Honeyrider

Honeyrider derives its moniker from the bikini-clad beachcomber portrayed by Ursula Andress in the 1962 James Bond film Dr No. The project functions chiefly as the power pop vehicle for multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter Gary Strickland. Under this alias Strickland cut a solitary 1996 single, “Drugstore Shoot-Out,” for the Candy Floss label; San Diego indie/emo outfit Red Dye #5’s Lisah contributed guest vocals. He kept the Honeyrider name alive with further singles on the Damaged Goods imprint, several of which were later bundled with fresh recordings to form the 1998 debut album All Systems Go!. That year Strickland departed the San Diego region to accept a post at a record distribution firm in Germany, yet he paused long enough to lay down tracks in England and ultimately remained, settling in the north of the country. He later relocated back to the United States while making periodic trips to England for new sessions, dividing his time between California and the Tampa Bay area. Damaged Goods released the follow-up Splashdown in 2000, featuring Robin Hill on drums, Petrinka Drasovic on rhythm guitar, and producer/engineer Paul Sampson on bass. In 2002 Strickland inked a deal with the Orange Sky subsidiary of Dionysus Records, which is slated to issue Honeyrider’s long-awaited third album.