Beat Farmers

The Beat Farmers enjoyed a cult following throughout the 1980s and early '90s until the untimely passing of lead singer/drummer/guitarist Country Dick Montana in November 1995. He was just 40, and he collapsed after a massive heart attack at the Long Horn, a bar in Whistler, British Columbia, in western Canada. Montana, a former record store owner, and past president of the Kinks Preservation Society fan club, formed the Beat Farmers in San Diego in 1983, influenced on the one hand by country and blues music, but on the other by the first wave of punk rock bands to come out of Los Angeles. The group began to attract a following at San Diego and Los Angeles-area clubs, satisfying a need for roots-based rock & roll before most people even knew the need existed. Over the years, Montana collaborated with a wide range of Los Angeles-based musicians and singers, including Mojo Nixon, John Doe from the group X, Rosie Flores, the Bangles, Los Lobos, Katy Moffatt, blues singer/pianist Candye Kane, and ex-Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin. The Beat Farmers discography is more extensive than most people would think, because a number of recordings are hard to find or out of print. The original group consisted of Montana on drums, guitar and vocals, Jerry Raney on guitar and vocals, Buddy Blue on guitar and vocals and Rolle Dexter on bass. The group's albums include Tales of the New West (1985, Rhino), Glad 'n' Greasy (1985, Rhino), Van Go (1986, Curb Records), The Pursuit of Happiness (1987, Curb Records), Poor and Famous (1989, Curb Records), Loud and Plowed and...Live!! (1990, Curb Records), Viking Lullabys (1994, Sector 2 Records), Greatest Hits (1995, Curb Records), and Manifold (1995, Sector 2 Records). The Beat Farmers formed in August, 1983 when they played a series of shows...