk attitude to American roots music and the result was a rough and rowdy punk-blues. The band's fascination with voodoo, black magic, graveyards, ghost stories, and the dark side of southern culture is quite evident in their songs. The music of The Tombstones was often jokingly described by the band members as "psychedelic death country swamp rock blues." But in reality, that bit of facetiousness is actually very close to the mark: The sound was heavily influenced by the band members' southern roots and fueled by the darker elements found in blues, country and southern rock - such as Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Johnny Cash, and Creedence Clearwater Revival - while showing a definite influence of such punk outfits as The Misfits, X, The Gun Club, and The Cramps.
The original Tombstones recorded
a six song EP titled Grave Matter. One track from that release titled (I
Ain't Got) Nobody also appeared on the Twilight Records compilation
album Make the City Grovel in Its Dust, locally-produced in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Lords of the New Church
lead singer Stiv Bators (also of The Dead Boys fame) recorded a
version of The Tombstones song (I Ain't Got) Nobody during what would
be his last recording session before his death in France in 1990. (The song
appears as the second track on the 1996 CD titled, Last Race. Ex-New York
Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders and ex-Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone
also performed on that track).
The Tombstones 1985 - 1987 Lineup:
• Stevie Tombstone (rhythm and lead guitars, vocals)
• Curt Rowlett (rhythm and slide guitars, harmonica, vocals)
• Jack Ross (bass guitar, vocals)
• Pat Parker (drums and vocals).
Media Quotes:
"Though The Tombstones' distinctively ghoulish bent assured they'd never attain the mass appeal of The Georgia Satellites, songs like 'Jailhouse Tattoo' and 'Nobody' continue to pack resonance even in their advanced state of decomposition." Greg Beets, Austin Chronicle.
"The songs resonate with a raw and hungry despair and twang-heavy guitar. Old faves like 'Likkered Up & Squashed Flat' and 'Her House (is the Way to Hell)' will live on in eternal damnation." Lee Valentine Smith, Creative Loafing, Atlanta."Hearing tracks such as 'Jailhouse Tattoo' and 'Dark As A Dungeon' nearly two decades after they were recorded is revelatory because the group's sound remains raw, vital and undated." Gilbert Garcia, San Antonio Current.
Other History Links:
Creative Loafing article about the history of The Tombstones.
Creative Loafing article about the history of the Metroplex.
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