Flat Duo Jets
Encyclopedia
Flat Duo Jets was a rockabilly
band from Chapel Hill
, North Carolina
and Athens, Georgia. They were a major influence on several bands of the 1990s and 2000s, including The White Stripes. In interviews, Jack White
(the White Stripes' lead singer and guitarist) has often acknowledged Dexter Romweber
's influence. Their first album, Flat Duo Jets, was recorded direct to two tracks in a garage in the late 1980s but not released until early 1990. Also in early 1990 the band opened for The Cramps
on a national tour. Jim Dickinson
produced their second LP, Go Go Harlem Baby.
Their ninth and last studio album, Lucky Eye, was their first major label release (Outpost Records), and was produced by Scott Litt
, best known as a producer of R.E.M..
Singer/guitarist Dexter Romweber has pursued a solo career since the 1999 breakup of the Flat Duo Jets and has toured with Cat Power
, Squirrel Nut Zippers
, Neko Case
and others. His older sister, Sara Romweber (who is a founding member of Snatches of Pink
), plays drums with her brother as the Dexter Romweber Duo.
Flat Duo Jets' drummer Crow Smith resurfaced in 2005 with a debut solo album of his own. Bassist Tone Mayer, who joined the duo around 1988, departed circa 1990 to join The Chicken Wire Gang.
Nearly ten years after the band's demise a live soundtrack to "Two Headed Cow", a documentary film about Dexter and the Flat Duo Jets, was released in 2008.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
band from Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Athens, Georgia. They were a major influence on several bands of the 1990s and 2000s, including The White Stripes. In interviews, Jack White
Jack White (musician)
Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor...
(the White Stripes' lead singer and guitarist) has often acknowledged Dexter Romweber
Dexter Romweber
John Michael Dexter Romweber is an American rockabilly/roots rock musician from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dex is best known as one-half of the seminal two-piece Flat Duo Jets...
's influence. Their first album, Flat Duo Jets, was recorded direct to two tracks in a garage in the late 1980s but not released until early 1990. Also in early 1990 the band opened for The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
on a national tour. Jim Dickinson
Jim Dickinson
James Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
produced their second LP, Go Go Harlem Baby.
Their ninth and last studio album, Lucky Eye, was their first major label release (Outpost Records), and was produced by Scott Litt
Scott Litt
Scott Litt is an American record producer who mostly works with artists in the alternative rock genre and is best known for producing six R.E.M. albums.-Biography:...
, best known as a producer of R.E.M..
Singer/guitarist Dexter Romweber has pursued a solo career since the 1999 breakup of the Flat Duo Jets and has toured with Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
, Squirrel Nut Zippers
Squirrel Nut Zippers
The Squirrel Nut Zippers are a band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by James "Jimbo" Mathus , Katharine Whalen , Chris Phillips on drums, Don Raleigh on bass and sideman Ken Mosher....
, Neko Case
Neko Case
Neko Case is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
and others. His older sister, Sara Romweber (who is a founding member of Snatches of Pink
Snatches of Pink
Snatches of Pink is a rock band based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Current members are Michael Rank , Marc E. Smith , Nikos Chremos and John Howie Jr , with Michael Rank as the chief songwriter.The band was formed in 1985 by Rank with original bassist / lead vocalist Andy McMillan, and Sarah...
), plays drums with her brother as the Dexter Romweber Duo.
Flat Duo Jets' drummer Crow Smith resurfaced in 2005 with a debut solo album of his own. Bassist Tone Mayer, who joined the duo around 1988, departed circa 1990 to join The Chicken Wire Gang.
Nearly ten years after the band's demise a live soundtrack to "Two Headed Cow", a documentary film about Dexter and the Flat Duo Jets, was released in 2008.
Members
- Dexter RomweberDexter RomweberJohn Michael Dexter Romweber is an American rockabilly/roots rock musician from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dex is best known as one-half of the seminal two-piece Flat Duo Jets...
, Guitar - Chris "Crow" Smith, Drums
- Griz "Tone" Mayer, Bass (1988–1990)
Discography
- In Stereo (1985, Dolphin Records)
- Flat Duo Jets (1990, Dog Gone Records)
- Go Go Harlem Baby (1991, Sky Records)
- Safari (1993, Norton RecordsNorton RecordsFor the Canadian independent record label of the same name, see Matt Minglewood.Norton Records, a New York City based independent record label founded by musicians Miriam Linna and Billy Miller, maintains a focus on primitive, retro rock'n'roll, rockabilly, garage punk, garage rock, lounge music...
) - White Trees (1993, Sky Records)
- I'll Have A Merry Christmas Without You (1994, Norton RecordsNorton RecordsFor the Canadian independent record label of the same name, see Matt Minglewood.Norton Records, a New York City based independent record label founded by musicians Miriam Linna and Billy Miller, maintains a focus on primitive, retro rock'n'roll, rockabilly, garage punk, garage rock, lounge music...
) - Introducing the Flat Duo Jets (1995, Norton RecordsNorton RecordsFor the Canadian independent record label of the same name, see Matt Minglewood.Norton Records, a New York City based independent record label founded by musicians Miriam Linna and Billy Miller, maintains a focus on primitive, retro rock'n'roll, rockabilly, garage punk, garage rock, lounge music...
) - Dexmas 7"(1996, Permanent Records)
- Jet Set (1996, Norton RecordsNorton RecordsFor the Canadian independent record label of the same name, see Matt Minglewood.Norton Records, a New York City based independent record label founded by musicians Miriam Linna and Billy Miller, maintains a focus on primitive, retro rock'n'roll, rockabilly, garage punk, garage rock, lounge music...
) - Red Tango (1996, Norton RecordsNorton RecordsFor the Canadian independent record label of the same name, see Matt Minglewood.Norton Records, a New York City based independent record label founded by musicians Miriam Linna and Billy Miller, maintains a focus on primitive, retro rock'n'roll, rockabilly, garage punk, garage rock, lounge music...
) - Wild Blue Yonder (1998, Norton RecordsNorton RecordsFor the Canadian independent record label of the same name, see Matt Minglewood.Norton Records, a New York City based independent record label founded by musicians Miriam Linna and Billy Miller, maintains a focus on primitive, retro rock'n'roll, rockabilly, garage punk, garage rock, lounge music...
) - Lucky Eye (1998, Outpost Records)
- Two Headed Cow (2008, Chicken Ranch Records)
Television and film appearances
- The Cutting Edge (1985, MTV)
- Athens, GA: Inside OutAthens, GA: Inside OutAthens, GA: Inside/Out is a documentary film about the mid-1980s music scene in Athens, Georgia, USA.The film features interviews and concert footage of local bands who were a part of the scene at the time of the documentation as well as local legends R.E.M., Pylon, and The B-52's. It also features...
(1986) - 120 Minutes (1990, MTV)
- Late Night With David LettermanLate Night with David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
(1990) - Two Headed Cow (2006)
- It Might Get LoudIt Might Get LoudIt Might Get Loud is a documentary by filmmaker Davis Guggenheim. It explores the history of the electric guitar, focusing on the careers and styles of Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White. The film received a wide release on August 14, 2009 in the U.S...
(2009)