Biography
Formed by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards) in his home town of Tucson, Arizona, USA, in 1980 with Rainer (Rainer Ptacek, 7 June 1951, East Berlin, Germany, d. 12 November 1997, Tucson, Arizona, USA; guitar) and Billy Sed (drums). This line-up recorded a four-track EP as Giant Sandworms on a local label before departing for New York, where Sed’s drug escapades forced a return to Arizona. They were joined by David Seger (bass) for a further EP, before he left to join Naked Prey. His replacement was Scott Gerber. Shortly afterwards the band’s name was changed to Giant Sand (the original name had unintentional connotations with the wildlife in Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel Dune), with Gelb firing all personnel except Gerber in the process. Ptacek, though, reappeared in Gelb’s countrified alter ego group, the Band Of Blacky Ranchette. Tom Larkins, who played concurrently with Naked Prey, joined as drummer, and...
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