The Old 97's (L-R: Philip Peeples, Ken Bethea, Murry Hammond, and Rhett Miller)

The Old 97's are an "alt-country" band originally based in Dallas, Texas. The group formed in 1993 and took their name from a song popularized by Johnny Cash, "Wreck of the Old '97." They describe themselves as a rock band with influences as varied as the Kinks, the Beatles, the Pixies, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard. The band often performs country standards made famous by the latter two musicians, and has interspersed a number of these on their half-dozen albums over the last decade. The band originally feuded with Ryan Adams of fellow alt-country band Whiskeytown, but both are on good terms today. Image File history File linksMetadata Old97s-DragItUp-2005-photoshoot. ... Alternative country is a term applied to various subgenres of country music. ... Nickname: Big D Motto: Official website: www. ... Official language(s) None. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... John Ray Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Danville, Virginia, 1903 The Old 97, a Southern Railway train enroute to Spencer, North Carolina, derailed at Stillhouse Trestle near Danville, Virginia on September 27, 1903, killing eleven. ... Rock group (or later rock band) is a generic name to describe a group of musicians specializing in a particular form of electronically amplified music. ... The Kinks were a British rock group. ... The Beatles were a pop and rock music group from Liverpool, England, who continue to be held in the very highest regard for their artistic achievements, their huge commercial success, and their groundbreaking role in the history of popular music. ... Pixies are an alternative rock music group. ... David Bowie (born David Robert Hayward-Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English rock singer, musician and actor. ... John Ray Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Merle Haggard on cover of Time, May 1974. ... Ryan Adams For the similarly named Canadian artist, see Bryan Adams. ... Whiskeytown was an alternative country band formed in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1994. ...

Initially a popular Dallas bar band, the Old 97's toured the country after releasing their first album, 1994's Hitchhike To Rhome. In Chicago, they caught the attention of Bloodshot Records and were signed to record their next album. 1996's Wreck Your Life, now lauded by many fans as the band's best work, brought them to the attention of Elektra Records, who hoped that alt-country could be a new post-grunge fad. Lead singer Rhett Miller later lived in New York City and Los Angeles. Many of the band's songs include local Texas references, with New York City often appearing as well. Hitchhike To Rhome is the first studio album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in autumn 1994. ... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... Bloodshot Records, 3039 W. Irving Park Rd. ... Wreck Your Life is the second studio album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in spring 1996. ... Elektra Records was a record label started in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickholt, who both invested $300. ... Grunge music (sometimes also referred to as the Seattle Sound) is a genre of alternative rock inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock. ... Rhett Miller is the lead singer of the alt-country band the Old 97s. ... Nickname: The Big Apple Official website: City of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area Total 468. ... This article is about the largest city in California. ... Official language(s) None. ...

The band has never reached the level of success expected of them by the music press and was one of the acts purged from Elektra after the merger of Time Warner and America Online. Their most successful single, 1999's "Murder (Or A Heart Attack)," was named one of the best songs of all time by Blender magazine, but "Nineteen", another single from the album, failed to chart. Their songs have appeared on the King of the Hill soundtrack and the tribute to The Knitters, Poor Little Knitter on the Road, as well as various television shows, such as Scrubs, in which their song "Question" was played at the end of episode 15 when Turk asks Carla to marry him in the park, after which J.D. runs around the picnic table they are on with sparklers. Time Warner Inc. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Blender is an American magazine that bills itself as the ultimate guide to music and more. ... This article is about the King of the Hill TV series. ... The Knitters are a Los Angeles based band that play country and folk music. ... Scrubs are the shirts and trousers/dresses worn by surgeons, nurses, and other operating room personnel when scrubbing in for surgery. ...

