Galactic Cowboys

Galactic Cowboys was formed in 1989 in Houston, Texas by bassist Monty Colvin and drummer Alan Doss of the band The Awful Truth. When The Awful Truth broke up, Colvin and Doss joined singer Ben Huggins and guitarist Dane Sonnier to form Galactic Cowboys.

In 1990, after attracting the attention of A&R rep Gary Gersh, the band signed a million-dollar record contract with DGC/Geffen Records.{{Cite web |title=Galactic Cowboys: The hard rocking unit from Houston, Texas - Galactic Cowboys |url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Galactic_Cowboys_The_hard_rocking_unit_from_Houston_Texas/36531/p1/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=www.crossrhythms.co.uk}}{{Cite web |date=2005-05-31 |title=gc geffen bio |url=http://galacticcowboys.com/pdfs/gc_geffen_bio.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050531160259/http://galacticcowboys.com/pdfs/gc_geffen_bio.pdf |archive-date=2005-05-31 |access-date=2022-09-12 }} Geffen touted the Galactic Cowboys as their "next big thing".{{Cite web |last=ElectronicBrain |title=Fireworks Magazine Online 81: Interview with Galactic Cowboys |url=https://www.rocktopia.co.uk/fireworksmagazine-publisher/fireworks-magazine-online-81-interview-with-galactic-cowboys |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Rocktopia - The Melodic Rock Website |language=en-gb}} The band released their debut album, Galactic Cowboys, in August 1991, though its release was delayed for several months by Geffen. Despite receiving some favourable reviews, and getting circulation of the music video for "I'm Not Amused" on MTV, the band was ignored by DGC due to the surprise success of Nirvana's Nevermind, released a month afterwards. After poor sales and some touring, they returned to the studio and released Space in Your Face in 1993. During the album's recording process, the band fell out with Sam Taylor over the album's production, and parted ways with him before the album's release due to creative differences.{{Cite web |date=2000-12-08 |title=HM magazine #42: Galactic Cowboys In Your Face |url=http://www.dlm.net/gc/articles/gchm42.html |access-date=2022-09-12 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001208192600/http://www.dlm.net/gc/articles/gchm42.html |archive-date=8 December 2000 |url-status=dead}} Space... was the band's break into the general market. The album featured two minor hits for the band with "If I Were A Killer" and "I Do What I Do", both of which received regular airplay at MTV and the now-defunct radio station ZROCK.

Two months into Space In Your Face's promotional tour, DGC pulled the band's touring support and dropped the band, forcing the band to cancel a planned European tour and return home. In June 1995, depressed and disappointed with the band's lack of success, Dane Sonnier and Alan Doss left the band, resulting in Galactic Cowboys temporarily breaking up.{{Cite web |last=Weller |first=Sam |title=Interstellar Drama |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/interstellar-drama-6571838 |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Houston Press |language=en}} Two weeks after the breakup, Monty Colvin received a voicemail from Metal Blade Records with an offer to sign to the band. Metal Blade's founder, Brian Slagel, had previously offered the band a recording contract with the label in 1993 in the event that DGC dropped the band. Subsequently, the Galactic Cowboys quickly reformed, with the band's guitar tech Wally Farkas replacing Sonnier on guitar (as Sonnier showed no interest in re-joining the band). The band released a third album, Machine Fish, and an EP titled Feel the Rage in 1996. The album The Horse That Bud Bought followed in 1997, departing from the band's metal sound into a toned-down style.

The band recorded At the End of the Day in 1998, a concept album regarded by fans as the band's peak effort. Two weeks before the album's release, drummer Alan Doss left the band. Session drummer Erick Tatuaka performed drums on the subsequent tour.{{Cite web |title=galactic news: 5/10/2000 |url=http://www.galacticcowboys.com/NEWS.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000510222558/http://www.galacticcowboys.com/NEWS.html |archive-date=2000-05-10 |access-date=2022-09-12 }}

The band's final album of their four-album Metal Blade Records contract, Let It Go, was released on June 20, 2000, and featured lead vocal performances by each band member. King's X drummer Jerry Gaskill, a friend of the band, performed drums on the album. Prior to its release, on April 28, 2000, the Galactic Cowboys announced that they had decided to disband. While the band's reason for their disbandment at the time was so the bandmembers could focus on their own solo projects, Monty Colvin later cited the band's frustration at their lack of direction or success as the primary cause. "I just felt like we weren’t going anywhere and I was just very frustrated." The band did not tour in support of the album or play any farewell shows, with Ben Huggins saying they would likely never tour again unless they received an "incredibly amazing" offer to reunite.{{Cite web |date=2017-05-31 |title=The Popdose Interview: Monty Colvin of Galactic Cowboys |url=https://popdose.com/the-popdose-interview-monty-colvin-of-galactic-cowboys/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Popdose |language=en-US}}

Besides original songs, Galactic Cowboys have recorded cover versions of songs by KISS, Petra and Wings.

