Makers

Biography

Garage punk outfit the Makers formed in Spokane, WA, in 1991, originally assembling frontman Mike Maker, his bassist brother Don Maker, guitarists Tim Maker and John Maker, and drummer Jay Maker. Famed for their anarchic live dates and for traveling from show to show in a 1965 Pontiac hearse, the group signed to Sympathy for the Record Industry to issue their debut 10" Hip-Notic; the exit of John Maker coincided with a move to the Estrus label for the full-length follow-up, 1993's Howl! The instrumental EP The Devil's Nine Questions preceded the Makers' second long player, 1994's All Night Riot; a trashier, more distorted sound distinguished the band's self-titled third LP, with guitarist Jamie Maker replacing Tim Maker for 1997's Hunger. After backing singer April March on her April March Sings the Songs album, the Makers resurfaced in 1998 with a new retro-glam approach on the acclaimed Psychopathia Sexualis, heralding the change by adopting new stage names -- Michael Machine, Don Virgo, Jay Amerika, and Jamie Jack Frost, respectively. The Makers made their Sub Pop label debut with 2000's acclaimed Rock Star God and followed it in 2002 with Strangest Parade. Jay Maker left the group that year to be replaced by Jimmy Chandler and the band parted ways with Sub Pop as well. They soon signed with Kill Rock Stars and in 2004 released Stripped, a collection of re-recordings of songs originally put out on Estrus between 1991 and 1998. They also welcomed back guitarist Tim Maker (now known as Timothy Killingsworth) expanding the group to a 5-piece for the album. This same line-up released Everybody Rise! in the fall of 2005. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide