The Afghan Whigs

The Afghan Whigs were an American soul-influenced alternative rock band of the 1990s. Greg Dulli (vocals, rhythm guitar), John Curley (bass), Rick McCollum (lead guitar) and Steve Earle (drums -- not to be confused with Steve Earle) formed the band in Cincinnati in 1986. Their 1988 debut album Big Top Halloween on their independent record label called (Ultrasuede) created a buzz in the independent music community, and the band soon signed to Sub Pop of Seattle in 1989. In 1990, Up in It was released; this was followed by the critically acclaimed 1992 album Congregation and a covers album, Uptown Avondale.

Related Topics:
Soul - Alternative rock - 1990s - Greg Dulli - Steve Earle - Cincinnati - 1986 - 1988 - Big Top Halloween - Ultrasuede - Sub Pop - Seattle - 1989 - 1990 - Up in It - 1992 - Congregation - Covers - Uptown Avondale

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The Afghan Whigs then signed to a major label, Elektra Records, and released another critically acclaimed album, Gentlemen that failed to break the band into the mainstream, though it spawned the minor hits "Debonair" & "Gentlemen". They contributed "Fountain and Fairfax" to the soundtrack for the television series My So-Called Life in 1994.

Related Topics:
Elektra Records - Gentlemen - My So-Called Life - 1994

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For the next few years, personnel problems interfered with recording and touring, and the band released two more albums - Black Love in 1996 and 1965 in 1998 on Columbia Records - before they broke up in 2001.

Related Topics:
Black Love - 1996 - 1965 - 1998 - Columbia Records - 2001

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In 1996, Greg Dulli served as executive producer for the soundtrack for the Ted Demme film Beautiful Girls. The Afghan Whigs appeared in the film as a bar band and contributed the Frederick Knight cover "Be For Real" and the Barry White cover "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" to the soundtrack.

Related Topics:
1996 - Ted Demme - Beautiful Girls - Frederick Knight - Barry White

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Rolling Stone magazine described the band as spending "the bulk of their career on the brink of stardom", yet they've "never quite broken beyond a substantial legion of devotees enamored of their thinly veiled sleaze."

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Band Member Update

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• Greg Dulli is currently recording and performing as The Twilight Singers
• John Curley is the bassist of the Staggering Statistics
• Rick McCollum is the guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for Moon Maan
 
The Afghan Whigs: Discography ►