by Denise Sullivan
Tribal, psychobilly blues is the best way to describe Gun Clubs energetic death rock, but the bands career seemed doomed from the get-go due to leader Jeffrey Lee Pierces reputation as an unreliable wildman, and well-publicized bouts of drunkenness dogged him throughout his career. Formed in Los Angeles in the early 80s, the band were vaguely aligned with similarly roots-inspired groups like X and the Blasters, but later picked up and relocated to the Lower Eastside, resting more comfortably around the New York downtown set and Pierces mentors, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein.
Their 1981 debut, Fire of Love, was a punk/blues hybrid — intense energy fueled Pierces exorcism-in-progress delivery and the bands (Ward Dotson; guitar, Rob Ritter; bass and Terry Graham; drums) frenetic style. 1982s Miami had the band allied with Blondies Stein at the boards. Pierce had once been the president of Blondies U.S. fan club which sparked the liaison. 1985s EP, Death Party is a swingin piece of punkabilly with Dee Pop on drums and Jim Duckworth of Panther Burns on guitar. For Las Vegas Story in 1984, the Club won over guitarist Kid Congo Powers from the Cramps and Patricia Morrison (the Bags) on bass and it looked as if that was that when, save for some live recordings and posthumous releases, Pierce launched his solo career in 1985 with the EP Flamingo and the Wildweed album for the Statick label. But it wasnt quite over; in 1987 Pierce came back with a realigned Club and the album, Mother Juno (Fundamental) which earned them a wider following than ever. In 1996, after drying-out, but suffering from persistent health problems, Pierce passed away from a brain hemorrhage. Morrison went on to play with the Sisters of Mercy, Powers in his own lounge group and Dotson formed the Pontiac Brothers.