Artist description The Independents are a unique, original, exciting, infectious, possessed band. They put the "fun" back in funeral. Great songs, Punk meets Ska meets Surf meets the Ramones with a touch of Elvis. They hail from "Hell" Florence, South Carolina. Produced by Joey Ramone and Daniel Rey, there is no one like them!

Music Style Punk/Ska/Horror

Musical Influences The Misfits, The Ramones, Elvis Presley

Similar Artists The Misfits

Artist History The Nightmare starts off on a hot humid night, deep beneath a full moon in the swamps of South Carolina. Under the moss covered dead oak trees, surrounded by the loud eerie groans of bull frogs... five creatures of the night come together to form The INDEPENDENTS.... Willy B was always into the unexplained. His spaced-out eyes were already turning into headlights from watching too many sci-fi TV shows. But after being abducted by aliens as a teenager, he came back to this earth with an "uncanny" ability to play guitar, and joined forces with Evil Presly. Evil Presly spent most of his childhood playing with the gypsies around the broken down plantations of South Carolina. It is in these swamps and the haunted house he was raised in where he would experience the ghostly sounds and stories which would form his musical ideas. Blackie Levay was raised in his grandparents funeral home where he became well-known for his organ playing. He'd play the services by day and DJ at a local nudie bar by night. Bradly Dahmer, after being kicked out of several seminary schools, decided to give his soul to the cause of corrupting the minds of the youth around the world. Ed Hunter Spent most of his life working as well as living in the grave yards of New orleans. It is there where he spent many years playing drums behind some of the most legendary names in music. Formed in the early 90's by Evil Presly and Willy B, The Independents was born out of the frustation of music being stereo typed and just plain fucking boring. Willy and Evil were in one of the first ska bands on the east coast, Spies On Sabbatical. They loved ska music but didn't want to be limited to it alone. They both loved all music, from Conway Twitty to Iron Maiden, from The Ramones to the Beach Boys. Both loved horror and sci fi movies and wanted to find some way include it in their music. When the Spies went their seprate ways, Evil switched from bass to vocals and started writing lyrics that told horror tales while Willy kept the guitar in one hand and gave all of the world the finger with the other. They rallied their friends together and started on their long journey through members left and right, with only the goal of playing the music they wanted when, where, and how they wanted. After a few years and a few members, the guys had gathered a good following through rough demos up and down the east coast. They signed a small indie deal with Rockduster Records and recorded their first album "In For The Kill". It was during this time that Evil met and befriended the bass player for the legendary Ramones, CJ Ramone. CJ got the Independents on a few opening dates of the Ramones' Acid Eaters tour. On their way to the first show with the Independents, Joey Ramone listened to some of the Independents demos given to him by CJ. He really dug what he heard and within minutes of arriving to the venue was introduced to the guys. After the shows, Joey made an offer the guys could not refuse. He told them he wanted to manage the band. The ghouls hit the road non-stop on tours with such bands as THE RAMONES and VOODOO GLOW SKULLS and an early BLINK 182 to support "In for the Kill". But due to the lack of record company support, they signed their next release to Elevator Music. The Independents got back to work and recorded the "Stalker" EP. They did several of their own national tours as well as playing with RANCID, REEL BIG FISH, and GREEN DAY. Doing several dates on The Ramones' Farewell tour, as well as many festivals from CMJ to South by South West, the guys hit them all. After all this heavy touring, the band went into the studio for several projects. They did a few songs in the BRUCE MCDONALD movie "HARDCORE LOGO". Then Joey Ramone and Daniel Rey produced the Danzig song "Mother" for a compilation as well as the guys backing up Joey on a few tracks that have yet to be released. They soon found themselves with a few new faces in the group and back on the road again in support of their self-titled single on Hell Cat records. From the Warped tour to the New England ska fest, and to opening up for RONNIE SPECTOR and CITIZEN FISH, to CHEAP TRICK and SEBASTIAN BACH, there was never a break for these fiends. Between every tour they were recording a song or two for another compilation. Some of the times their tours lasted 10 months! Joey and the guys finally decided to sit down and record the next full length album "Back From The Grave". They once again called on Daniel Rey to co-produce with Joey. They went into the studio for two weeks, then took a break to appear in the mystery horror spoof film, "FINAL RINSE" directed by ROBERT TUCKER. Then they hit the road again. While in NY, their van and all their equipment was stolen. They lost everything. Van, trailer, merchandise, and personal items. It all was gone. Over $60,000 worth of stuff, gone. The cops did nothing and the insurance companies did little more. The Independents had to start all over from step one. A lot of bands came to the aid of the group. Joey even threw a star studded benefit concert. There was no way the Independents would give up now. They went back to work getting all new equipment, van and trailor. Back in the studio, they recorded 4 more songs and put one live track featuring Joey on the album. They then had the album mastered by HOWIE WEINBURG. Two music videos for the songs "Little Blue" and "Death Notice" have also been shot by world famous director GEORGE SEMINARA (BEASTIE BOYS, RAMONES, DANZIG). The Independents did half the US. and Canada with THE QUEERS early in 2001. After the passing of their manager, friend, and mentor Joey Ramone, the band set off on a full US. tour with the MISFITS. They cut it short for time to mourn. Now the guys have their heads and hearts together. Before Joey passed he and the band put the "Unholy Living Dead" EP and the album "Back From The Grave"out themselves. They were tired of everyone trying to tell them how to look and play their music. They Just wanted to play what they wanted when, where and how they wanted.ô

Group Members Evil Presly, Blackie Levay, Willy B, Ed Hunter, Bradley "Showbiz" Dahmer

Instruments Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Drums

Albums In For The Kill, Stalker, Back From The Grave

Location New York, NY - USA

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