Outlaws

History

Early years (1967–1974)

The Outlaws were formed in Tampa, Florida in 1967 by guitarists/vocalists Frank Guidry, Hughie Thomasson, Herbie Pino and Hobie O'Brien. Drummer David Dix and bassist Phil Holmberg joined the band as well. Before Guidry joined, the band was called The Four Letter Words, but changed to the "Outlaws", since Guidry had previously been in a band by the same name.

By early 1968, O'Brien and Holmberg both left the band to get married and Frank O'Keefe came in on vocals and bass. Later that year, Tommy Angarano (Tommy Tempest), joined the Outlaws to replace Pino, bringing Hammond organ sounds and his style of vocals to the band. But after he left, Pino was brought back in.

In the spring of 1968, the group's first manager, Paul Deutekom, brought them to Epic Studios in New York City to record an album, which was never released after the band and the producer had a falling-out.

The group headed back to Tampa then got another deal to go to Criteria Studios in Miami. There they recorded another album with producer Phil Gernhard. But this album was likewise never released and Gernhard vanished soon after. As part of the Gernhard record deal, bassist Ronny Elliott was brought in around this time, forcing Guidry out. Ronny played bass while O'Keefe briefly switched to guitar. But O'Keefe went back to bass after Elliott left in 1969 and Herbie Pino, who had mostly been a singer up till that time, began playing more guitar as well. Drummer Monte Yoho also joined that same year to sub for Dix.

In early 1970, the Outlaws were joined by two members of the Dave Graham Group that was also managed by Paul Deutekom (of Ped-Dyn Productions). The Dave Graham Group's Union leader was Monte Yoho, but he was not invited to be part of this line-up. The early 1970 the Outlaws line-up was Hughie Thomasson, Frank O'Keefe, Dave Dix, Billy Jones and Dave Graham. Graham was influential in moving the group toward country-rock, especially the music of Poco. They also recorded a cover of the Doors' "Five to One" as an audition to a recording deal that never materialized. This lineup ended in the spring of 1970 and the group eventually parted ways with Deutekom. Yoho and Herb Pino returned, but by 1971 the offers for gigs had slowed down and the group went into limbo for a year or so, not sure if they would continue.

Peak (1975–1979)

The Outlaws' earliest well known songs were "There Goes Another Love Song" and "Green Grass and High Tides", both from their 1975 debut album Outlaws. Their 1980 cover of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" from the album Ghost Riders was their biggest single chart success, reaching No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.

While the Outlaws are generally considered to be a part of the Southern rock genre, their primary similarity to other Southern rock bands is the dual lead guitar interplay, a defining characteristic of many Southern rock bands. However, the Outlaws' mix of country and rock elements displays the vocal harmony influences of groups like Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, Eagles, New Riders of the Purple Sage and Poco. Their use of three and four part harmonies set them apart from their contemporaries who usually relied on a single lead vocalist.

Hughie Thomasson's signature guitar playing style and voice were also defining characteristics of the band's sound. Thomasson's guitar sound was underpinned by the use of the Fender Stratocaster (and sometimes a Telecaster) played in a quasi-country style mixed with fluid, quick blues runs. Hughie was nicknamed "The Flame" for his flaming fast guitar work. He is a member of the Fender Hall of Fame.

The other lead guitarist, Billy Jones, played mainly a Gibson Les Paul and switched between a clean and distorted sound. A good example of this can be heard on "Green Grass and High Tides" on the right stereo channel. Hughie Thomasson's distinctive Stratocaster sound can be heard on the left channel. Thomasson opens the first solo at the intro and plays the first half of the two succeeding longer solos all on the right channel. There are many video examples of his Green Grass solos on the internet.

The records released by the band between 1975 and 1980 are considered the best representation of the band's style. During this period, the Outlaws performed as a support act for non-Southern rock acts of the time, such as The Who, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Queen, Black Sabbath, Rush, Blue Öyster Cult, Ted Nugent, Peter Frampton, Foghat, Van Halen and REO Speedwagon. This contrast of styles was more common at that time than the packaged "genre" tours seen so often these days. The willingness of promoters to mix styles led to the Outlaws gaining a large following in the United States.

Later years (1980–1996)

The albums released after 1980 are largely viewed by critics as a gradual move away from the original sound that gained them success in the 1970s. The reworking of the Western-styled "Ghost Riders" in 1980 was the band's last taste of big-league success. Keyboardist Mike Duke (from Wet Willie) appeared with the group from 1980-1981 and played on Ghost Riders.

Billy Jones was let go in late 1981 due to increasing substance abuse troubles, and the depleted lineup of Thomasson, Dix, Salem and new bassist Rick Cua (who joined in 1980, just before Ghost Riders) released Los Hombres Malo in 1982. Violinist Dave Lane (later to return briefly to the group as a guitarist in 1989) guested with the band on their 1982 tour but Arista dropped them after less than stellar sales for Los Hombres Malo, releasing Greatest Hits of the Outlaws, High Tides Forever at the close of that year.

