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| Poster ©1989-2001 Frank Kozik |
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THE KILLER CROW'S STORY
It's been so long since the band's been together that it's not surprising that everybody's memory is a little bit blurred. Even the band members sometimes contradict one another, or simply forget what happened when. Add the fact that the band was (apparently) seldom written up in newspapers and magazines, and that some of the members were into illegal substances (weren't we all back then?), and it's not surprising that details are sometimes more than a little sketchy. Even the precise years the band was together is unknown- but it seems like it was somewhere around '86 to '89.
Most of the band members were already acquainted with one another before the band formed. Texas Terri, Rob Klonel and Tom Slik all lived in the same apartment building in Hollywood- a place which was built in the 20s by Joseph Kennedy for his girlfriend, Gloria Swanson. By the mid-80s it was known as an apartment building where muscians lived. Unlike most apartment buildings, many of the residents are friendly with one another, and it's quite possible that Texas Terri, who does hair on the side, was doing Tom's, and possibly Rob's, hair.
The band formed when Texas Terri, who already knew Roger Flores' sister, Rosie (Rosie And The Screamers, The Screaming Sirens), started to get guitar lessons from Roger. One night, he saw her fronting a band of musicians who also lived in her apartment building that had been quickly thrown together (possibly Tom and Rob were the rhythm section) for a wedding party at The Central (now The Viper Room). After the show Roger and Terri talked and decided to start a band. They asked Tom and Rob to play bass and drums.
Before moving to L.A. Roger had a band in San Deigo called, KIller Crows, and he wanted to use the name again. Nobody else minded what the band was called, so it was agreed that it'd be cool to use the name.
Roger already had a notebook filled with songs he'd written through the years, some of which the original Killer Crows had played, so the band had a setlist of original songs right off the bat. Whenever they wanted to write a new song they'd joke about "digging in the Green Notebook."
Their official debut was on Oct. 16, 1988 at Raji's, with Pygmy Love Circus and Frightwig. Although the set list for that evening is unknown, before long they had songs like "When You're Rocking And Rolling", "In Pain", and "Rumplestiltskin," (which I think is about Texas Terri's cat), and they did live covers of "Boom Boom" by John Lee Hooker and "Empty Heart" by The Rolling Stones.
Soon they had a huge local following, and played a lot at bars like Raji's, the Gas Light (which is now Opium Den), and Al's Bar. Texas Terri was known for her onstage (and offstage) antics and for her singing voice, which was called "Budweiser," because it was deeped by that product, and by speed and cigarettes (she quit doing the first 2 items in '89).
For all the fans and following they had, they only managed to have one song released- a tune called, "Millionaire," on the "Live At Raji's '87" compilation, put out by Ton Records. Unfortunately, Rob is positive that he's not the drummer on the CD. Tom is equally sure that it is him, so the issue is in doubt. Anyway, Roger's been on many CDs for different bands since then so either way we can hear how great a drummer he is.
To make matters even more confusing, Live At Raji's was recorded from '87 to '90. So while everyone thinks that it was recorded in 89, the actual date of the Killer Crows recording is unknown.
For some reason none of the record labels wanted to sign them. Because of this and several other reasons, like drugs and the usual bullshit, the band broke up.
Before they did though, they recorded 12 or 13 songs w/ producer Nick Murray. Whether they ever see light of day will be up to the record companies, and also up to Terri, so email her and let her know that you'd like to hear it (and please sign our guestbook)!
After the Killer Crows split Terri, Tom, and Rob, along w/ Loren Molinare (The Dogs, Little Ceaser) started Texas Terri's Baby Bird. Besides doing live shows they made a demo, but unfortunately the sound quality was poor so it's unlikely it'll ever be released. Both Tom and Rob had gigs in other bands and scheduling got hectic so they decided to disband.
Texas Terri was scheduled to play a show, along w/ Zeke and Spunk, but had no band. A couple of days before the show she met Demon Boy. They decided to start a band and got Paul Black (L.A. Guns, Mau Maus) to play drums and Dicky Rae (Broken Homes? Can anyone confirm this?) to play bass. They kept the name Texas Terri's Baby Bird. After finding that there was a U.K. band named Baby Bird they changed their name to Texas Terri And The Stiff Ones. In 98 they released their debut CD, "Eat Shit!"
In 2000 they put out a re-release and re-mix of "Eat Shit!," called, "Eat Shit! + One" (the "+ One" being Women Should Be Wilder, which was written while she was still living in Texas and recorded for the re-release). Texas Terri is also on a great Bulemics' 7" released in 2000, "Product Of America b/w Tie Me Up."
Roger apparently took a couple of years off from music, until 92, when he co-wrote some songs on his sister Rosie's CD, "After The Farm."
Tom continued playing in several bands, among them the Harry Dean Stanton Band and Dennis Quaid And The Sharks. He also started fiddling around with his brother, Chuck Mancillas. They soon dubbed themselves The Drool Brothers and in 2000 they put out a self-titled CD which Texas Terri appears on.
Rob also played in a couple of bands concurrently. One day he heard singer/guitarist Jose Cruz at a show, and shortly afterwards went to a rehearsal of the band Jose was in, and in front of the entire band called Jose outside and said, "you're in my band. We're rehearsing tomorrow night. Be there." The next night Jose showed up for rehearsal and Doom Kounty Electric Chair was born. Not too long after this, Rob took care of his problem with hard drugs which had dated back to his days with the Killer Crows. In 97 Doom Kounty Electric Chair put out their debut CD, called, "Stealing Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory," and in 99 a follow-up EP called, "Homicide."
WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW (AS OF 4/03*)
* - Further news and updates will be on the News page.
On 9/25/01, Acetate Records released Badsville, a video documentary on Hollywood with performances and interviews by Texas Terri And The Stiff Ones, Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, The Hangmen, The Superbees, and other bands.
INTERVIEWS LYRICS NEWS PRESS LINKS
If anyone has any Killer Crows' material, such as newspaper articles, photos, fliers (scans would be great too), audio/video, or stories about the Killer Crows and related bands, please contact me (naturally anything put on the site would be credited to the person contributing)! If you have something and would like to trade (if you send something I'll send you some tapes as a thank you, anyway), both Casey and I have video sites (Casey has audio too). You can visit our sites from the links page. I also wouldn't mind paying cash for certain items.
CHEEZY KROWS' PROMOTIONAL:
And for our first Krows' promotional, we're giving away a free Drool Brothers' 7", "Halloweenish b/w Halloweenish (Disco Mix)" to the first person who sends us any Krows' material! And that's in addition to the cool Texas Terri And The Stiff Ones' videos and other cool stuff we'll give to anyone and everyone who sends anything! EMAIL for more info.
This site is dedicated to Henry Knowles and Johnny Heffernan.
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