The Beat Farmers enjoyed a cult following throughout the 1980s and early '90s until the untimely passing of lead singer/drummer/guitarist in November 1995. He was just 40, and he collapsed of a massive heart attack at the Long Horn, a bar in Whistler, British Columbia, in western Canada.
, a former record store owner, and past president of the Kinks Preservation Society fan club, formed the Beat Farmers in San Diego in 1983, influenced on the one hand by country and blues music, but on the other by the first wave of punk rock bands to come out of Los Angeles.
The group began to latch on to a following at San Diego and Los Angeles-area clubs, satisfying a need for roots-based rock ' roll before most people even knew the need existed. Over the years, collaborated with a wide range of Los Angeles-based musicians and singers, including , from the group , , the Bangles, , , blues singer/pianist and ex- guitarist .
The Beat Farmers discography is more extensive than most people would think, because a number of recordings are hard to find or out of print.
The original group consisted of on drums, guitar and vocals, Jerry Raney on guitar and vocals, on guitar and vocals and Rolle Dexter on bass. The group's albums include Tales of the New West (1985, Rhino), (1985, Rhino), (1986, Curb Records), The Pursuit of Happiness (1987, Curb Records), Poor and Famous (1989, Curb Records), Live, Loud and Plowed (1990, Curb Records), (1994, Sector 2 Records), (1995, Curb Records), and (1995, Sector 2 Records).
The Beat Farmers formed in August, 1983 when they played a series of shows at the Spring Valley Inn in San Diego, and later played a local bar, Bodies.
By March of 1984, they were signed to Rhino Records for a one-off deal, and with a 4,000-dollar budget, recorded Tales of the New West, their debut, which was released in January, 1985. They began their first U.S.
tour and signed a seven record deal with Curb Records. In December, 1985, left the band and was replaced by guitarist/mandolinist Joey Harris, who had worked earlier with in a precursor to the Beat Farmers, Country Dick and the Snuggle Bunnies. Around the time of their first U.
S. tour, the band also begins to tour in Europe, where the passion for blues-rock, roots-rock and country rock runs higher than in parts of the U.S.
The group's album, Pursuit of Happiness spurred the single "Make It Last'' which got airplay on more than 40 country western stations. But once country radio programmers had a chance to hear the rest of the album, they quickly dropped the single, since many of them felt the rest of the album was too rock 'n' roll oriented.
In 1989, and Harris joined and from the Blasters to form the Pleasure Barons, a group that specialized in "lounge" music.
A year later, went into the hospital for thyroid surgery and continued to visit the doctor's office for cancer treatments. In the midst of all of this, the group grew dissatisfied with its relationship with Curb Records, and they attempted to get out of their seven album contract around the same time they discover a live album, Live, Loud and Plowed has been released without their knowledge. In between national tours, occupied himself with other projects in the Los Angeles area, including the Incredible Hayseeds, , and the Pleasure Barons.
In 1993, the Beat Farmers recorded their first album for Sector 2 Records (an Austin, Texas label), in Vancouver, Canada, . (sic) The record is released in August, 1994 and the band toured in earnest once again to support their release. While working on a second album for Sector 2, Curb Records released a album, again without the band's consent.
The Beat Farmers last album, , is released on September 19, 1995, but was released two weeks earlier in San Diego to coincide with the Street Scene, an outdoor festival there. The group toured the U.S.
in September and October, playing venues in Texas, the midwest and New York City.
On Nov. 8, 1995, suffered a massive heart attack three songs into the band's set at the Long Horn in Whistler, B.
C. The remaining Beat Farmers decide to dissolve the band on November 11, 1995.
Despite his risqué stage antics and bantering with his audiences, whom he often sprayed with beer, was a gentle soul who, after shows, would make his way around a club, shaking hands, signing autographs and chatting for a few minutes with all who took the time to say hello.
Since death in 1995, guitarists Joey Harris and Jerry Raney have gone on to form their own bands, continuing to some extent the roots-rock tradition of the Beat Farmers. At their live shows, the group was unique for the way would get out from behind his drum set to step out front and center and play guitar as well.
In 1996, Bar None Records of Hoboken, N.
J. posthumously released The Devil Lied to Me, a long-awaited solo album. A star-studded affair with regionally and nationally famous musicians from the Los Angeles area, is joined on this excellent release by roots chanteuses and , as well as talented live performers like and ex- guitarist .
