Bio:

What can you say about a group whose primary goal is to reinvent itself for every record — making drastic stylistic change, dabbling in different genres, with unmatch musicianship and joyous performances? Little beyond that, but we'll give it a shot.

Raised in a musical family in a Wisconsin dirt farm, both Ken and Johnny Kemper were well versed in guitar, piano, and banjo by the time they were finished with elementary school. After playing in dozens of local bands for fun, the brothers sought fame and fortune in Los Angeles. After weeks of unsuccesful auditions in existing bands, the Kempers turned the tables and auditioned members for their own band. They first found keyboardist Zach Bender and played several live shows in which Zach programmed and maintained a drum machine while simultaneously playing keyboards. Fortunately, they soon found drumming legend Keith Johnstone, and Raygun was born.

As a quartet, Raygun swept through the L.A. club scene with their unique brand of death-metal. In 1994, they added a fifth member, Gary Tucket. Johnny switched from bass guitar to rhythm guitar to allow Gary to pick up the bass reins. The newfound versatility of an added player allowed for sweeping changes in their live show. It improved dramatically and gained the attention of other bands, including Abysmal Crucifix, whose lead singer Girth McDürchstein invited the band to sign with his new label, Kelleystein Recordings.

They did, and four months later, their 1995 debut The Legacy hit the streets. Raygun's unique death-metal translated well to studio recordings, but for the follow-up, Ken Kemper hit on the idea the band would soon be known for: a complete genre switch. At first, Kelleystein Recordings disapproved of the notion. Trying to foster heavy metal acts toward maturity, the Management refused to release any non-metal records. At one point, they threatened to drop Raygun from the label. Ken relented, and they quickly started work on their follow-up.

Ken insisted on recording two separate versions of each song on what they had now taken to calling Grover Township: one electric, one acoustic. When Kelleystein heard the acoustic versions, tinged as they were with the "roots rock" of the Kempers' youth, the label relented and allowed Grover Township to be released as Raygun intended.

Raygun's 1999 effort, Girl in Red Chinos, tackled love songs. Though its surface is loaded with rough-edged riff-driven rock, lyrically and spiritually it remains Raygun's poppiest album.

Michelob Surprise, a truly bizarre take on the psychedelic "acid rock" of the late 1960s, followed in 2001. It alienated both fans and critics, but both Johnny Kemper and Gary Tucket maintain it is their favorite among their own efforts.

In 2003, while preparing to record their fifth album, Keith Johnstone abruptly quit the band, citing both creative difficulties and personal struggles. Days later, the news hit both the trades and the legitimate news: Keith Johnstone had impregnated longtime paid companion Fiona Douglas. Though the remaining members of Raygun admired Keith's willingness to drop everything for the sake of a child, the lack of forthrightness disappointed them. To date, Keith himself has never contacted them to elaborate or explain his situation. He shies from the public eye, but rumor has it that Ms. Douglas had a healthy baby girl, and the two of them are raising her together in a suburb of Berkeley, California.

Reeling from the loss of their drummer, Raygun reluctantly held auditions for a replacement. Eventually they found the perfect man: George Wallace of recently disbanded Redstain Attack! He has played with them ever since.

In the summer of 2004, Softer, to date Raygun's most popular album, was released. A folk album infused with bluegrass, much of the material consists of "story songs" and character sketches, many with tragic underpinnings. While it's the most musically stripped-down — it was recorded "live-on-tape" with only acoustic instruments — it's the most lyrically complex and interesting of any Raygun album.

Currently, the band plays regular live gigs at L.A.'s famous Whisky-a-Go-Go. They are said to be preparing a new album, but to date they've recorded no new material. They're preparing an East Coast tour for late summer. Check back here for details.

Original Line-Up (1994-2003)
Ken Kemper — vocals, guitar
Johnny Kemper — vocals, guitar
Zach Bender — keyboards
Gary Tucket — bass, harmony vocals
Keith Johnstone — drums

Current Line-Up (since 2003)
Ken Kemper — vocals, guitar, banjo
Johnny Kemper — vocals, guitar
Zach Bender — keyboards, fiddle
Gary Tucket — bass, harmony vocals
George Wallace — drums