GUITAR/ VOCALIST, RIP CARSON: 

Rip Carson is an American singer/musician/producer born in Shawnee Hills, West Virginia and currently working out of San Diego, California. He started his first band at age 11 as the guitarist for early 90’s riot girl punk rock band Hari Kari. By the following year he was already putting together his first band as a frontman, The Washouts . This trashy 60’s garage rock group was where he cut his teeth as a writer and performer from ages 12 - 16, releasing 5 EP’s along the way. All of which are available today on “I Was A Teenage Washout”, a comprehensive compilation released by Golly Gee Records that encompasses their entire output. 

       Having grown weary of the garage and punk scene, Rip started his first rockabilly band Rip Carson and the Twilight Trio in 1997. This group would find success very quickly due to Rip’s wild, and now infamous, stage antics. Anyone who saw the band live during their 4 year run has a story to tell about it, be it that they saw him light his crotch on fire, hang upside down from the 2nd story rafters while singing, or have arguments with inanimate objects that always resulted in a physical altercation in which the(barstool, trashcan, lamp, etc) would be whipped mercilessly with Carson’s belt. The buzz and excitement over the stage show attracted the attention of legendary rockabilly producer Rockin’ Ronny Weiser, who was just starting his label Rollin’ Rock Records back up after a 10 year hiatus. Rip, along with Mack Stevens, were the first two acts signed to the label. Rip was able to parlay this one bit of good fortune into international clout and legitimacy. His 2 albums released on Rollin’ Rock records under the Rip Carson & the Twilight Trio moniker did so well that the group was touring 8 months out of the year in 1999 and 2000, but disbanded in 2001 with Rip having aspirations to create better music and the Twilight Trio’s limitations in ability. 

      Right at this time legendary producer and musician Mark Neill(Black Keys, Big Sandy, JD McPherson) had set up shop in La Mesa, CA. And living in La Mesa himself Rip sought him out to produce his next album. The resulting “Box Set: the singles collection” marked a huge improvement and shift in musicianship, production, and vocal prowess. And even landed Rip an induction into the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame at the young age of 21. He also became fast friends with Mark Neill and was hired as a session musician for him, playing on dozens of successful albums while Mark was in San Diego before moving back to his hometown of Valdosta, Georgia. This is also the time that Rip was schooled by old school session players in the art of being a studio caliber player, a truly lost art these days. One that he still utilizes as a producer and multi instrumentalist at his own recording studio in La Mesa, CA “Trashland”. 

     Rip has made a living playing rock and roll for the last 25 years straight and has never done the same show twice! You never know what he’s going to say, or in whose voice he’s gonna say it. You can currently catch him with his group Rip Carson & the Carcinogenics or as the newly appointed frontman for San Diego rockabilly veterans Bonneville 7. So… you should probably just go ahead and do that.

DRUMS/ BACKUP VOCALS, BECKY RUSSELL:    

When Becky was 9 years old, her big brother brought home a pair of drum sticks from school in Marietta, Georgia.  She took those sticks from his room and began banging on the furniture.  He later said, “Keep them, they’re yours.” And that was the start of it.  Soon after, Mom bought the toy snare, then the Jr. Drum kit.

After relocating to Nashville, Tennessee in sixth grade, she joined-up with the school band.  The 1^st day at the chair challenge she tied for first chair.  All jealousy broke loose as the last chair boy began to heckle.  Becky beat him up.

Becky was very fond of the Junior High Band situation.  Many of the kid’s parent’s there were musicians too.  Her Step Father, Kenneth Hunt, was a songwriter in Nashville.  And, today, her younger step sister Amanda Hunt-Taylor is a songwriter also.

Soon it was time to move again.  This time to Dallas, Dallas, Georgia.  A new town and a new school, but by this time she was diversified performing in the marching band, the concert band and for school dances, and a jazz band. She was also in the "Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps". In the middle of her sophomore year, she moved to Coronado.  It was like going from the sticks to paradise.  She played in the concert band in Coronado one-day then decided to keep her drumming at home.

Becky, a CHS grad, jumped back into the music scene.  This time a band, performed local casuals.  Years later joined bands to perform in San Diego night clubs.  Bands like 'Bonneville 7’ a psycho-billy band with two billy brats Pip Hancock and Johnny Bowler from well-known UK group called 'Guana Bats'.  So, it was 'Bonneville 7' except for the moments when guitar player, Stewart, was visiting.  Then it was 'Guana Batz' in San Diego at venues such as the Casbah. Then a small tour up the coast with 'Guana Batz'

Becky has entertained crowds in San Diego’s Gaslamp, and all over San Diego County with 'Big Rig Deluxe' for years.  Later, joined  'Hoosier Daddy', playing private parties having a whole lot of fun. Often, Becky would set with 'Robin Hinkle Band' performing all over so Cal.  Robin’s shows use a variety of musical talent, always changing. Becky was also in the band's 'Stilettos', ‘JumpStart’, ‘Shotgun House’, 'Stoney B Blues Band', ‘Lance Dieckmann Band’, 'Chill Boy', 'Flipside Burners'. Subbed for bands like, ‘ Joe Wood ( from T.S.O.L.) & the Lonely Ones’, ‘Rip Carson’, ‘Eddie Nichole’s from Royal Crown Review’, 'Cash Kings', 'Big Daddy & the Money Shakers', 'Blues Brokers' and many others. Currently she plays weekly with 'Bonneville 7' and ‘Rip Carson & the Carinogenics’. She restarted ‘Bonneville 7’ in 2018.

Becky Russell is a female drummer you need to hear. In addition to drumming, Becky is a talented artist and competent motorcycle racer and has passionately pursued all these interests for many years.

Becky is endorsed by;

• 'Pork Pie Percussion' www.porkpiedrums.com
• 'T-cymbals' www.tcymbals.com
• 'Los Cabos Drumsticks' www.loscabosdrumsticks.com
•  'No Nuts Cymbal Sleeves' www.nonutscymbalsleeves.com
• 'Aquarian Drum Heads' www.aqariandrumheads.com

BASSIST/ BACK UP VOCALS,  ‘BIG ROCK JOE' WILSON:

Bassist Joe Wilson was born and raised in sunny San Diego. He fell in love with rock n’ roll at an early age by listening to his parents Bill Haley and the Comets tapes and then discovering The Cramps at age 10. During his high school years, Joe played trumpet in local ska/swing band ‘The Upstarts’, playing venues all over San Diego and LA including Belly Up, the Showcase Theater, Soma, the Whisky a Go Go and Canes. At 18, Joe went to study jazz music performance at UCI. After 2 years he moved to Santa Barbara where he met his future wife Katie. After graduating UCSB, they moved together to San Francisco where Joe played in multiple garage and rock bands including ‘Blammos’, ‘Lumps and Talking Heads’ cover band ‘Little Creatures’. In 2017 Joe relocated to Los Angeles where he founded the rockabilly trio ‘The Tore-Ups’ and was involved in the local bluegrass scene. In 2022, Joe moved closer to his hometown of San Diego and now resides in Temecula with Katie and their 2 kids. He is currently the bassist for ‘The Johnny Deadly Trio’ and you may also see him playing around SoCal with ‘Bonneville 7’, ‘Rip Carson & the Carcinogenics’ and the ‘Rayford Brothers’. In his spare time Joe likes to smoke meat and collect 1950’s rock n’ roll 45s.