Greg Lonesome

Greg Lonesome started his musical endeavors as the singer for Bad Luck Streak, who were one of Pennsylvania’s first Psychobilly bands (and maybe the first?), and at the time, they were one of only a handful of Psychobilly bands on the entire East Coast. Influenced by bands like the Meteors, the Krewmen, the Devil Dogs and the Heartbreakers, Bad Luck Streak were known for their energetic live shows and their roots-punk delivery, developing quite a local following in their short time together. However, Bad Luck Streak turned out to be more than just a clever name, as the band lasted only 2 years (1994-1996), breaking up 3 months before they were booked to play the 9th Big Rumble in Leicester, England. The untimely breakup also halted the release of their debut 4-song CD EP on Raucous Records, which was to coincide with their Big Rumble appearance. Bad Luck Streak recorded 6 tracks, 2 of which were released posthumously on compilations.

After the breakup of Bad Luck Streak, Greg continued in his quest to find new band members and get back to doing what he loved most, making music. However, musicians who played (or even knew about) Psychobilly were few and far between in central Pennsylvania, and it took 3 more years to get anything solid going.

1999 changed all that. By midway through that year, Greg was practicing 5 nights a week with two different bands: the Mysterious Men in Black and the Lonesome Kings. Within the same week in late August of 1999 the Lonesome Kings would play their first gig and also record the tracks that would later become their first album, "Sunday Morning Hymns." The Mysterious Men in Black album, "Broken Men," was recorded in September of that year.

In 2000, the Lonesome Kings started gaining momentum. They would self-release "Sunday Morning Hymns," appear on 2 compilations, have "Sunday Morning Hymns" re-released on Raucous Records, and release the "Who’s Your Daddy" EP, all in the span of 8 months. 2000 also brought about the end of the original lineup.

2001 saw the reformation of the Lonesome Kings with a new lineup, 3 more compilation appearances, and work would begin on the writing and recording of the critically acclaimed, "Shotgun Full of Blues." The Mysterious Men in Black CD would finally be released that year, and Greg also made a guest vocal appearance on the airím album "níl na lá."

“Shotgun Full of Blues” was recorded in 2002, and also put Greg behind the mixing desk for the first time, something that would become standard for the remaining Lonesome Kings releases.

Shotgun Full of Blues was finally released in August 2003, and the material for the Sweet Little Succubus EP was recorded around the same time. The Kings played the Zombilly Weekender in NYC in November of that year, alongside the likes of Evil Devil, the Monsters, the Memphis Morticians and the Kings of Nuthin’.

In June 2004, the Kings played their last gig at the Psychobilly Car Crash in Atlanta, Georgia, and they would have their last recording session in January of 2005.

2005 would be a new beginning for Greg as he became more involved in behind the scenes work, mixing 4 records that year and helping to form the mighty Kaiser Records label in February.

Early in the year Greg mixed a record for Canada’s Meathookers, lending his signature lead vocals on a track and backing vocals on another. Unfortunately, the album was never released, but it laid the groundwork for the Tortured Souls recording project towards the end of the year.

In addition to mixing the Lonesome Kings “Legendary Suffering” CD that year, Greg also mixed some of the tracks that would appear on the Cosmic Voodoo “Vertigo” CD. “Vertigo” would be the first release on Kaiser Records in September. The Lonesome Kings “Sweet Little Succubus” EP was released in November.

The Tortured Souls project was recorded and mixed during the final 4 months of 2005 and would be Greg’s first new recordings after the Lonesome Kings.

The following year would be a busy one for Kaiser Records, releasing 4 CDs over the span of 6 months: Soundtrack to Oblivion, Lonesome Kings “Legendary Suffering”, Memphis Morticians “Play Primitive Trashman…” and the Nightstalkers “Toxic Cesspool.”

2006 would also see Greg recording vocals on a track with the legendary Batmobile for an Elvis tribute to be released on Rockin’ Raven Records called “God Save the King.” He also started producing the Sleaze Pit podcasts.

2007 saw the first Tortured Souls release in the form of a compilation appearance on the Wrecking Bones Records, “Psychobilly Wreckage” CD. The 2nd Tortured Souls compilation appearance was released in March on Red Five Records: "Muh to the Muh: A Tribute to the Frantic Flintstones," with the Tortured Souls doing their take on “What the Hell.”

“God Save the King” was released in July on Rockin’ Raven Records, and some great Kaiser Records releases hit the streets- Bamboula in April and the killer “Real Boss Hoss International Stomp-o-lation” garage compilation in August. In addition, Greg appeared on the Mad Dog Cole album, "Ultra Violence," in September, singing backing vocals on Mad Dog’s cover of the Lonesome Kings track, "Hell’s What I’m Used To."

Greg formed his newest musical endeavor, Greg Lonesome and the Sleazomatics, in the 2nd half of 2007 with Dave and Eric of Werevilsdare and Andy from the Stockmen and Tortured Souls. The Sleazomatics are in the process of writing and recording a full length album which will hopefully be completed in 2009. The first two demos of this album, "Wasted Life" and "Ain't Nothin' Left," can be heard on Greg's Myspace page.

To be continued…

For the complete Greg Lonesome discography, click HERE.