Those Poor Bastards
Background information
OriginMadison, Wisconsin, United States
Genres
Years active2004 (2004)–present
LabelsTribulation Recording Co.
Members
  • Lonesome Wyatt
  • The Minister

Those Poor Bastards are an American gothic country band based in Madison, Wisconsin.[1] Since 2004 they have released twelve full-length studio albums, seven EPs[2] and have toured in both North America and Europe.

The band is composed of Lonesome Wyatt (vocals, guitar) and The Minister (banjo, bass, percussion, backing vocals). They are secretive and reveal very little information about themselves.[3]

Background

Growing up, Lonesome Wyatt vaguely described his childhood as very isolated,[4] having few friends at school and "going the whole summer" without seeing them, and that his parents "were insane".[5] He attended Stoughton High School (Wisconsin),[6] graduating in 1997. Inspired by Nick Cave and Johnny Cash, he began to record music in his parents' basement, where he began a solo gothic folk project called Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks before disbanding it in 2002,[7][5] although the group was revived in 2010.

History

While looking for a band name in the early 2000s, Wyatt discovered the phrase "those poor bastards" in a book, and decided to use it as the name for his band formed with another unidentified member known as The Minister.[8] In late 2005, his father was alleged to have contacted him for fear that he was a werewolf because he could not remember where he gotten mud on his shoes. Wyatt has been questioned about the incident in various interviews.[9][5] The Minister veils his face in all official band photography, does not perform live and has not revealed his identity.[4] For live performances, Wyatt performs with a third musician, Vincent Presley, on drums, moog, and keyboard. At live shows, Presley is known to play the moog or keyboard with drums simultaneously.

Their song Pills I Took was covered by Hank Williams III on his landmark 2006 release, Straight to Hell.

Musical style and influences

Those Poor Bastards has been described as gothic country.[1] The band performs a style that derives from gothic rock and traditional Americana, often with themes in the genre of murder ballads.[10] Their lyrics focus on themes of sin, damnation, misery, religion and death.[1][11][12]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

References

  1. ^ a b c d Thanki, Juli (7 February 2008). "THOSE POOR BASTARDS: HELLFIRE HYMNS". PopMatters. Retrieved 2022-11-20. This band makes Gothic Country at its apocalyptic best. [...] Those Poor Bastards can stand on their own as pioneers in the fast-growing Gothic Country subgenre.
  2. ^ "Official Website Discography". Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Those Poor Bastards". The Swedish Institute of Gothic Country. March 21, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Kody Dayish (October 31, 2014). "Halloween Is Here... So Are Those Poor Bastards" (PDF). Navajo Nation News. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "The Mick 25" (PDF). 2006. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "Wyatt Hellickson from Stoughton High School - Classmates". Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "LONESOME WYATT AND THE HOLY SPOOKS - Reggies Chicago". Reggies Chicago. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Interview time with Lonesome Wyatt". April 11, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "An Interview With Lonesome Wyatt of Those Poor Bastards". August 8, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "Halloween Review: Those Poor Bastards' "Vicious Losers"". Saving Country Music. October 31, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  11. ^ April Snellings (November 2012). "West of Hell: A new album and novel from country doom due Those Poor Bastards revels in ole timey grime and gore". Rue Morgue Magazine. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  12. ^ Chris Krovatin (March 31, 2019). "9 Artists Bringing Darkness and Evil to Old Genres". Kerrang. Retrieved March 31, 2019.

External links

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