The Murder Junkies are an American punk rock band, best known for having been GG Allin's final backing band before his death. They perform songs from Allin's back catalog as well as their own original material. They are the third GG Allin backing band to bear the name.

The Murder Junkies
Murder Junkies in 2008
Murder Junkies in 2008
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1990–1999
  • 2003–present
MembersMerle Allin
Dino Sex
Duane Rollick
Brandon Fergus
Past membersGG Allin
Chicken John
William Weber
Dee Dee Ramone
Mike Denied
Mike Hudson
Jeff Clayton
J. B. Beverley
Scotty Wood
Benjamin "FC Murder" Bunny
Harold "PP Duvay" Rogers

Earlier bands bearing the name edit

The original Murder Junkies was a Texas band formed independently of Allin which performed as his backing band for several live dates in the late 1980s.

The second Murder Junkies was a studio band including Allin's friend Mark Sheehan on guitar which recorded the Watch Me Kill six-track EP, released on Fuckin' A/Stomach Ache Records in 1991.[1]

Formation and career with Allin (1990–1993) edit

The third Murder Junkies lineup was formed in 1990 as Allin's new backing band and rehearsed while he concluded his prison sentence. The original line-up consisted of guitarist "Chicken" John Rinaldi (later a 2007 San Francisco mayoral candidate), GG's elder brother Merle Allin on bass, and drummer Donald "Dino Sex" Sachs.

Rinaldi left the band later in 1991, and voiced negative opinions about the experience in Todd Phillips's documentary Hated: GG Allin And The Murder Junkies. He was replaced by William Weber. Dee Dee Ramone was also recruited to play guitar at the same time as Weber, but quit shortly thereafter, without playing any live dates with the band.

GG Allin and the Murder Junkies recorded their sole studio album, Brutality and Bloodshed for All, for Alive Records in April 1993. Their subsequent tour, shortly followed by Allin's death from a drug overdose on June 28, was chronicled by roadie Evan Cohen in the book I Was A Murder Junkie: The Last Days Of GG Allin.

Activity after Allin's death; breakup (1993–1999) edit

Dino, Merle, and Weber decided to continue the band, and recruited new singer Mike Denied, former bassist with New York City band The Denied. They released a mini-album Feed My Sleaze in 1995. "The Right To Remain Violent", a 7" single, appeared the following year.

The Murder Junkies toured throughout the 1990s and went through several more vocalists, including Mike Hudson, formerly of the Pagans (he only lasted for two shows in 1994), Jeff Clayton of Antiseen, and J. B. Beverley, a musician from the Washington, D.C. area. They broke up in 1999.

Reformation, subsequent activity (2003–present) edit

The band reformed with Clayton singing for a tour in June 2003, the 10th anniversary of GG Allin's death. They performed alongside a version of Allin's first band, The Jabbers, for several shows.[2]

In 2005, the band completed a tour of continental Europe. In 2006, they appeared at two shows supporting CKY, and toured as the opening act for Hank Williams III.

The band released the album Road Killers in 2011, followed by A Killing Tradition in 2013 and Killing For Christ Sakes the following year. The lineup currently features Merle Allin, Dino Sex, guitarist Duane Rollick, and vocalist Brandon Fergus.[3]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

as GG Allin & The Murder Junkies
Year Album Label Format
1993 Brutality and Bloodshed for All Alive Records LP
as The Murder Junkies
Year Album Label Format
2011 Road Killer MVD Audio CD
2013 A Killing Tradition MVD Audio CD
2014 Killing For Christ Sakes MVD Audio CD

Live albums edit

as GG Allin & The Murder Junkies
Year Album Label Format
1996 Terror in America Alive Records CD

Extended Plays edit

as The Murder Junkies
Year Album Label Format
1995 Feed My Sleaze Alive Records 10"
1996 The Right to Remain Violent Vital Music 7"
2014 Gut Pit MVD Audio 7"

Singles edit

as GG Allin & The Murder Junkies
Year Album Label Format
1993 "Kill Thy Father, Rape Thy Mother" Sympathy For The Record Industry 7"

References edit

  1. ^ thecarouseruk (August 31, 2014). "He Was Your Enemy: Part II". Thecarouser.com. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "GG Allin 10 Year Memorial Tour". Bostongroupienews.com. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  3. ^ https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02kVNLRUWedTPngxTXSBPyajLTtgNFQswMFKyEndACjiWeeopt3KycGE8UxpVhEYK2l&id=585345590&mibextid=qC1gEa

External links edit