Black Lips

Black Lips are a garage punk and garage rock group from Atlanta, United States. The band forms in 1999 and remains active, and it is associated with the “flower punk” label. Its core early line-up includes Cole Alexander on vocals and guitar, Jared Swilley on vocals and bass guitar, Joe Bradley on vocals and drums, and guitarist Ben Eberbaugh. Jack Hines and later Ian Saint Pé Brown also play guitar with the group, and Oakley Munson and Zumi Rosow are also listed as members.

Formation and early releases

The band forms after Cole Alexander and Jared Swilley leave the Renegades, while Ben Eberbaugh leaves the Reruns. Joe Bradley joins a few months later. Black Lips issue their first 7-inch through their own Die Slaughterhaus label, and their debut full-length album appears on Bomp! Records in 2003. After Eberbaugh dies in a car accident in late 2002, the group continues with the view that he would have wanted them to carry on. Eberbaugh is first replaced by Jack Hines, then by Ian St. Pe in 2004.

Sound and reputation

The band’s music is described as a mix of blues, rock, doo-wop, country and punk, with a rough garage-based style. Black Lips also develop a reputation for chaotic live performances, with incidents involving vomiting, urination, nudity, band members kissing, fireworks and a chicken.

Profile and releases

Black Lips gain wider attention in 2006 through features in Spin and Rolling Stone. They receive further notice for playing a large number of sets during South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, in 2007. Their album Good Bad Not Evil is released in 2007, and they make their American television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien later that year with a performance of “O Katrina”. In 2009, they release their fifth album, 200 Million Thousand, on Vice Records. The band also has unreleased songs from earlier sessions that are set to appear on future releases through In The Red Records.

Side projects and related work

Several members work on other projects. Cole Alexander, Jared Swilley and Joe Bradley play in The Spooks with members of Deerhunter and The Kiwis; the group records an album for Die Slaughterhaus. Ian Saint Pé Brown also plays in The Original Three, a garage punk band with releases on Empty Records and SYA Records, and a later single on Savage Records. Jared Swilley plays in The Gaye Blades, which issue a 7-inch on Rob's House Records and another planned release on the same label. Cole Alexander releases solo material under the name Old King Cole Younger, including a split 10-inch on Rob's House Records with Bradford Cox’s Atlas Sound.

Film appearance

The band are also set to appear in the film Let It Be, playing musicians in a fictional 1980s DIY band called The Renegades.