Dan McLain was probably the most active and most prominent musician among the former bandmembers in the Crawdaddys; his untimely death in November 1995 at the age of 40 was written up in Billboard magazine.  After drumming for the Crawdaddys and the Penetrators, McLain took the name Country Dick Montana and first formed a band called Country Dick & the Snuggle Bunnies.  The bandmembers included Richard Banke who is also known as Skid Roper, a long-time collaborator (mostly as an instrumentalist) with Mojo Nixon, who is a former member of the Crawdaddys. 

The Beat Farmers grew out of Country Dick & the Snuggle Bunnies and was formed in August 1983.  They became one of the leading bands in what became known as “cowpunk” or country punk, a blend of punk rock with country and folk music.  Bandmembers were Country Dick Montana (drums, guitar, vocals), Jerry Raney (guitar, vocals), Rolle Dexter Love (bass), and Buddy Blue (guitar, vocals, drums).  Joey Harris (guitar, vocals) replaced Blue in the band in 1986; he had previously been in Country Dick & the Snuggle Bunnies. 

Besides their own albums and popular concert appearances throughout Southern California, the Beat Farmers collaborated with numerous musicians; Allmusic lists Mojo Nixon, John Doe of X, Rosie Flores, the Bangles, Los Lobos, Katy Moffatt, blues singer/pianist Candye Kane, and guitarist Dave Alvin, formerly of the Blasters.  For his part, Country Dick Montana had several side projects over this period, including the Incredible Hayseeds, Country Dick’s Petting Zoo, Country Dick’s Garage, and the Pleasure Barons.  

After enduring problems over several years with Curb Records, the Beat Farmers began touring to support their 1993 album for Sector 2 Records, Viking Lullabies.  After Country Dick Montana’s massive heart attack on stage in 1995 during a concert in Whistler, B.C., the remaining bandmembers called it quits a week later. 

(January 2015/2)

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Items:    Country Dick Montana