The Cooters (band)
Encyclopedia
The Cooters are a punk rock
band from Mississippi
. Based out of the northern hill country town of Oxford
(also home to the University of Mississippi
), the band has been touring and recording since 1993. The Cooters are well known in the state and have dealt with controversy, trademark
lawsuits, and even prison
sentences. They have released records on the Minneapolis, Minnesota
based anarcho-punk
record label Profane Existence
, as well as the Hollywood, California label T-Bones Records
.
Their music has been described as a "mix of punk
and metal
with an interesting Southern
flavor" by fans, while their lyrics tackle social
and political topics, usually in a humorous tongue-in-cheek
manner.
The Cooters have played the South, Midwest, and Northeast United States, with bands such as Total Chaos
, Destroy!
, Misery, Wartorn, Nashville Pussy
, Jucifer
, Bad Company
and Seven Mary Three
. In 2006, The Cooters toured extensively with the Swedish band Imperial Leather and the Oregon band Happy Bastards.
Former members & collaborators:
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. Based out of the northern hill country town of Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
(also home to the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
), the band has been touring and recording since 1993. The Cooters are well known in the state and have dealt with controversy, trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
lawsuits, and even prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
sentences. They have released records on the Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
based anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
record label Profane Existence
Profane Existence
The Profane Existence Collective is a Minneapolis-based anarcho-punk collective. Established in 1989, the collective publishes a nationally-known zine , as well as releasing and distributing anarcho-punk, crust, and grindcore music, and printing and publishing pamphlets and literature...
, as well as the Hollywood, California label T-Bones Records
T-Bones Records
T-Bones Records is a record label founded by producer Tim Ramenofsky . The label was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi when Ramenofsky was a member of the metal fusion band Loppybogymi. In 2000, Ramenofsky discovered rapper Afroman and produced the infamous album, "Because I Got High". The record...
.
Their music has been described as a "mix of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
with an interesting Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
flavor" by fans, while their lyrics tackle social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
and political topics, usually in a humorous tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
manner.
The Cooters have played the South, Midwest, and Northeast United States, with bands such as Total Chaos
Total Chaos (band)
Total Chaos is an American street punk band from Pomona Valley, California, formed in 1989. Lead vocalist Rob Chaos is also co-owner of SOS Records with Ezzat Soliman, owner of the Showcase Theater, having released albums by classic Punk and Oi! bands like The Exploited, Vice Squad, Sham 69,...
, Destroy!
Destroy (band)
Destroy! was an American crust punk band from Minneapolis from 1988 to 1994. Vocalist Felix Havoc founded Havoc Records in 1992 as a vehicle for Destroy!'s Burn this Racist System Down 7" EP.-Members:*Felix Havoc...
, Misery, Wartorn, Nashville Pussy
Nashville Pussy
Nashville Pussy is an American hard rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Their musical style mixes boogie rock, Southern metal and psychobilly. Much of the band's lyrical themes mostly revolve around sex, drugs, drinking, fighting, and rock 'n' roll...
, Jucifer
Jucifer
Jucifer is a two piece sludge metal band signed to Relapse Records. The band's members include Gazelle Amber Valentine on lead guitar and vocals, and her husband Edgar Livengood on drums. They travel in an RV and are "nomadic in nature", preferring to tour constantly, living in their tour vehicle,...
, Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
and Seven Mary Three
Seven Mary Three
Seven Mary Three, occasionally abbreviated to 7 Mary 3 or 7M3, is an American hard rock band. They have released seven studio albums and one live album, and are best known for their hit singles "Cumbersome", "Water's Edge", "Lucky", and "Wait"....
. In 2006, The Cooters toured extensively with the Swedish band Imperial Leather and the Oregon band Happy Bastards.
Line-up
- Newt Rayburn aka "Neuter Cooter" - Bass and vocals
- Mike Namorato aka "Judas Cooter" - Drums
- Gentry Webb aka "Raw Cooter" - Guitar and vocals
Former members & collaborators:
- Brad Boatright aka "Bomber Cooter" - Guitar and vocals, also of From Ashes RiseFrom Ashes RiseFrom Ashes Rise is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Nashville, Tennessee in the mid-'90s. They helped define the gloom-heavy thrash sound attributed to groups like His Hero is Gone and Tragedy...
- Max Hipp aka "Kin Cooter" - Guitar and vocals, also of Morphist, Kill The Ego, and Kincain
- Tom Queyja aka "Tomas Chaos" - Vocals and production, also of Wobitty, New Madrid Click, and Dead Fish
- Jeff Lawrence aka "Tikk Rikketts" - Found percussionist
Official releases
- The Cooters (1994) 7" on Assault With Intent To Free
- Invasion of The Cooters (1996) CD on Cooters Records
- The Moon Will Rise AgainThe Moon Will Rise AgainThe Moon Will Rise Again is the second album by punk metal band The Cooters. It was produced and recorded by Rick Clark in October 1998 at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee...
(2002) CD on T-Bones RecordsT-Bones RecordsT-Bones Records is a record label founded by producer Tim Ramenofsky . The label was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi when Ramenofsky was a member of the metal fusion band Loppybogymi. In 2000, Ramenofsky discovered rapper Afroman and produced the infamous album, "Because I Got High". The record... - Punk Metal (2005) CD on Profane ExistenceProfane ExistenceThe Profane Existence Collective is a Minneapolis-based anarcho-punk collective. Established in 1989, the collective publishes a nationally-known zine , as well as releasing and distributing anarcho-punk, crust, and grindcore music, and printing and publishing pamphlets and literature...
Records - Chaos or Bust (2006) CD on Profane Existence Records
- "Bustin’ Loose" (2006) 7” on Profane Existence Records
- Happy Bastards & The Cooters (2008) split 7” on Profane Existence Records
Compilations
- Terrible Rotten Things That Happen to Kids (1995) CD on Kathode Ray
- Oasis Alternative (1997) CD on Oasis Discs
- Oasis Alternative (2003) CD on Oasis Discs
- Your Soundtrack on the Road to Hell (2007) Profane Existence Records
- Profane Existence #54 Compilation CD (2007) Profane Existence Records
- Profane Existence #55 Compilation CD (2008) Profane Existence Records
- Profane Existence #56 Compilation CD (2008) Profane Existence Records
- Profane Existence #57 Compilation CD (2008) Profane Existence Records
- Songs of Freedom: Live and Let Rock (2010) Invisible Hand Painted Red
External links
- The Cooters Official webpage
- The Cooters Myspace page
- [ The Cooters info at AllMusic.com]
- Profane Existence Records webpage
- T-Bones Records webpage