Dash Rip Rock is a New Orleans based rock group which was formed as a three-piece rockabilly band in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the summer of 1984. According to Green Frog Music[a], the band took their name from "The Beverly Hillbillies[b]." (Dash Riprock was Ellie May's wanna be beau on the show.) Over time the band has evolved into a rowdy live act popular at college-town bars and fraternity parties across the South. Today, the only remaining original member is singer/guitarist Bill Davis. Bill Davis formed Dash Rip Rock with drummer F. (for Fred) Clarke Martty and bassist Ned "Hoaky" Hickel in 1984. All three were veterans of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana post-punk/new wave scene. Originally, Dash Rip Rock was heavily focused on country and rockabilly.

Less than a year after forming the band, Martty left, reportedly because Davis wanted to take Dash Rip Rock in more of a rock direction. Martty was replaced by drummer Fred LeBlanc and the band began to build a strong following around their live cowpunk[c] shows at clubs near the Louisiana State University campus. Among the most notable of their shows were the band's frequent shows at The Chimes, in New Orleans. A recording of their December 28, 1985 show there was released as "Ned, Fred and Dickhead," for a reunion tour of the Davis, Hickel, LeBlanc lineup in 2001.

Dash Rip Rock released a self-titled debut album in 1986 that showcased the band's new uptempo, rockabilly-influenced style. Following the album's release, the band began touring heavily through the Southeastern United States and developed a strong regional following for their live shows, especially in college towns. Fuelled by whisky and egged on by the raucous college crowds, Dash Rip Rock evolved into more of a bar band over time, leaving the decent songwriting of Davis and LeBlanc as an afterthought.

In 1988 the band recorded its second album, Ace of Clubs, but LeBlanc left Dash Rip Rock for a solo career shortly thereafter. LeBlanc later achieved success with the band, Cowboy Mouth, a name taken by LeBlanc from the title of a Sam Shepherd play, Cowboy Mouth. A line of dialogue referenced in the song "Johnny Ace," was also taken from that the play: "working hard on dying / and always trying / to be a rock-n-roll Jesus / with a cowboy mouth." You can read all about Johnny Ace and his tragic story on mp3lyrics.org at Johnny Ace

After LeBlanc's departure, the band moved even more into bar-band territory and focused less and less on studio recordings. Dash Rip Rock's most successful studio release was "Let's Go Smoke Some Pot," a parody of Danny and the Juniors' "At the Hop." (Link to Danny and the Juniors' lyrics on mp3lyrics.org at Danny & the Juniors) Although the song has been adopted by some as a pro-marijuana song, it was actually intended to make fun of the resurgent popularity of Grateful Dead-style jam bands, specifically naming Edie Brickell and New Bohemians, Spin Doctors, Drivin''N'Cryin' and Widespread Panic among others.

The band still tours the Southern United States and in 2005 released a retrospective CD on the Alternative Tentacles label, followed in 2007 by Dash's first concept album, "Hee Haw Hell." 2008 saw the release of a new studio album, "Country Girlfriend."

On June 7th of 2008, Bill Davis confirmed in an interview that Dash Rip Rock was recording a new album and on August 21st of 2008, he announced that Country Girlfriend, the groups 14th album, would be released October 1, 2008 on Abitian Records.

• Current Members:
• Bill Davis (vocals, guitars)
• Patrick Johnson (bass guitar)
• Eric Padua (drums)

• Former Members:
• Ned "Hoaky" Hickel (bass) [original member]
• F. Clarke Martty (drums) [original member]
• Chris "Lucky Dog" Luckette (drums)
• Fred LeBlanc (drums)
• Kyle Melancon (drums)
• Andy Songy (bass)
• Shannon Bobo (bass)
• Settly (bass, rhythl guitar)
• Kenny Ames (bass)
• Jody Smith (drums)
• Leon Touzet (drums, rhythm guitar)

• Discography:
• Dash Rip Rock (1987)
• Ace of Clubs (1989)
• Not of This World (1990)
• Boiled Alive (1991)
• Tiger Town (1993)
• Get You Some of Me (1995)
• Testosterone (1995) Australian-only release
• Dash Rip Rock's Gold Record (1996)
• Paydirt (1998)
• Hits and Giggles (2000)
• Ned, Fred and Dickhead (limited release, 2001)
• Sonic Boom (2003)
• Live from the Bottom of the Hill (limited release, 2003)
• Recyclone (2005)
• Hee Haw Hell (2007)
• Country Girlfriend (2008)

____________________ [a]Greenfrog Music is a web-based entertainment service out of Louisiana, that keeps tracks of bands in the Baton Rouge & New Orleans areas. They post news, play dates and information about bands for people looking for local club and event news.

[b]The Beverly Hillbillies was an American sitcom that was one of the most successful comedies in the history of American television. It ranked among the top 12 most watched series on television for seven of its nine seasons, twice ranking as the #1 series of the year with a number of episodes that remain among the most-watched television episodes of all time. The series was about a hillbilly family transplanted to Beverly Hills, California after finding oil on their land in West Virginia. The show starred Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett, Irene Ryan as Daisy May "Granny" Moses, Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett and Max Baer, Jr. as Jethro Bodine.

[c]Cowpunk is a combination of country rock & punk rock.