Biography
The Droogs, a Los Angeles outfit, achieved their strongest recognition across the Atlantic rather than at home. Although their garage-rooted sound never connected with domestic listeners, European audiences responded warmly to the band’s catalog. Music Maniac, the German label, reissued Mad Dog Dreams and Guerrilla Love-In while also issuing the singles retrospective Anthology. Spain’s Impossible Records label put out the 1997 album Atomic Garage.
The group formed in the early 1970s and chose a cover of Sonic’s “He’s Waiting” for its first single in 1973. Five years later the follow-up 45 “Set My Love On You” introduced original material written by vocalist Ric Albin and his brother, guitarist Roger Clay. Additional originals surfaced on the multi-artist anthologies Saturday Night Pogo in 1978 and Ahead Of My Time the year after.
A pivotal shift arrived in the early 1980s when Dave Provost, formerly of the Textones and Dream Syndicate, joined on bass and keyboards. Provost’s contributions surfaced on the four-song EP Heads Examined in 1983 and the full-length debut Stone Cold World in 1984.
Despite appearing to secure a stable path after signing with PVC/Jem, the Droogs still struggled for wider attention. While touring the Midwest behind the 1987 album Kingdom Day, the label declared bankruptcy and folded.
After establishing a firm European audience, the Droogs refocused on the United States and issued Want Something in 1990, mixing tracks from their overseas releases with several bonus cuts.
The group formed in the early 1970s and chose a cover of Sonic’s “He’s Waiting” for its first single in 1973. Five years later the follow-up 45 “Set My Love On You” introduced original material written by vocalist Ric Albin and his brother, guitarist Roger Clay. Additional originals surfaced on the multi-artist anthologies Saturday Night Pogo in 1978 and Ahead Of My Time the year after.
A pivotal shift arrived in the early 1980s when Dave Provost, formerly of the Textones and Dream Syndicate, joined on bass and keyboards. Provost’s contributions surfaced on the four-song EP Heads Examined in 1983 and the full-length debut Stone Cold World in 1984.
Despite appearing to secure a stable path after signing with PVC/Jem, the Droogs still struggled for wider attention. While touring the Midwest behind the 1987 album Kingdom Day, the label declared bankruptcy and folded.
After establishing a firm European audience, the Droogs refocused on the United States and issued Want Something in 1990, mixing tracks from their overseas releases with several bonus cuts.
Albums