The band performed 3 reunion shows in August 2009 in Houston, Dallas, and Austin.{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122332 |title=Blabbermouth.net:GALACTIC COWBOYS To Reunite For Three Texas Performances |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=September 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628152531/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122332 |archive-date=June 28, 2009 }} Following these shows, Wally Farkas permanently quit the band.{{Cite web |last=Rob |date=2018-01-24 |title=Interview with Monty Colvin of Galactic Cowboys |url=https://progressivemusicplanet.com/2018/01/24/interview-with-monty-colvin-of-galactic-cowboys/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Progressive Music Planet |language=en}} The band's original line-up reunited for a special, one-off performance at Acadia Bar and Grill in Houston, Texas on September 13, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=191088 |title=GALACTIC COWBOYS To Reunite For One-Off Hometown Concert |date=June 10, 2013 |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=June 10, 2013}}

On July 4, 2016, they announced via bassist Monty's Rockcast podcast (No. 176) that they had signed with a progressive record label and were working on a new album with the original lineup (Colvin, Huggins, Doss, Sonnier).{{cite AV media |last=Colvin |first=Monty |title=Monty's Rockcast #176 |year=2016 |URL=http://montysrockcast.com/rockcast-176/}} On November 17, 2017, Mascot Label Group released the new album, titled Long Way Back to the Moon.{{cite web|url=https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/galactic-cowboys/biography/|title=Galactic Cowboys - Artists - Mascot Label Group - Provogue - Mascot Records - Music Theories Recordings - Cool Green Recordings|website=Mascotlabelgroup.com|access-date=January 3, 2019|archive-date=January 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104072636/https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/galactic-cowboys/biography/|url-status=dead}}

The Galactic Cowboys announced a new album via Kickstarter in the Summer of 2024. This was funded and has raised nearly $90,000 for the band to produce their own record for their fans. This project is currently titled "A New Mission". Ben, Monty, and Dane are currently writing. Unfortunately Alan Doss decided not to participate with this project. He has been replaced by Johnny Simmons, Doss' bandmate from Houston-area cover band The Rikkis, who also played drums on Atomic Opera's Gospel Cola album. The new Galactic album is targeted for release in the late Spring or Summer of 2025. More information on this posted on their Kickstarter page by searching "galactic-cowboys-a-new-mission".

Bassist and backing vocalist for Galactic Cowboys from 1991 until 2000, Monty Colvin embarked on a solo career in 2000 with his band project Crunchy. The first album, All Day Sucker, released in 2001, defined the Crunchy sound as fun, pop punk with a slight heavy guitar edge. On Crunchy's second album, Clown School Dropout, the band was stripped down to Colvin playing most of the instruments and bringing in a hired drummer; here Colvin added a bit more crunch to the formula. Band influences include the Wildhearts, Cheap Trick, Foo Fighters, and the Ramones, in addition to the aforementioned Galactic Cowboys. The third Crunchy album, Loserville (2007), includes a contribution by Kerry Livgren of Kansas. Colvin contributed to Livgren's 2021 solo release The Resurrection Of Lazarus: A Cantata though his part had been recorded 20 years earlier.{{cite news | url=http://www.westword.com/2007-11-01/music/mini-reviews/ | publisher=Westworld (Denver) | access-date=March 6, 2008 | date=November 1, 2007 | title=Mini Reviews | first=Chris | last=Callaway}}Monty's Rockcast episode 243

Colvin currently hosts an irregular hour-long Internet podcast called "Monty's Rockcast" on his personal web site. He also sells his paintings on his web site; some of the Galactic Cowboys album covers featured Colvin's artwork.

Colvin is also a cousin of Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Glenn Colvin), formerly of the Ramones.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/crunchy_monty_colvin_interview200306/index.php?page=5 |title=Crunchy - Monty Colvin interview |magazine=HM |first=Chad |last=Olson |access-date=March 6, 2008 |year=2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610151641/http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/crunchy_monty_colvin_interview200306/index.php?page=5 |archive-date=June 10, 2011 }}

Since leaving the music industry for a while, Doss has involved himself with managing and producing. Most recently, he has served in that capacity for the bands Ashbury Keys, Toy Subs and Jambi's Revenge, also contributing instrumental work (on keyboards and bass) to the outputs of those bands.

Huggins' musical activities following the Galactic Cowboys breakup in 2000 included recording and playing with his band Gristle, in addition to guest appearances with artists such as The Phlegmatics. Gristle's first album, Cold Blue Sky, was released in downloadable format on July 17, 2010.

Farkas has worked as a distributor for hip hop artists in the Houston area. He teamed with Ty Tabor of King's X to release two ambient albums under the name Xenuphobe ("1.0", released in 2006 and "2.0: Electrolux", released in 2007). Also, he established a record label, Molken Music for a handful of artists with which he has had prior connections.

