The Buck Pets

The Buck Pets
The Buck Pets (ca. 1989)
The Buck Pets (ca. 1989)
Background information
OriginDallas, Texas, United States
GenresAlternative rock, hardcore punk
Years active1986–1993, 2010
LabelsIsland, Restless
Past membersAndy Thompson
Chris Savage
Ian Beach
Tony Alba
Chuck Smith
Ricky Pearson

The Buck Pets were an American alternative rock band formed in the late 1980s in Dallas, Texas. They were clearly influenced by earlier bands such as The Replacements, Buzzcocks and The Jesus and Mary Chain but incorporated better production values and more overt nods to classic rock than their college rock/punk predecessors.

The band seemed to get a degree of support from their record label, Island, for their first two LPs, the hard edged The Buck Pets, and the more melodic follow up Mercurotones. On the eve of the release of Mercurotones, Island was bought by PolyGram- the A&R staff were let go and projects were shelved while the new owners evaluated their new property. Support for The Buck Pets was then almost non-existent.

The band also had opening spots on tour with larger acts such as Neil Young (Ragged Glory Tour) and Jane's Addiction, but in the end, The Buck Pets failed to see commercial success.[1][2]

As a coda, The Buck Pets released the more restrained, melancholy album To the Quick in 1993 on the independent label Restless.[3]

On April 10, 2010, The Buck Pets reunited for a one night show at the club Trees in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, Texas and released RARES (and unreleased) a collection of rare and previously unreleased material.[4]

Members

  • Tony Alba – drums
  • Ian Beach – bass
  • Ricky Pearson – drums (To the Quick)
  • Chris Savage – guitar, vocals
  • Chuck Smith – bass (The Sound of Deep Ellum)
  • Andy Thompson – guitar, lead vocals

Discography

Albums
Singles
Year Title Chart positions Album
US Modern Rock
1991 "Libertine" 25 Mercurotones

References

  1. ^ D'Agostino, John (April 23, 1991). "COMMENTARY : Colorful Chameleon : Music: Fans that have stuck by as Neil Young changed from one style to another are finally rewarded with his newest effort. He plays the Sports Arena tonight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  2. ^ Liles, Jeff (February 20, 2009). "Echoes and Reverberations: The Bad Sleep Good or Not At All". Dallas Observer. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  3. ^ Greenman, Ben (July 28, 1993). "Pets Sounds". Miami New Times. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  4. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (April 8, 2010). "The Buck Pets Return For Their Own Reasons". Dallas Observer. Retrieved July 28, 2018.