The dB's
Along with Let's Active, The dB's defined the Southern power pop/jangle pop… Read Full Bio ↴Along with Let's Active, The dB's defined the Southern power pop/jangle pop movement of the early to mid-80s. The band's music was a quirky blend of smart pop and psychedelia crossed with the more experimental side of new wave. Though they've never received widespread recognition outside of critical acclaim, they provided a key link between Big Star and 80s alternative acts such as R.E.M.. Their latest work is 2012's 'Falling Off the Sky', which has attracted serious critical praise.
Formed in 1978 in Winston-Salem, NC, the original lineup of the band featured Chris Stamey (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Gene Holder (bass), and Will Rigby (drums). All three members had spent time in Stamey's legendary group, Sneakers. After relocating to New York, the dB's released their debut single, "(I Thought) You Wanted to Know," b/w "If and When" for Stamey's Car label. Guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Peter Holsapple, who had worked with Stamey in the band Rittenhouse Square in the early '70s, joined the band by the end of 1978. Holsapple and Stamey shared the songwriting chores during the band's early years.
The dB's were unable to secure a U.S. recording contract, so they signed to the British Albion label. They released two albums on Albion: Stands for Decibels (1981) and Repercussion (1982). Both records received rave reviews but little sales. Stamey left in 1983 to resume a solo career. Rick Wagner was added on bass but was replaced shortly by Jeff Beninato. With Holsapple fronting the group, they signed to Bearsville in 1984 and released Like This, a more conventional jangle pop album with strong country leanings. Bearsville's internal problems doomed the album despite its obvious hit potential. They eventually left to sign with I.R.S. Records in 1987, where they released The Sound of Music. The album managed to break the Top 200 and college radio support was strong. The dB's received some crucial exposure when they opened for R.E.M. on their Document tour in the end of 1987, but by the end of 1988, the band decided to break up. In 1994, Paris Avenue, a collection of demos for the band's never-recorded fifth album, was released on Monkey Hill.
Holsapple and Stamey reunited in 1991 for a duo project, releasing Mavericks later that year. Mavericks was the only album the duo ever released (although they have been working sporadically on a followup in recent years). Following its release, Stamey continued with solo projects; he also continued to contribute to the Golden Palominos, work as a sideman for Bob Mould, and become an acclaimed producer for bands like Whiskeytown and Le Tigre and artists like Caitlin Cary. Holder went on to join the Wygals and worked as a producer and guest musician for other artists. Will Rigby released one solo album, Sidekick Phenomenon, in 1985, and a second, Paradoxaholic, in 2002. He also joined Steve Earle's band as drummer. Holsapple joined R.E.M. as an occasional touring member in 1991 and formed his own band, the Continental Drifters, with then-wife Susan Cowsill. He went on to serve as a sideman to Hootie and the Blowfish.
In late 2004, the original lineup of the dB's reformed. They have been playing occasional shows while working on a new album, and have released a couple of new songs through their web site, www.thedbs.com.
The band's latest work is 2012's 'Falling Off the Sky', which has attracted serious critical praise. For example, 'The Chicago Tribune' ran an article stating that he release "sounds like the work of a band still very much at the top of its game." 'Falling Off the Sky' was created by the group's classic line-up of Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder, and Will Rigby,
Formed in 1978 in Winston-Salem, NC, the original lineup of the band featured Chris Stamey (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Gene Holder (bass), and Will Rigby (drums). All three members had spent time in Stamey's legendary group, Sneakers. After relocating to New York, the dB's released their debut single, "(I Thought) You Wanted to Know," b/w "If and When" for Stamey's Car label. Guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Peter Holsapple, who had worked with Stamey in the band Rittenhouse Square in the early '70s, joined the band by the end of 1978. Holsapple and Stamey shared the songwriting chores during the band's early years.
The dB's were unable to secure a U.S. recording contract, so they signed to the British Albion label. They released two albums on Albion: Stands for Decibels (1981) and Repercussion (1982). Both records received rave reviews but little sales. Stamey left in 1983 to resume a solo career. Rick Wagner was added on bass but was replaced shortly by Jeff Beninato. With Holsapple fronting the group, they signed to Bearsville in 1984 and released Like This, a more conventional jangle pop album with strong country leanings. Bearsville's internal problems doomed the album despite its obvious hit potential. They eventually left to sign with I.R.S. Records in 1987, where they released The Sound of Music. The album managed to break the Top 200 and college radio support was strong. The dB's received some crucial exposure when they opened for R.E.M. on their Document tour in the end of 1987, but by the end of 1988, the band decided to break up. In 1994, Paris Avenue, a collection of demos for the band's never-recorded fifth album, was released on Monkey Hill.
Holsapple and Stamey reunited in 1991 for a duo project, releasing Mavericks later that year. Mavericks was the only album the duo ever released (although they have been working sporadically on a followup in recent years). Following its release, Stamey continued with solo projects; he also continued to contribute to the Golden Palominos, work as a sideman for Bob Mould, and become an acclaimed producer for bands like Whiskeytown and Le Tigre and artists like Caitlin Cary. Holder went on to join the Wygals and worked as a producer and guest musician for other artists. Will Rigby released one solo album, Sidekick Phenomenon, in 1985, and a second, Paradoxaholic, in 2002. He also joined Steve Earle's band as drummer. Holsapple joined R.E.M. as an occasional touring member in 1991 and formed his own band, the Continental Drifters, with then-wife Susan Cowsill. He went on to serve as a sideman to Hootie and the Blowfish.