Farkas co-produced and played guitar on the Doug Pinnick album Strum Sum Up. He announced a forthcoming solo album, Past Due, but that is unreleased as of yet.

In 2015, he was part of dUg Pinnick's touring band, Texas Poundation. He also has toured as part of the Houston band Peace and the Chaos.{{cite web|url=https://chrissmithauthor.com/2018/05/16/peace-and-the-chaos/|title=Peace and The Chaos|date=May 16, 2018|website=Chrissmithauthor.com|access-date=January 3, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://dallas.carpe-diem.events/calendar/8330299-peace-and-the-chaos-live-from-the-astroturf-at-good-records/ |title=Peace and the Chaos "Live from the Astroturf" @ Good Records, Dallas [1 December] |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104021732/https://dallas.carpe-diem.events/calendar/8330299-peace-and-the-chaos-live-from-the-astroturf-at-good-records/ |archive-date=January 4, 2019 |url-status=dead }}

After leaving Galactic Cowboys, Sonnier kept involved in the music world, most notably in The Sonnier Brothers Band, the band he formed with his brother Len,{{cite web|url=http://www.sonnierbrothersband.com/bios_dane.html|title=Sonnier Brothers Band: Dane Sonnier biography|access-date=October 6, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128175302/http://www.sonnierbrothersband.com/bios_dane.html|archive-date=January 28, 2008}} who also plays lead guitar in Gristle. Sonnier also served as lead guitarist for a Houston-based modern rock band, Sevenfold.{{cite news|author=Anthony Mariani |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/2000-05-11/music/in-good-company/ |title=In Good Company - Page 1 - Music - Houston |newspaper=Houston Press |date=May 11, 2000 |access-date=February 20, 2013}} Like Farkas, he has also been part of Texas Poundation, and continues to do so even after re-joining Galactic Cowboys.{{cite web|url=https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2016/events/dug-pinnicktexas-poundation|title=dUg Pinnick/Texas Poundation|website=NAMM.org|access-date=January 3, 2019}}

• The band appeared in the 1994 movie Airheads, under the name "Sons of Thunder". The one original song they performed for that movie, "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful", is not available anywhere, and only a short excerpt is heard in the movie.{{cite magazine |last=van Pelt |first=Doug |title=Airheads (review) |url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/reviews/dvd/archives/000061.php |url-status=dead |magazine=HM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051217021949/http://www.hmmagazine.com/reviews/dvd/archives/000061.php |archive-date=December 17, 2005 |access-date=March 6, 2008}}

Current

• Monty Colvin - bass guitar, vocals (1989–2000, 2009, 2013, 2016–present)
• Alan Doss - drums, vocals, keyboards (1989–1998, 2009, 2013, 2016–present)
• Ben Huggins - lead vocals, guitar, blues harp (1989–2000, 2009, 2013, 2016–present)
• Dane Sonnier - guitar, vocals (1989–1995, 2013, 2016–present)

Past members

• Wally Farkas - guitar, vocals, keyboards (1995–2000, 2009), drums (1998–2000)

Timeline

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• Galactic Cowboys August 20, 1991
• Space in Your Face June 8, 1993
• Machine Fish January 30, 1996
• Feel the Rage (EP) October 8, 1996
• The Horse That Bud Bought July 15, 1997
• At the End of the Day September 22, 1998
• Let It Go June 20, 2000
• Long Way Back to the Moon November 17, 2017

Music videos were produced for the following songs:

• "Evil Twin"
• "Fear Not"
• "Feel the Rage"
• "I'm Not Amused"
• "If I Were a Killer"
• "Nothing to Say"
• "Internal Masquerade"
• "Zombies"

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal|date=September–October 1997 |title=Galactic Cowboys |journal=HM Magazine |issue=67 |access-date=April 24, 2007 |url=//www.hmmagazine.com/archives/GalacticCowboys67.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000918053653/http://www.hmmagazine.com/archives/GalacticCowboys67.htm |archive-date=September 18, 2000 }}
• {{cite journal|date=July–August 2000 |title=Galactic Cowboys |journal=HM Magazine |issue=84 |access-date=April 24, 2007 |url=//www.hmmagazine.com/Current_Issue/84Galactic/84galactic.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000918052329/http://www.hmmagazine.com/Current_Issue/84Galactic/84galactic.html |archive-date=September 18, 2000 }}
• {{cite journal |title=Galactic Cowboys |date=January–February 1999 |issue=22 |journal=7ball}}

• {{Official website|1=http://www.galacticcowboys.com/|name=Official website}}

{{Galactic Cowboys}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Galactic Cowboys}}

Category:American progressive metal musical groups

Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Texas

Category:Metal Blade Records artists

Category:Musical groups established in 1989

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2016

Category:Musical groups from Houston

Category:Musical quartets from Texas