Rhett Miller has recorded three solo albums, with 2002's The Instigator receiving substantial airplay on alternative-oriented radio stations. He toured with Neil Finn in 2004, bringing him to the attention of many. Miller also recorded a version of Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound" for one of MasterCard's "Priceless" advertisements. Miller's second major commercial album, The Believer, was released in February 2006. The Instigator is the second studio album by American country/rock band performer, Rhett Miller, lead singer of the Old 97s. ... The term alternative rock or alternative music1 was coined in the early 1980s to describe bands which didnt fit into the mainstream genres of the time. ... Neil Finn in Hamburg, June 1996 Neil Mullane Finn OBE (b. ... Simon and Garfunkel, Bookends Simon and Garfunkel are an American popular music duo comprising Paul Simon and Arthur Art Garfunkel. ... MasterCard Incorporated is a membership organization owned by the 25,000 financial institutions that issue its card. ... The Believer is the third solo album by American country/rock band performer, Rhett Miller, lead singer of the Old 97s. ...

Most songs are written and sung by Miller, with bassist Murry Hammond picking up the vocals on one or two tracks per album. Hammond also handled a number of country covers, especially in the band's earlier years. The band's latest studio effort, 2004's Drag It Up, also includes a song written and sung by guitarist Ken Bethea. Drag It Up is the fifth studio album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in summer 2004. ...

The Old 97's have been heralded as a great live band, although they claim to never rehearse their act. They included five live songs as a bonus disc on Satellite Rides, and released a live double CD set recorded at historic Gruene Hall in 2005, Alive and Wired. Gruene Hall is busy day and night on the weekend. ... Alive and Wired is the first live album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in summer 2005. ...

Members

• Rhett Miller - lead vocals, rhythm guitar and lyrics
• Murry Hammond - bass guitar, occasional lead vocals, backup vocals
• Ken Bethea - lead guitar
• Philip Peeples - drums and backup vocals

Rhett Miller is the lead singer of the alt-country band the Old 97s. ... LeAnn Rimes singing in concert A singer is a type of musician who uses his or her voice to produce music. ... A guitar is a stringe musical instrument. ... The Old 97s (L-R: Philip Peeples, Ken Bethea, Murry Hammond, and Rhett Miller) The Old 97s are an alt-country band originally based in Dallas, Texas. ... Bass guitars typically have four strings instead of six as found on regular guitars. ... Drum carried by John Unger, Company B, 40th Regiment New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry Mozart Regiment, December 20, 1863 Several American Indian-style drums for sale at the National Museum of the American Indian. ...

Discography

Old 97's albums

1994: Hitchhike To Rhome (Big Iron Records)

1996: Wreck Your Life (Bloodshot Records)

1997: Too Far To Care (Elektra Records)

1999: Fight Songs (Elektra Records)

2000: Early Tracks EP (Bloodshot Records)

2001: Satellite Rides (Elektra Records)

2004: Drag It Up (New West Records)

2005: Alive and Wired (New West Records)

1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Hitchhike To Rhome is the first studio album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in autumn 1994. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Wreck Your Life is the second studio album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in spring 1996. ... Bloodshot Records, 3039 W. Irving Park Rd. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Too Far To Care is the third studio album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released on June 17, 1997 (see 1997 in music). ... Elektra Records was a record label started in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickholt, who both invested $300. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Early Tracks is an EP collecting unreleased early recordings by American country/rock band Old 97s. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Satellite Rides is the fifth studio album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in spring 2001. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Drag It Up is the fifth studio album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in summer 2004. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alive and Wired is the first live album by American country/rock band Old 97s, first released in summer 2005. ...

Rhett Miller albums

1989: Mythologies (Carpe Diem Records)

2002: The Instigator (Elektra Records)

2006: The Believer

Rhett Miller is the lead singer of the alt-country band the Old 97s. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mythologies is the first studio album by American country/rock band performer, Rhett Miller, who later became the lead singer of the Old 97s. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... The Instigator is the second studio album by American country/rock band performer, Rhett Miller, lead singer of the Old 97s. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Believer is the third solo album by American country/rock band performer, Rhett Miller, lead singer of the Old 97s. ...

External links

• Old 97's Official web site
• Ongoing Old 97's concert photography project