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Dash Rip Rock Biography

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Straight-ahead rock & roll in the Southern tradition, with plenty of indie rock energy to boot, is what has kept Dash Rip Rock going since the mid-'80s. A trio initially comprised of vocalist/guitarist Bill Davis, bassist Ned "Hoaky" Hickel, and drummer F. Clarke Martty, the group formed in 1984. Martty was subsequently replaced by Fred LeBlanc on drums, though LeBlanc left in 1989 (after the Mammoth label LPs Dash Rip Rock and Ace of Clubs) to found Cowboy Mouth. The remaining duo then recruited drummer Chris Luckette and recorded 1990's Not of This World with producer Jim Dickinson. After the concert record Boiled Alive!, Dash Rip Rock left Mammoth Records and released 1993's Tiger Town on Doctor Dream. Two more label switches, from Sector 2 to Naked Language, preceded the release of 1995's Get You Some of Me (after which Luckette left the band) and 1996's Dash Rip Rock's Gold Record. Paydirt followed in 1998. In 2002 the trio released Sonic Boom, followed by Recyclone in 2005, Hee Haw Hell in 2007, and Call of the Wild in 2010. Bill Davis has continued as leader of Dash Rip Rock from one trio lineup to the next, which on Call of the Wild featured Patrick Johnson on bass and Eric Padua on drums; Padua has since been replaced by drummer Kyle Melancon. ~ John Bush, Rovi

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