In late 2004, the original lineup of the dB's reformed. They have been playing occasional shows while working on a new album, and have released a couple of new songs through their web site, www.thedbs.com.
The band's latest work is 2012's 'Falling Off the Sky', which has attracted serious critical praise. For example, 'The Chicago Tribune' ran an article stating that he release "sounds like the work of a band still very much at the top of its game." 'Falling Off the Sky' was created by the group's classic line-up of Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder, and Will Rigby,
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The dB's Lyrics
A Better Place It won't snow at fifteen below What do you know That looks…
A Spy in the House of Love Holsapple Someone should tell you the rules of the road …
Amplifier Holsapple Danny went home and killed himself last night …
Any Old Thing Holsapple Well, I don't care about love and death I just…
Ash Stamey The sky in the face before you A window that's al…
Ask For Jill Five four one five oh two, what is the number? Sixty,…
Baby Talk Baby talk Don't wanna hear that baby talk I don't go for…
Bad Reputation New girl in school, she looks cool Cool enough to cool…
Big Brown Eyes Holsapple Every time I look into your big brown eyes I…
Black And White Holsapple I, I never would hurt you But even if I…
Bonneville There's one place I've never been And I'd like to be…
Change With The Changing Times I've been everywhere, I've seen everything Know all the tric…
Christmas Time I can't believe it's Christmas time Where is the year we…
Cycles Per Second Never too certain what is to follow Exhilaration, then comes…
Darby Hall Lens, focus in Show us where we been We buy time, buy…
Dynamite Dynamite Late last night Jet face white So polite Dyna Dyna …
Espionage Camouflage All of your lies giddy gadabout Appearances Slick…
Everytime Anytime I wanna be free to Go where I go when I…
From A Window To A Scream Wine in plastic cups Listening to the wind I will tell you…
Happenstance Run back to your mother, tell her all the cruel…
Hardcore Judy Holsapple 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3 Judy, Judy I didn't what I w…
Houses on the Hill Well I found a bunch of letters That were written for…
I Can't Look Her in the Eye I can't look her in the eye I can't look her…
I Feel Good It felt good, you walked into the room Oh, saying nothing,…
I Lie I lie I steal I never show what I feel I never cry I…
I Read New York Rocker I keep up with rock and roll I read New York…
I'm In Love I love What I don't understand And I don't understand this a…
If and When If and when you come I will see you there I submerge…
In Spain Here come those tears again Circular system in a tailspin He…
Judy Holsapple Judy, Judy I didn't know what I was looking f…
Let's Live for Today Julien-Mogull-Shapiro When..I think of all the worries p…
Lines and Dots It's an hour past tomorrow And I'm tranquilized enough to ho…
Little Hands Between the chaser and the chased A lot of time is…
Living A Lie Holsapple You were wondering why I just can't talk about …
Looked At The Sun Too Long Long time no see You can chalk up the waiting in…
Love Is for Lovers Holsapple Do you remember when blue was the feeling Gray…
Modern Boys & Girls Some people work very hard And some people just die tryin' …
Molly Says I was up pacin' the floor When the call from the…
Morning Bugle Rise up shining Silver lining Morning the bugle call And the…
Moving In Your Sleep Holsapple Now I've got you, I can watch you Moving in yo…
Never Before and Never Again This is the story of a mixed-up teen What a dilemma,…
Never Say When Words and deeds, the same as Wants and needs, the same…
Neverland Holsapple You're asking where did my love go ? I tell y…
New Gun in Town Holsapple He was not pleased What he saw made him sick …
Not Cool Holsapple Too late, it's too late to call you And if I…
Nothing Is Wrong Holsapple I see love as something that Either works or i…
Rendezvous Holsapple Rendezvous in Memphis, looking for the sun Goi…
Running Over I'm running over Running over I'm running over Running over …
Sha La La Ma home on the block Ya me he vuelto medio loco Tengo…
Sharon Sharon says can I call you sometime Let's get together for…
She Got Soul She is not your average girl Every girl I know is…
She's Green I'm Blue She's got something that she wanted to say I wouldn't listen…
She's Not Worried She's not bothered by the foolish way I lead my…
Soul Kiss Yes your party dress It was my obsession Now I'm oblivious t…
Soul Kiss Pt. 1 Yes your party dress It was my obsession Now I'm oblivious…
Spitting in the Wind Holsapple I can understand how you'd want a better man B…
Storm Warning If you walk in the dark you will probably fall You…
Tearjerkin' Are the boys gonna cry now? Yeah, they're jerkin' the tears …
Tell Me Two Times Tell me two times About your other lovers At the institute A…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
The Death of Rock This is the death The death of rock You may not know…
The Fight Holsapple Well, I woke up in bed, it was the middle…
Think Too Hard You think too hard, you blow yourself in two It can…
Today Could Be The Day Sometimes I think the one for me Hasn't happened yet And som…
Ups and Downs There we were on the stairs Bat your eyes unaware Up three…
Walking the Ceiling Weighed down by life I take the elevator to the top…
We Should Be in Bed We should be in bed We should be in bed We should…
We Were Happy There Holsapple Girl, I've never been so tired of living in my…
What About That Cat What about that cat What will he do now He's out there…
What's the Matter With Me What's the matter with me I'm shaking like a leaf on…
White Train Holsapple Well, I thought I heard the devil He was calli…
Window on the World Window, window, window I try very hard Always do my best Kee…
Working For Somebody Else At eight a.m. the alarm bell rings And I shake myself…
You Got It Wrong I told a lie, so what is new You should have…