Biography
The Beat Farmers fused roots rock, country-rock, blues, rockabilly, folk-rock, and unadorned rock & roll into their sound. This San Diego group possessed a rare talent for absurdity while showcasing several skilled players who crafted material that felt sincere, deeply felt, and occasionally moving whenever they managed to set aside their drinks. Emerging from the local club circuit, they refined their craft through endless bar performances until a more aware crowd in Los Angeles discovered them. That bar-band spirit persisted throughout their run, as they prioritized crowd-pleasing energy, delivered unforgettable performances, and rejected any nonsense along the way. Their strongest work surfaced in raw form, making the unvarnished 1985 debut Tales of the New West their most rewarding effort. The more refined 1986 follow-up Van Go still displayed the group in strong shape across an impressive batch of songs, while 1987's The Pursuit of Happiness stood as their tightest and most aggressive collection. The 1990 concert set Loud and Plowed and...LIVE! captured their natural habitat, with an audience matching the band's enthusiasm.
Dan McLain assembled the Beat Farmers in 1983 after drumming for the Penetrators and the Crawdaddys and serving as president of a Kinks fan club. McLain also performed under the Country Dick Montana persona, an exaggerated, booming character who led the loosely country-tinged Country Dick and the Snugglebunnies. Several capable musicians passed through that project, including Richard Banke, who later became Skid Roper alongside Mojo Nixon. Over time the lineup tightened into a more cohesive unit featuring Country Dick on drums and occasional vocals, Jerry Raney handling vocals and guitar, Buddy Blue on guitar and vocals, and Rollie Dexter on bass. As the Beat Farmers they quickly established themselves on the San Diego scene. Victory in a citywide Battle of the Bands contest in 1984 opened doors to Los Angeles venues, where they connected with like-minded acts including the Long Ryders, the Blasters, Los Lobos, and X.
Rhino Records extended a single-album contract as the group's profile grew, leading to the low-budget $4,000 recording of Tales of the New West in 1985 under producers Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and Mark Linett. The independent release sold strongly and drew enthusiastic notices in both the United States and England. Demon Records, which had handled the U.K. edition of the debut, followed with the brisk-selling six-song EP Glad 'N' Greasy that further pleased British critics. Curb Records, then affiliated with MCA, signed the band to a seven-album agreement. Tensions arose during sessions for the first Curb project, Van Go, when label executives clashed with Buddy Blue, prompting his departure; fellow ex-Snugglebunny Joey Harris stepped in as lead guitarist to complete the 1986 album.
Press response to Van Go proved favorable, yet Curb struggled to position the Beat Farmers effectively and sales remained modest. Dave Jerden, later known for work with Jane's Addiction, Alice in Chains, and Social Distortion, produced the next Curb release, 1987's The Pursuit of Happiness, which emphasized the band's more serious compositions and delivered a harder-edged rock approach. The track "Make It Last" gained traction at country radio until programmers realized the Beat Farmers were primarily a rock act, causing support to fade and preventing stronger sales. Growing frustration with the label marked work on the third Curb album, the more polished 1989 release Poor and Famous. Outside the group, Country Dick Montana and Joey Harris teamed with Dave Alvin, Mojo Nixon, and a nine-piece ensemble for Pleasure Barons shows billed as a Las Vegas revue from acts unlikely to appear in Las Vegas. The tour reached Las Vegas itself, documented on the 1993 album Live in Las Vegas. Three nights at San Diego's Bacchanal Club in late 1989 were taped, and Curb issued the resulting Loud and Plowed and...LIVE! in 1990 without band input. That decision ended the relationship, with the contract finally terminated in 1993.
Health complications, including kidney cysts and thyroid cancer, affected Montana by the time the Beat Farmers could record elsewhere. They persisted and teamed with Texas independent Sector 2 for Viking Lullabys in 1994, their first studio album in five years. Touring supported the record, and a second Sector 2 project, Manifold, appeared in 1995. Additional live dates continued until November 8, 1995, when the band played the Longhorn Saloon in Whistler, British Columbia. Three songs in, Country Dick Montana collapsed from a fatal heart attack at age 40. The group officially disbanded within a week. Bar/None Records issued the posthumous solo album The Devil Lied to Me in 1996, drawn from Montana's final years of work.