Highlights include "Rich Man's Town," Paul Kamanski's "Indigo Rider," a cover of "Listen to Her Heart,'' and the originals "King of the Hobos,'' as well as a tribute to amateur rappers -- and there are many of both in San Diego -- "Bum Rap." ~ Richard Skelly, All Music Guide 1983 - A former record store owner, and past president of Preservation Society fan club, Country Dick Montana, drummer for the pioneering San Diego punk band The Penetrators, forms the Beat Farmers with ex-Shames singer-guitarist Jerry Raney. The two begins a residency at the Spring Valley Inn, then moves to Bodie's, near .
The band started to gain a following in San Diego and clubs, satisfying a need for roots-based rock ' roll.
1984 - By March they were signed to a with for a one-off-deal with a 4,000-dollar budget. The first album, Tales of the New saxophonist and released in January 1985.
It included the cover song Happy the 1980s to contain the chorus: Hubba-hubba-hubba-hubba-hubba. The album also included cover songs Reason to Believe by , and ‘‘There She Goes Again by , along with 12 other original songs. The first studio experience, according to guitarist Buddy Blue,
“Was pretty intimidating, I remember at the studio Barbra Streisand was in one room and Jermaine Jackson was in another.
Later we did overdubs in a smaller studio and there was this big tank of nitrous oxide. That album was kind of cut in between everybody taking trips over to the tank and huffing nitrous!”
, Glad 'N' Greasy,.
It was co-produced by The Rumour keyboardist . The EP included an outrageous version of Beat Generation performed in a “[Loudon Wainwright] just happened to be in London, too, so he was hanging out with us drinking in pubs.”
1986 – After England came a grueling American tour and a seven record deal with followed by a souring experience making the next Beat Farmers record, Van Go.
According to Blue, “Curb Records wanted the next Dire Straits.” A disgusted Blue gave his notice and went solo. Montana wanted to replace him with band The Fingers.
Raney objected that the band does not need three singer-guitarists, so only Harris is added to the lineup. Joey Harris, a guitarist and mandolinist, had worked earlier with Montana in a precursor to the The album features Kamanski's Hollywood Hills and a memorable cover of the chestnut Big River. Hideaway, written by Joey Harris, is featured in the soundtrack to the film Major League.
The band also begins a tour in , where the passion for , and runs higher than in parts of the U.S. The single Make It Last got airplay on nearly 45 country western stations.
However, once country radio programmers listened to the rest of the album, they dropped the song. Many programmers felt the rest of the album was too rock 'n' roll oriented.
.
Later in the year, Montana and Harris formed a side project with Nixon and Alvin 1990 – Live, Loud, and Plowed, a live album released by Curb Records without the bands knowledge. It was recorded in San Diego at the and captured the vibrant essence of the band. It office for treatments.
The band grew dissatisfied with its relationship with Curb Records and attempted to get out of their seven-album contract. Montana continued side projects in the Los Angeles area, including the "brokenlink">Country Dick's Garage, along with the Pleasure Barons.
1993 – Finally free from its contractual obligations with Curb/MCA, which reportedly hoped to oust Montana from the band, to support the release, while working on a second album for Sector 2.
1995 – Curb/MCA puts out The Best of the Beat Farmers, without the band's consent. Sector 2 releases Manifold in September; however, it was released two weeks earlier in San Diego to coincide with the San Diego Outdoor Festival. The group toured the U.
S. in September and October, playing venues in , , , and . On November 8, Country Dick later; however, the remaining members formed several new bands including Raney-Blue, The Devil Lied to Me, a Country Dick Montana solo album.
The performers include Katy Moffatt, , Nixon, and Alvin. The selections include Dave Alvin's Rich Man's Town, Paul Kamanski's Indigo Rider, a cover of 's Listen to Her Heart, and the originals King of the Hobos, as well as a tribute to amateur 2003 – Buddy Blue releases The Beat Farmers Live at the Spring Valley Inn, 2003 on his own label, – The newly named (Blue, Raney, Love and drummer Joel Kmak) release Loaded, also on the Clarence label. The Farmers have played at local San Diego venues, thrilling the crowd with old Beat Farmer tunes on request.
One of them, Watching the River, closes out the 2006 - Buddy Blue dies on April 2, suddenly and unexpectedly at his home at the age of 48.
Country Dick Montana was known for lying on his back and drinking his using only his feet, whom he often sprayed with beer. After performing a show, he would often walk around the club, shake hands, sign autographs, and chat with fans.
Despite being treated for twice, he was always ready for a beer run.
The Beat Farmers were a band that stayed true to what they believed, which is good, honest, and straight ahead to their live shows; however, it is still rock and roll. They were an influential and unusual band insomuch as they had two lead guitarists and three lead vocalists.
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