Ricky Williams (musician)
Encyclopedia
Ricky Williams also known as Ricky Tractor, was an American
musician based in San Francisco. He is best known as a vocalist and lyricist, but also played drums and guitar
. He was the original drummer for Crime
(1976–77), the original singer for Flipper
(1979) and The Sleepers
(1977–81), and vocalist for Toiling Midgets
(1981–83). He has been credited with giving Flipper their band name, although he was fired before they made any recordings. Williams died at the age of 37 on November 21, 1992, of a heroin overdose.
, as his parents didn't take responsibility for him. His father was Robert Williams, and he had one sister, named Kathie Lee. His father was gay
, and according to The Sleepers
' guitarist Michael Belfer, his father's homosexuality
had a huge impact on Williams, as he was bisexual
. He was also known to indulge in substance abuse
throughout his life, including speed
, LSD
and alcohol
.
In 1976, Williams was the drummer and a founding member of Crime
(where he was called "Ricky Tractor"), until he was kicked out in 1977 for his "inconsistencies" both on his instrument and in his personality. He was invited that year by Michael Belfer to become the vocalist for The Sleepers
, which released one EP
, one single and one album before breaking up in 1981. In 1979, he was a founding member of Flipper
. He sang vocals, and was the one who named the band, but was fired "for being too weird" before the band had released any recordings. After the breakup of The Sleepers, he joined Toiling Midgets
as vocalist from 1981 until 1983.
Towards the end of his life, Williams lived with his mother in El Camino
, where they would drink and watch TV all day. His mother was run over and killed, and two months later Williams himself was dead. At the time of his death, he was remaster
ing his recorded work for re-release. He had been suffering from respiratory disease
and died in his sleep on November 21, 1992, at the age of 37. He was survived by his father, sister and a son named Zackery.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
musician based in San Francisco. He is best known as a vocalist and lyricist, but also played drums and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. He was the original drummer for Crime
Crime (band)
Crime was an early American punk band from San Francisco. The band was formed in 1976 by Johnny Strike , Frankie Fix , Ron "The Ripper" Greco , and Ricky Tractor...
(1976–77), the original singer for Flipper
Flipper (band)
Flipper is a punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge,, punk rock and noise rock bands...
(1979) and The Sleepers
The Sleepers (San Francisco band)
The Sleepers was a San Francisco-based band, formed in 1978. They were one of the earliest punk bands in San Francisco, and later took on a darker, moodier post-punk sound, before breaking up in 1981....
(1977–81), and vocalist for Toiling Midgets
Toiling Midgets
Toiling Midgets is an influential rock band from San Francisco, California with "roots in seminal San Francisco punk acts the Sleepers and Negative Trend1." They were "one of the first West Coast punk bands to experiment with dub and post-punk elements1", and have been active on-and-off since 1979...
(1981–83). He has been credited with giving Flipper their band name, although he was fired before they made any recordings. Williams died at the age of 37 on November 21, 1992, of a heroin overdose.
Biography
Williams grew up with his grandparents in a trailer park in Palo Alto, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, as his parents didn't take responsibility for him. His father was Robert Williams, and he had one sister, named Kathie Lee. His father was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, and according to The Sleepers
The Sleepers (San Francisco band)
The Sleepers was a San Francisco-based band, formed in 1978. They were one of the earliest punk bands in San Francisco, and later took on a darker, moodier post-punk sound, before breaking up in 1981....
' guitarist Michael Belfer, his father's homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
had a huge impact on Williams, as he was bisexual
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
. He was also known to indulge in substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
throughout his life, including speed
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
, LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
.
In 1976, Williams was the drummer and a founding member of Crime
Crime (band)
Crime was an early American punk band from San Francisco. The band was formed in 1976 by Johnny Strike , Frankie Fix , Ron "The Ripper" Greco , and Ricky Tractor...
(where he was called "Ricky Tractor"), until he was kicked out in 1977 for his "inconsistencies" both on his instrument and in his personality. He was invited that year by Michael Belfer to become the vocalist for The Sleepers
The Sleepers (San Francisco band)
The Sleepers was a San Francisco-based band, formed in 1978. They were one of the earliest punk bands in San Francisco, and later took on a darker, moodier post-punk sound, before breaking up in 1981....
, which released one EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, one single and one album before breaking up in 1981. In 1979, he was a founding member of Flipper
Flipper (band)
Flipper is a punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge,, punk rock and noise rock bands...
. He sang vocals, and was the one who named the band, but was fired "for being too weird" before the band had released any recordings. After the breakup of The Sleepers, he joined Toiling Midgets
Toiling Midgets
Toiling Midgets is an influential rock band from San Francisco, California with "roots in seminal San Francisco punk acts the Sleepers and Negative Trend1." They were "one of the first West Coast punk bands to experiment with dub and post-punk elements1", and have been active on-and-off since 1979...
as vocalist from 1981 until 1983.
Towards the end of his life, Williams lived with his mother in El Camino
El Camino
El Camino may refer to:* Way of St. James, the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela* Chevrolet El Camino, a coupe utility produced by General Motors from 1959–1960 and 1964-1987* El Camino , a 2000 Argentine film...
, where they would drink and watch TV all day. His mother was run over and killed, and two months later Williams himself was dead. At the time of his death, he was remaster
Remaster
Remaster is a word marketed mostly in the digital audio age, although the remastering process has existed since recording began...
ing his recorded work for re-release. He had been suffering from respiratory disease
Respiratory disease
Respiratory disease is a medical term that encompasses pathological conditions affecting the organs and tissues that make gas exchange possible in higher organisms, and includes conditions of the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura and pleural cavity, and the...
and died in his sleep on November 21, 1992, at the age of 37. He was survived by his father, sister and a son named Zackery.