In 1983 the group was back to touring clubs, with Bob Jenkins replacing Salem on guitar, but at this point Thomasson, who owned the name, was briefly considering taking a job outside the music business. But in the middle of that same year, he and Dix decided to reunite with Henry Paul, while bringing in new players Steve Grisham (guitar, backing vocals) and Chuck Glass (vocals, bass, keyboards) and the new lineup eventually signed with Spencer Proffer and his Pasha Records label, who released Soldiers of Fortune in the fall of 1986.

Chris Anderson replaced Grisham on guitar in late 1986, but when Soldiers of Fortune also failed to sell in the big numbers, Pasha was eventually absorbed into CBS Records and the Outlaws were once again without a record label. Anderson was with the band from 1986 to 1989 and later returned in 2005, when the group reunited. And Henry Paul stayed on as well until 1989, then went on to form the country band BlackHawk, which had a lot of Country chart success in the 1990s.

During the late 80s and early to mid-90s, the band was back on the club and state fair circuit with Thomasson leading a "revolving door lineup". Roy McDonald - bass, backing vocals (1987), Anthony "Nino" Catanzaro – bass, vocals (1987, 1989–1990, 1992–1993), Barry "B. B." Borden (drums, percussion (1987–1995, formerly of Mother's Finest and Molly Hatchet, later with Marshall Tucker Band ), Steve Kaye – bass (1988), Rich Parks – guitars, vocals (1988; 1991), Ean Evans – bass, vocals (1988–1989, 1992, later with Lynyrd Skynyrd), David Lane – guitar (1989), Billy Yates – guitars, vocals (1989–1991), Billy Greer – bass, vocals (1990, also with Kansas), Chris "Hitman" Hicks – guitars, vocals (1990–1996), Rob Carroll – bass, vocals (1990–1992), Timothy Cabe – guitars, vocals (1991–1993), Eric Wynne – bass (1992), Jeff Howell – bass, vocals (1993–1996, formerly with Foghat), Billy Davis – guitars, vocals (1993–1994, later with Badfinger), Sean Burke – drums, percussion (1995, formerly with Atlanta Rhythm Section), Frank Thomas - drums (1995), Kevin Neal – drums (1995–1996) and Steven Elliot – stand-in guitarist (1996) all traveled in and out of the lineup during that period.

Reunion (2005–present)

In April 2005, four of the six classic band members—Hughie Thomasson, Henry Paul, Monte Yoho and David Dix—reunited as the Outlaws. In addition to them, the band included former guitarist Chris Anderson and new members, bassist Randy Threet and keyboardist Dave Robbins, all three of whom had been with Paul's country group, BlackHawk.

Paul and Robbins left to resume their careers in BlackHawk in early 2006, but the remaining band soldiered on. They were part of the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam tour in the summer of 2007. Outlaws put on their last show with Hughie at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Nevada, only a day before Hughie's untimely death.

Band leader Hughie Thomasson died on September 9, 2007, of a heart attack in Brooksville, Florida. No release date has been announced for the studio album, Once an Outlaw, which was finished before Thomasson's death. The Thomasson family was going to release an album in early 2010, but it was cancelled. However, the album has been illegally leaked onto the internet.

A cover version of their trademark epic 10-minute track "Green Grass and High Tides" is featured as the finale in the set list for guitar and bass in the video game Rock Band and features two complicated solos.

In December 2007, 2008 Outlaws tour dates were released. At the same time, it was revealed that the band would continue despite Thomasson's death. Henry Paul became the new lead singer, frontman and bandleader. In January 2008, the Outlaws lineup would be revealed to include Henry Paul (guitars/vocals), Monte Yoho (drums) and Chris Anderson (guitars/vocals), along with newer additions Billy Crain (guitars), Jon Coleman (keyboards) and Brett Cartwright (bass, ex-Foghat), who was soon replaced by the returning Randy Threet. This would be the first lineup in Outlaws' history without Hughie Thomasson on guitar and vocals, as from the band's formation to his death, he was the only constant member, garnering him the nicknames "Mr. Outlaw" and "The Lone Outlaw".

According to the band's web site, the Outlaws announced their intention to continue to tour throughout the summer and fall of 2009 with this lineup and planned to participate in the Simple Man Cruise with Lynyrd Skynyrd in January 2010.

Members

Current members

Henry Paul – guitars, vocals (1972–1977, 1983–1989, 2005–2006, 2008–present)

Dave Robbins – keyboards, backing vocals (2005–2006, 2010–present)

Randy Threet – bass, vocals (2005–present)

Jeff Aulich – guitars (2021–present)

Jimmy Dormire – guitars (2021–present)

Mike Bailey – drums (2022–present)

Henry Paul IV – guitar, vocals (2025-present)

Former members

Discography

Videography

Official video releases

Outlaws Video LP - live concert - VHS (1983)

Unofficial video releases

Outlaws Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas - DVD (1977)

Outlaws Live at The Rockpalast, Loreley, Germany - DVD (1981)

Outlaws Live at The Tower Theater, Philadelphia - DVD (1982)