Formed in 1983, the LIBERTINES US began as a three piece alternative rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. Original members were Walt Hodge (guitar, vocals), Randy Cheek (bass), and Joe Hamm (drums).
Their debut performance was broadcast live on WAIF radio in 1984, immediately gaining them a following.
The Libertines US first single, "Everybody Wants to be my Sister" was an underground hit in the Midwest, with college and alternative stations like WOXY placing it in heavy rotation for several weeks. Not bad for a one-shot afternoon recording session…
Despite a very limited budget, the Libertines US received alternative radio airplay in various parts of the world. The late John Peel on BBC radio introduced their second single, “Voices from the Past” to Europe.
The Libertines US toured most of the US, performing with major recording artists and alternative acts such as the Violent Femmes, Replacements, the Long Ryders, Eleventh Dream Day, Guided by Voices, Del Fuegos, True Believers, Bodeans and countless others.
After a disastrous summer tour in 1986, they blew apart briefly. Rebuilt into a quartet, Jimmy D was added on guitar and Greg Blanton took over on drums.
Their performances often shifted from pop, country twang, psychedelic punk, to grunge (before it was described as such). The band’s genre hopping made it difficult for A&R people to categorize them, and no major US label at the time would touch them. Finally, in 1988, the Dutch record label Megadisc released Tilt-A-Whirl, the Libertines US first LP in Europe. Tilt-A-Whirl received good reviews in alternative press… but unfortunately was never distributed in the USA!
In 2005, Jimmy D, Walt, and Randy reunited after a long hiatus to do a charity event for Hurricane Katrina victims. They recruited another longtime friend, Todd Witt to beat on the drums. They continued to perform in support of their long awaited "Greatest Hits" album as it was completed in 2007.
One of the finest and most obscure American underground bands, the Libertines US. It must be something in the water...
