Biography
Rooted in the honky-tonk tradition of Buck Owens, the Derailers formed in Austin, Texas, around vocalists and guitarists Tony Villanueva and Brian Hofeldt. The pair had grown up as close friends in Oregon and first collaborated in several Portland-area rockabilly groups. Villanueva moved to Texas at nineteen; Hofeldt soon joined him, and once settled they recruited bassist Vic Gerard Ziolkowski, who had played with Two Hoots & a Holler, to concentrate on unadorned honky-tonk. Their debut album, Live Tracks, appeared in 1995; after the follow-up, Jackpot, in 1996, drummer Terry Kirkendall joined permanently. Reverb Deluxe surfaced in 1997, and Full Western Dress arrived two years later, by which time Scott Matthews played drums and Ed Adkins handled bass. The 2001 release Here Come the Derailers marked their first project for Sony’s Lucky Dog label and presented a polished take on their established style aimed at broader audiences. Genuine, their second major-label effort, arrived in March 2003 and included songs co-written by Jim Lauderdale and Al Anderson. Shortly afterward, Villanueva departed on friendly terms to pursue work as a pastor, leaving Hofeldt to assume lead vocals and guitar duties while steel guitarist Chris Schlotzhauer and pianist Sweet Basil McJagger were added to the lineup. Unhappy with the Nashville polish that had shaped Genuine, the group signed with Palo Duro and released Soldiers of Love in 2007; produced by Buzz Cason, the record revived the rock edge of their early material. Also issued that year was the thirteen-track Buck Owens tribute Under the Influence of Buck. Guaranteed to Satisfy followed in 2008, and Live! From Texas appeared in 2010.
Albums
