(press release) It’s a tragic story--struggling musicians who finally experience success only in death,
that which they could never achieve in life. Banjo & Sullivan disappeared amid a series of
heinous homicides and were basically forgotten – until now that is. Their story is being
told in Rob Zombie’s latest film entitled THE DEVIL’S REJECTS(which Lions Gate Films is
releasing on July 22, 2005). Now Banjo & Sullivan are being rediscovered by a whole new
generation due to the intense and exciting film. It’s a story reminiscent of the success of
O Brother, Where Art Thou?, except for the multiple homicide part. Such is the story of
Banjo & Sullivan.
Spurred by “I’m At Home Getting Hammered (While She’s Out Getting Nailed)” as heard on the
soundtrack to The Devil’s Rejects (released June 28), Banjo & Sullivan - The Ultimate
Collection (Hip-O/UMe), also released June 28, revives their long-ignored recordings.
The 10 digitally re-mastered selections include the B&S tribute to all-male bars, “Dick
Soup”; “I Don’t Give A Truck”; S&M-laced “Honeymoon Song”; “I’m At Home Getting Hammered
(While She’s Out Getting Nailed)”; country murders “Killer On The Lamb”; alcoholic hymn
“I’m Trying To Quit, But I Just Quit Trying”; hooker’s anthem “She Didn’t Like Me But She
Loved My Money”; “Roy’s Ramble”; “Lord, Don’t Let Me Die In A Cheap Motel” and, of course,
their take on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.”
Kentucky-born guitar ace Roy Sullivan was a Nashville session player in the ‘60s before
teaming with Adam “Fingers” Banjo, a banjo picker from Mississippi. Their 1972 debut
album, Two Silver Tongue Devils (Who Ain’t Got A Clue), was followed by 1974’s Wasted
Banjos And Drunken Guitars. Sullivan then married Gloria Harrison, a respected studio
singer, who joined the group on piano and backing vocals. In summer 1975, “I’m At Home
Getting Hammered” hit #34 on the country chart and “She Didn’t Like Me, But She Loved My
Money” reached #23. In 1977, Banjo married backup singer Wendy Clark and she joined on
backing vocals and tambourine.
The next year, while touring in support of the latest album Where The End Meets The Road
and the single “Lord, Don’t Let Me Die In A Cheap Motel“,” B&S checked into The Kahiki
Palms Motel after a rousing run of gigs. While the exact details of the grisly crime are
unknown, what is certain is that Gloria, Wendy and roadie Jimmy Cracker were murdered there
by a group later dubbed as The Devil’s Rejects. Roy and Adam were never found and were
presumed dead.
Yet there was a happy ending to the story--after the tragedy, sales of Where The End Meets
The Road skyrocketed, selling more than 1,000,000 copies. Banjo & Sullivan are back and
better than ever thanks to The Devil’s Rejects.
