| Kid Congo Powers
is the stage name of Brian Tristan
(born 1960, Los Angeles, California), an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Most of his career has found him exploring the territory where punk rock joins older "roots music" styles.
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KID CONGO TICKETS
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Biography
Powers is a second generation
Mexican American born and raised in El Monte, California. In 1976, he was president of
The Ramones fan club, then ran a
fanzine for
The Screamers. After traveling to London and New York City he returned to L.A. and in 1979 met
Jeffrey Lee Pierce. Pierce taught him to play guitar using
open tuning, and they formed 'The Creeping Ritual', which became
The Gun Club. Powers left that group before their recording debut, instead joining New York-based band
The Cramps in December 1980, who dubbed him 'Kid Congo Powers'. He rejoined the Gun Club from 1983-1988, when he again left to join
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in
Berlin, for several albums and associated tours. Powers has also played with
The Divine Horsemen, The
Angels of Light and
Die Haut.
Most recently, Powers has collaborated with New York City guitarist Jack Martin on projects like The Pink Monkey Birds,
Congo Norvell and
Knoxville Girls.
Selected discography
- 1981 The Cramps - Psychedelic Jungle
- 1984 The Cramps - Smell of Female
- 1984 The Gun Club - The Las Vegas Story
- 1987 The Gun Club - Mother Juno
- 1990 The Gun Club - Pastoral Hide and Seek
- 1991 The Gun Club - Divinity
EP
- 1985 The Fur Bible EP
- 1988 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Tender Prey
- 1990 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Good Son
- 2006 Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds - Philosophy and Underwear
- 2006 Madrugada - "Live at Oslo Spektrum" [DVD]
- Congo Norvell