Chicken Dog

Chicken Dog was an unconventional thrash / punk-garage-band established in the early 1990s in Warren, Ohio. Plying slapdash metal with old-school punk overtones, heavily distorted guitar and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the members became a major draw in their hometown while attending high school and eventually secured a recording contract with Sin Klub Entertainment.

Origin

The band was launched in 1992 by Micah Shimborske and Robert Lee Hayes (aka Lucifernandez) as an after-school time-killer, but solidified with the addition of bassist Micke Hall and drummer Frank Maggiano (barely in his teens). The foursome played their first show at the now-defunct Green Iguana, replaced Hall with female bassist Melea Strimple, and became a regular draw at the short-lived Gargoyle Coffee-House early on, where they earned opening slots And Co-headlining gigs with Bunjie Jambo, Clutch (band), Buttsteak, Type O Negative, Section 315, Thought Industry, Fuzztub, Five Story Fall and Pickle (an early predecessor to Gil Mantera's Party Dream). The teenage line-up appeared on the “Spine 1000” compilation, issued a four-song EP entitled “The Chachi Sauce EP,” released a full-length demo entitled “Trick Stitches,” and traveled to Toledo for a few road shows. Of note, guitarist Eric Klinger (Pro-Pain) played bass for the band while Strimple was unavailable.

The "Live Fat" Years

In 1994, Shimborske and Hayes moved to Toledo, Ohio, and re-established the band with drummer Keith Bergman (formerly of Justify) and bassist Steve Pound (later of Gone Daddy Finch). Shimborske’s brother, ES3, had already established Sin Klub Entertainment and thus began helping the band along toward more professional recordings, more hype and bigger shows. The band’s writing and playing improved with the new line-up and began to cater to the unpredictable and erratic personality of Hayes, who came into his own as a bizarre sideshow spectacle. A heavily-tattooed hillbilly fusion of Iggy Pop and GG Allin, Hayes dressed in a variety of outfits, sang half-[...], writhed in beer, used props and puppets, frolicked onstage with strippers, and sometimes started fights with audience-members. The band recorded “The Other White Meat” in 1997 for Sin Klub with ES3 acting as producer and purchased an old Barbecue Rib cooking van to tour in. The foursome then began an onslaught of live dates throughout the Midwest, playing alongside DRI, Kid Rock, Korn, Crown of Thorns, Disengage, Dimestore Hoods, Raging Slab, Thrall, Liquor Bike, Hogscraper, Mark Mikel, Five Horse Johnson, and Clutch. They also made a few appearances on the coveted “All Freaks Ball.” Their full-length CD gained favorable reviews, with “Impact Press” claiming Chicken Dog had “captured that delicate mix of metal / rap / rock that eludes so many lesser bands.” Madhatter Records’ owner Jim Cummer went as far as to dub them the best live band since Iggy & The Stooges. According to legend, based on Chicken Dog’s sound, Sin Klub and Psychopathic Records began negotiations for the band to support Insane Clown Posse on a small tour prior to Hollywood Records recalling the “Great Milenko” album.

Personnel Changes

At the height of their popularity in 1999, constant personality clashes and Hayes’ outrageous behavior and run-ins with the law caused the band to splinter apart. Pound left to play with Gone Daddy Finch, with Bergman ultimately taking a long hiatus from the band. As a result, Shimborske and Hayes recruited Alan Hasty on drums and Josh Dulio on bass. While continuing to write and perform (opening for Pist.On), the band recorded several new songs, one of which saw release (“Pigeon Guidance”). Bergman rejoined for another stint of shows, but Hayes’ further inconsistency and unexplained absences pressed the band to a standstill.

Rebirth

After a few years’ hiatus from making music, Shimborske and Bergman regrouped, forming The PB Army in early 2001. After a shuffling bass spot, the two snagged Mahlon Orrin (ex-Koufax (band), Next2Nothing, Black Dahlia [...]) and recorded their debut CD, “Inebriates, Equivocators, and Mockers of the Devil Himself,” in 2002. The band racked up over 100 shows in support of the release, playing alongside Clutch, Leadfoot, Monster Magnet, Spirit Caravan, Jucifer, The Liars (band), Alabama Thunderpussy, Heroine Sheiks, Halfway To Gone, Five Horse Johnson, and Lamont (band). The trio also booked two short DIY tours of the Midwest and south. Of note, Chicken Dog vocalist Hayes joined the PB Army live in Ypsilanti to perform two or three Chicken Dog songs during a set.

Other Projects

Shimborske and Bergman are active in The PB Army, and Shimborske writes and performs with The Thessalonian Dope Gods. Hasty is still active as well.

Discography

References

• http://www.pluginmusic.com/review.php?page=sinklub
• http://www.pluginmusic.com/features/label.php?page=sinklub