The Deluxtone Rockets
Encyclopedia
The Deluxtone Rockets are a band from Muskegon
, Michigan
. They began as a punk band, but by the time of their signing to Tooth & Nail Records
they had evolved into a swing revival
outfit.
Their first album, which was self titled, was produced by Gene Eugene
and Dennis Danell
. They wrote their own songs, and their musical style and lyrics were often compared to The W's
, but John Brown's lead vocals were likened to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
' Dicky Barrett
or The Reverend Horton Heat
.
In their second album, Green Room Blues, the group dropped the horn section entirely and shifted to a rockabilly
sound. The albums title reflects the fact that both Eugene and Danell died in early 2000, during production of the album. Though Danell had not been involved in the production, Eugene had been, and was replaced by Chris Colbert. The album has a darker mood than their debut effort, though its lyrics still reflect the faith of John Brown. The album also contained a cover of The Cure
's "Lovesong".
2000 was gererally reported as a bad year for the band; they were unable to play shows regularly because in addition to recording difficulties, their drummer left. They were able to get Rodney from the Calicoes to fill in occasionally, and thus played at Cornerstone and other festivals. Also, one night their van caught fire and was totaled, though they still managed to play that night.
They are known for setting their trumpets on fire during live performances.
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. They began as a punk band, but by the time of their signing to Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
they had evolved into a swing revival
Swing Revival
The Swing Revival was a late 1990s and early 2000s period of renewed popular interest in swing and jump blues music and dance from the 1930s and 1940s as exemplified by Louis Prima, often mixed with a more contemporary rock, rockabilly or ska sound, known also as neo-swing or retro...
outfit.
Their first album, which was self titled, was produced by Gene Eugene
Gene Eugene
Gene "Eugene" Andrusco was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of the funk/rock band Adam Again, a member of The Swirling Eddies and as a founding member of the roots music supergroup Lost Dogs.-Acting:Andrusco was a child...
and Dennis Danell
Dennis Danell
Dennis Eric Danell was the founding guitarist for the Southern California punk rock band Social Distortion.Danell formed Social Distortion in 1979 with frontman Mike Ness while attending high school together...
. They wrote their own songs, and their musical style and lyrics were often compared to The W's
The W's
The W's were a Christian ska/swing band, formed in Corvallis, Oregon in 1996. Success came quickly to the band and their first album, Fourth from the Last, was a sleeper hit unexpectedly having had the strongest debut of any Christian album to date for its distributor. They toured the United...
, but John Brown's lead vocals were likened to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are an American ska punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1983. Since the band's inception, lead vocalist Dicky Barrett, bassist Joe Gittleman, tenor saxophonist Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton and dancer Ben Carr have remained constant members...
' Dicky Barrett
Dicky Barrett
Richard Michael Barrett , better known as Dicky Barrett, is the frontman of Ska punk band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and the announcer for Jimmy Kimmel Live...
or The Reverend Horton Heat
The Reverend Horton Heat
The Reverend Horton Heat is the stage name of American musician Jim Heath as well as the name of his Dallas, Texas-based psychobilly trio. Heath is a singer, songwriter and guitarist....
.
In their second album, Green Room Blues, the group dropped the horn section entirely and shifted to a rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
sound. The albums title reflects the fact that both Eugene and Danell died in early 2000, during production of the album. Though Danell had not been involved in the production, Eugene had been, and was replaced by Chris Colbert. The album has a darker mood than their debut effort, though its lyrics still reflect the faith of John Brown. The album also contained a cover of The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
's "Lovesong".
2000 was gererally reported as a bad year for the band; they were unable to play shows regularly because in addition to recording difficulties, their drummer left. They were able to get Rodney from the Calicoes to fill in occasionally, and thus played at Cornerstone and other festivals. Also, one night their van caught fire and was totaled, though they still managed to play that night.
They are known for setting their trumpets on fire during live performances.
Reunion
According to the band's MySpace, The Deluxtone Rockets reformed in spring of 2008 and are working on new material.Discography
- 1999: The Deluxtone RocketsThe Deluxtone Rockets (album)The Deluxtone Rockets is the eponymous debut album from Michigan rockabilly band The Deluxtone Rockets. Musically the album has been described as swing music filtered through punk, sometimes achieveing a middle ground between surf and 1950s rockabilly...
- 2001: Green Room BluesGreen Room BluesGreen Room Blues is the second and final album from Michigan rockabilly band The Deluxtone Rockets. Musically the album changes the bands' direction from swing to rockabilly and winds up sounding, according to CCM magazine, something like "Johnny Cash head butting with Buddy Holly" HM went further,...
- 1999: Happy Christmas volume 2 (Compilation, BECBEC RecordingsBEC Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is a subsidiary of Tooth and Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group....
) - 2009: New Material Demo
1999
- John Brown - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- Jimmy Van Boxel - Upright Bass, BGV's
- Jacob Dykema - Tenor Sax, Vocals
- Richard Mittwede - Trombone, BGV's
- Jason Sorn - Drums
- Tim Harvell - Trumpet, BGV's
2008
- John Brown - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- Jason Sorn - Drums
- Harley Obzut - Bass
- Dusty Bottoms - Guitar
External links
- [ The Deluxtone Rockets] at Allmusic