The League Bowlers formed in 1986.  Paul Beltz (bass), Joe Junior Johnson (rhythm guitar, vocals), and Carl Rose Jr. (lead guitar, vocals) were brought together by John Rustey, ex-drummer for Canadian rock trio Rush.  Their art-rock stylings made no mark on the Canadian music scene, and in part because of increasing drug and alcohol abuse, they disbanded.

In 1993, Herbert Schupp, Jr. reformed the band.  Now a Georgia Satellites’ tribute band, they quickly built a following in the Midwest.  As their popularity increased, demons, once thought buried, resurfaced.  Rose, Jr. became uncommunicative after the “Hickle Incident” in Louisiana.  Beltz began drinking again, and Junior Johnson began a much-publicized dalliance with a fifteen year-old girl.  Finally, in 1995, a very disappointing gig at Barley’s Underground led to the band’s second breakup.  All members, except Schupp, cited artistic differences, with Schupp citing the members “sucking” as his reason for leaving.

Humiliated, the band retreated into themselves.  Beltz began drinking full time.  Rose, Jr. started a restaurant management career, and Junior Johnson retreated to Alabama to avoid a statutory rape charge and to “pick buckshot”out of [his] ass.”  Schupp joined the rock trio, Watershed, and never looked back.

In January of 1997, Rose, Jr. reformed The Bowlers, citing the fact that “people are paying cash, American dollars to see Shucking Bubba, for Christ’s sake.”  Junior Johnson called in his second cousin, once removed, Jimmy Johnson, to helm the band.  Johnson’s ties to Guzzy Sleebo’s management firm resulted in their now legendary corporate sponsorship with Buckeye Equity Services.

The reformed band scored a top twenty hit in Norway with “By Alan Freed” and is currently on a Midwest tour.  The band seems on shaky ground with Junior Johnson quoted as saying, “We’re not married to the idea of Beltz as our bass player, and there are plenty of musicians who can remember the fucking chords to a few fucking songs."

Reprinted with permission.

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