The Gories

The emergence of the Gories heralded a new Golden Age of Detroit rock beginning in the late '80s; a renaissance of noise and rustbelt rock that lasts through to today. Formed in 1986 by three Detroit natives -- <a href="spotify:artist:2zqkAaFzXl12nBCVlGDJZi">Mick Collins</a>, Peg O'Neill, and Dan Kroha (none of whom previously knew how to play an instrument) -- the Gories took their name from a band of the same name that appeared in the Gidget series of the late '50s/early '60s. Comprised of two guitarists and a drummer (i.e., no bass), the Gories concocted a primal, raw yet soulful blend of garage punk, culling a wealth of inspiration and cover material from <a href="spotify:artist:2bmixwMZXlkl2sbIbOfviq">Bo Diddley</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0Wxy5Qka8BN9crcFkiAxSR">Howlin' Wolf</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1yNOfXGQNGjAynk77wv85x">John Lee Hooker</a>. The three-piece also paid homage to the Keggs and Nick & the Jaguars, two other bassless bands from Detroit.

The Gories began their recorded career in 1987 with two tracks on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Wanghead%22">Wanghead</a> compilation It Came from the Garage II, the same compilation that featured <a href="spotify:artist:6eGyO5YgfOaG58AOPjAvKd">Nine Pound Hammer</a> (who would go on to become <a href="spotify:artist:73sawKQrhPG7HXTDRZGfOX">Nashville Pussy</a>). Len Punch, the owner of <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Wanghead%22">Wanghead</a>, recorded and released their first album, Houserockin', in 1989. According to legend, these first Gories recordings were executed in a tin shack. For their second album, <a href="spotify:artist:7CW5MYWUsyUYiHbiTmVZHe">Alex Chilton</a> of <a href="spotify:artist:3UvcmAOZt64oKpP95f6MMM">Big Star</a> joined them as producer, recording I Know You Fine, But How You Doin' for the French label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22New+Rose%22">New Rose</a>. Throughout this entire period, the band continued to release various 7" singles, including a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:65X3sG8LVBQN5033RqB6qn">Spinal Tap</a>'s "Give Me Some Money" for the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sub+Pop%22">Sub Pop</a> Singles Club. In 1992, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Crypt%22">Crypt</a> released Outta Here, their third album and what would be their last for some time to come.

Following an especially tumultuous European tour, the Gories broke up unceremoniously. <a href="spotify:artist:2zqkAaFzXl12nBCVlGDJZi">Mick Collins</a> continued to perform in <a href="spotify:artist:0vd3tEMFtcRCJUYozv1kj4">Blacktop</a>, King Sound Quartet, <a href="spotify:artist:5KEwsNl30yUDw4QrLhE2PS">the Screws</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4wPKtZH8mW0PdLeWPneweb">the Dirtbombs</a>, and contributed to <a href="spotify:artist:4mmEKUZZBwnzg4m6hizPyN">Andre Williams</a>' Silky and The Black Godfather and <a href="spotify:artist:4oRzJXOEO1MDXDes16geFA">Speedball Baby</a>'s Uptight. Dan Kroha spent some time in <a href="spotify:artist:0omyGNvgdyYU6cPOX3BroY">Rocket 455</a>, the gender-bending bassless trio <a href="spotify:artist:6t85QQiorCSXfIUAiD6kc4">the Demolition Doll Rods</a>, and Danny and the Darleens, as well as playing solo and making multiple cameo appearances. Peg O'Neill recorded a few tracks with <a href="spotify:artist:3k096PjdvfvvzisSDUkqsX">'68 Comeback</a> and played for a time with New Orleans act the Darkest Hours.

In 2009, the Gories reunited to play a handful of shows with their former sister band, <a href="spotify:artist:14UQmxJzeKtmgYzJ1sEJdi">the Oblivians</a>, who were also re-forming after a lengthy hiatus. Shows in Detroit, Memphis, and throughout Europe that summer led to more sporadic Gories shows in the years that followed, bringing the band out of a decidedly disbanded phase into a state of semi-activity. In late 2013 a live album entitled The Shaw Tapes surfaced, comprised of gritty audio from a sparsely attended 1988 gig at a rented storefront outside of Detroit. The live album was released on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Third+Man+Records%22">Third Man Records</a>, label of <a href="spotify:artist:4F84IBURUo98rz4r61KF70">the White Stripes</a>' <a href="spotify:artist:4FZ3j1oH43e7cukCALsCwf">Jack White</a>, an outspoken fan of the Gories and someone whose music was deeply influenced by the band. ~ Alex Zorn, Rovi