Those Poor Bastards

Those Poor Bastards formed in the 1980s American underground with Rick Sims as their frontman. Their music carried a raw, abrasive quality from the start, drawing on the kind of proto-punk energy you'd hear in Iggy Pop and The Stooges. Songs like 'I Will Bring You Dead Flowers' and 'Ain't You Gonna Cry' gave voice to themes of alienation and heartbreak with a visceral intensity that felt more like a confrontation than entertainment.

Their self-titled debut album arrived in 1987, followed by 'Remains' in 1990 and 'Love Gone Bad' in 1993. The band's lineup included Scott Litt on guitar, Tom Trott on bass, and Brian Geltner on drums alongside Sims. Their lyrics often touched on dark subjects, drug abuse, violence, suicide, which drew criticism and cemented their reputation as outsiders.

Live shows were known for raw energy and occasional theatrics, matching the uncompromising nature of their recordings. Tracks like 'Black Dog Yodel' and 'Everything is Gone' kept that abrasive style alive, while later work showed moments of melodic nuance. They never really softened, though; the music stayed rooted in that same unyielding angst.