Afghan Whigs Return With "Do To The Beast"

Widely known for being the first Sub Pop Records signee outside of the Pacific Northwest, The Afghan Whigs have just announced their first album since 1998.

Band leader and songwriter Greg Dulli stayed busy in the interim with his new band The Twilight Singers and his side-project The Gutter Twins (a collaboration with Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees.)

Coming out of Cincinnati, OH in the late 80's they began as simply a knock-off of the Twin Cities sound which included The Replacements, Soul Asylum and Husker Du.

Upon signing with Sub Pop in 1989 their noisy, yet melodic attack fit perfectly at home with the burgeoning "grunge" movement.

Major labels couldn't wait to get their hands of The Whigs and in 1993 they signed with Elektra and released their most-loved album, Gentlemen. At this time, the guys began to add a heavy dose of soul to their sound and even some blaxploitation textures began making their way into the mix.

While superstardom or a hit single alluded these guys, singer Greg Dulli flirted with fame in the mid to late 90s.

He made an appearance in the 1996 film Beautiful Girls and created the soundtrack to the 1994 film Backbeat with 90's alt-rock heroes Thurston Moore, Mike Mills and Dave Grohl.

Greg was also the only musician besides Dave Grohl to play on the first Foo Fighters album.

In-fighting, drug abuse and depression were all factors in the band's downfall.

So when I got word that The Afghan Whigs had signed back with Sub Pop to release their new album Do To The Beast (out April 15th) I was ecstatic.

My full review of Do To The Beast coming in the near future exclusively on Empty Lighthouse.

Pre-order The Afghan Whigs' Do To The Beast (Sub Pop): https://www.subpop.com/releases/the_afghan_whigs/do_to_the_beast