Jerry Raney subsequently fronted the Farmers with various Beat Farmers alumni, releasing Loaded in 2005 and Fulmination in 2009. Two live collections surfaced after the breakup: Live at the Valley Spring Inn, 1983 in 2003 from an early performance, and Heading North 53° N 8° E: Live in Bremen in 2016 from a 1988 German tour. Blixa Sounds reissued Tales of the New West in 2021 as a deluxe edition that added Live at the Valley Spring Inn, 1983 as a bonus disc.
Dan McLain assembled the Beat Farmers in 1983 after drumming for the Penetrators and the Crawdaddys and serving as president of a Kinks fan club. McLain also performed under the Country Dick Montana persona, an exaggerated, booming character who led the loosely country-tinged Country Dick and the Snugglebunnies. Several capable musicians passed through that project, including Richard Banke, who later became Skid Roper alongside Mojo Nixon. Over time the lineup tightened into a more cohesive unit featuring Country Dick on drums and occasional vocals, Jerry Raney handling vocals and guitar, Buddy Blue on guitar and vocals, and Rollie Dexter on bass. As the Beat Farmers they quickly established themselves on the San Diego scene. Victory in a citywide Battle of the Bands contest in 1984 opened doors to Los Angeles venues, where they connected with like-minded acts including the Long Ryders, the Blasters, Los Lobos, and X.
Rhino Records extended a single-album contract as the group's profile grew, leading to the low-budget $4,000 recording of Tales of the New West in 1985 under producers Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and Mark Linett. The independent release sold strongly and drew enthusiastic notices in both the United States and England. Demon Records, which had handled the U.K. edition of the debut, followed with the brisk-selling six-song EP Glad 'N' Greasy that further pleased British critics. Curb Records, then affiliated with MCA, signed the band to a seven-album agreement. Tensions arose during sessions for the first Curb project, Van Go, when label executives clashed with Buddy Blue, prompting his departure; fellow ex-Snugglebunny Joey Harris stepped in as lead guitarist to complete the 1986 album.
Press response to Van Go proved favorable, yet Curb struggled to position the Beat Farmers effectively and sales remained modest. Dave Jerden, later known for work with Jane's Addiction, Alice in Chains, and Social Distortion, produced the next Curb release, 1987's The Pursuit of Happiness, which emphasized the band's more serious compositions and delivered a harder-edged rock approach. The track "Make It Last" gained traction at country radio until programmers realized the Beat Farmers were primarily a rock act, causing support to fade and preventing stronger sales. Growing frustration with the label marked work on the third Curb album, the more polished 1989 release Poor and Famous. Outside the group, Country Dick Montana and Joey Harris teamed with Dave Alvin, Mojo Nixon, and a nine-piece ensemble for Pleasure Barons shows billed as a Las Vegas revue from acts unlikely to appear in Las Vegas. The tour reached Las Vegas itself, documented on the 1993 album Live in Las Vegas. Three nights at San Diego's Bacchanal Club in late 1989 were taped, and Curb issued the resulting Loud and Plowed and...LIVE! in 1990 without band input. That decision ended the relationship, with the contract finally terminated in 1993.
Health complications, including kidney cysts and thyroid cancer, affected Montana by the time the Beat Farmers could record elsewhere. They persisted and teamed with Texas independent Sector 2 for Viking Lullabys in 1994, their first studio album in five years. Touring supported the record, and a second Sector 2 project, Manifold, appeared in 1995. Additional live dates continued until November 8, 1995, when the band played the Longhorn Saloon in Whistler, British Columbia. Three songs in, Country Dick Montana collapsed from a fatal heart attack at age 40. The group officially disbanded within a week. Bar/None Records issued the posthumous solo album The Devil Lied to Me in 1996, drawn from Montana's final years of work.
Jerry Raney subsequently fronted the Farmers with various Beat Farmers alumni, releasing Loaded in 2005 and Fulmination in 2009. Two live collections surfaced after the breakup: Live at the Valley Spring Inn, 1983 in 2003 from an early performance, and Heading North 53° N 8° E: Live in Bremen in 2016 from a 1988 German tour. Blixa Sounds reissued Tales of the New West in 2021 as a deluxe edition that added Live at the Valley Spring Inn, 1983 as a bonus disc.
Albums
Live
