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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZJASON and the SCORCHERSUS country/rock band formed '81 by Jason Ringenberg (b 22 Nov. '59), vocals, guitar; Warner Hodges (b 4 June '59), guitar (father was guitarist with Johnny Cash); Perry Baggs (b 22 March '62), drums. Ringenberg grew up next to the Rock Island Line; spent formative years in Illinois C&W and bluegrass bands. Signed by EMI America; debut EP Reckless Country Soul '82 followed by mini-LP Fervor '83, with breakneck cover of Bob Dylan's 'Absolutely Sweet Marie', Ringenberg's own 'Pray For Me Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now)' and 'Hot Nights In Georgia'. Lost And Found '85 was more of the same, with a frantic reworking of Hank Williams's 'Lost Highway', Ringenberg's rebel rock on 'Shop It Around', 'Broken Whiskey Glass' etc; Still Standing '86 incl. Rolling Stones' '19th Nervous Breakdown' with originals such as 'Golden Ball And Chain'. Switched to A&M for Thunder And Fire '89, adding Andy York on guitar, but it didn't chart; Ringenberg co-wrote 'Bible And A Gun' with Steve Earle, 'Away From You' with Paul Kennerley. An EMI CD compilation Essential incl. Fervor, Lost And Found and previously unreleased tracks; Ringenberg's solo was One Foot In The Honky-Tonk '92 on Liberty; then the Scorchers re-formed for A Blazing Grace '95 and still had it, their next Clear Impetuous Morning '96 on Mammoth/Atlantic described as good as anything they've done. |