The Long Ryders

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "The Long Ryders" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Long Ryders
The Long Ryders performing in 2023.
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Paisley Underground[1] alternative country[2] cowpunk[3] garage rock folk rock country rock roots rock[4] Americana[5] jangle rock college rock psychedelia
Years active	1982–1987, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2016–present
Labels	PVC Frontier Island PolyGram Prima Cherry Red Omnivore Recordings
Members	Sid Griffin Stephen McCarthy Greg Sowders
Past members	Barry Shank Des Brewer Tom Stevens
Website	www.thelongryders.com

The Long Ryders are an American alternative country and Paisley Underground band, principally active between 1982 and 1987,^[6] who have periodically regrouped for brief reunions (2004, 2009, 2014, 2016). In 2019 they released a new studio album^[7] – their first in 32 years^[8] – and played a series of tour dates.

The Long Ryders were originally formed by several American musicians who were each multi-instrumentalists and influenced by Gram Parsons, the Byrds, country music and various punk rock groups. They were named after the Walter Hill film, the Long Riders.^[6] The band featured Sid Griffin and Stephen McCarthy on vocals and guitar; Des Brewer on bass (later replaced by Tom Stevens); and Greg Sowders on drums.

Although two members were transplants from the American South, they became a popular Los Angeles rock band, forming in the early 1980s and originally associated with a movement called the Paisley Underground.^[9] With a sound reminiscent of Rubber Soul-era Beatles, electric Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield and the Flying Burrito Brothers, but with a harder edge, they anticipated the alternative country music of the 1990s by a decade. Their early work contained influences of both punk (largely attributable to devoted record collector Griffin) and old-school country (championed by McCarthy). Former Byrd Gene Clark joined them on their first full-length album, 1984's Native Sons, adding vocals to the song "Ivory Tower".^[6][10] Their initial studio release, the 10-5-60 EP, consisted of Griffin, Brewer, McCarthy, and Sowders. Brewer left after the release of 10-5-60. He was replaced by Tom Stevens, and that line-up remained in place as a recording unit until their eventual demise.^[6]