Named after the New York Dolls’ recharge of the Bo Diddley tune, The Pills cranked out zit-pop anthems in a dusty desert town of shit-kicker bars, Zep cover bands, and zoomies in speeding Camaros. This teenage pop-glam-punk quintet, armed with a single high-school diploma between ’em, were a total aberration, subversive as hell; an eyeliner’d, scarf-adorned force in Arizona rock ’n’ roll—from late ’79 to ’81. The Pills gigged everywhere in their hometown, Tucson (soon Phoenix); sometimes blood spilled—fights with the old cowboy and poodle-haired rocker guard. More than once, gunshots popped off outside the ill-reputed Night Train after gigs. They even managed to piss off the Go-Go’s after opening for them—tragic, a little detached, in the Old Pueblo. Sure, they adored glam heroes Mott the Hoople and the New York Dolls, but also power-pop sugar highs—Shoes, 20/20. Even Trouser Press called them “puppy-dog junkies, closer to Shoes than the New York Dolls.”
Mixing maestro Foster Cayce cut their first demos on his old Copper State studio gear, regaling the band with tales of recording a young Linda Ronstadt and Phoenix’s Spiders (pre–Alice Cooper). He loved how the Pills’ leather-dandy air spooked folks just going out for sandwiches—like the Spiders before them. Backed and managed by a former Rolling Stones cohort, the band cut a self-produced four-song EP, The Pills: horns, three-part harmonies, and standouts like the jangle-punk “Leavin’ Town” and the piano- and acoustic-driven “DC-10,” a pretty lullaby co-written by guitarist Robin Johnson, inspired by his mom’s folk records. “DC-10” became a local hit at KWFM, thanks to rule-skirting DJs who supported the band. Venerable jock Johnn “Johnny D” Dixon even added it to K15 radio in Phoenix. An uncontrolled mix of Bubblicious, Black Beauties, and booze, the band went for it—penniless, but learning songcraft and a few lifelong lessons, riding the belief rock ’n’ roll could change hearts and minds, as it had for teen ringleaders Brian Smith (vocals) and Johnson.
After a brief breakup, losing skinsman Rex Estelle and guitarist Mark Smythe, the Pills regrouped, rescuing drummer Winston Watson (later Dylan’s) from a cover-band cul-de-sac, adding Brian’s brother Barry Smith (violin/keys), retaining bassist Fred Cross, and moving to Phoenix to make a living playing their songs. They became Gentlemen Afterdark. Old Spider Alice Cooper dug them and produced their debut—but that’s another yarn from the scrapheap.
– Liner notes by Brian Jabas Smith
