A Dirtbombs Family Tree

• First two 7-inch singles, recording commences 9-18-95: Lineup #1
• Mick Collins (guitar/vocals)
• Chris Fachini (drums)
• Patrick Pantano (drums)
• Tom Lynch (bass)
• Eric Johnson (fuzz)

• Live May 19-22, 2004: Lineup #19
  • Mick Collins (guitar/vocals)
  • Troy Gregory (bass)
  • Ko Shih (fuzz)
  • Ben Blackwell (drums)
  • Adam Renshaw (drums)
• Live June 19, 2004: Lineup #20
  • Mick Collins (guitar/vocals)
  • Troy Gregory (bass)
  • Ko Shih (fuzz)
  • Ben Blackwell (drums)
  • Patrick Pantano (drums)
  • Jim Diamond (guesting on guitar on four songs)
• Live July 15-18, 2004: #Lineup 17
  • Mick Collins (guitar/vocals)
  • Troy Gregory (bass)
  • Ko Shih (fuzz)
  • Ben Blackwell (drums)
  • Patrick Pantano (drums)
• Live July 20-24, 2004: #Lineup 18
  • Mick Collins (guitar/vocals)
  • Troy Gregory (bass)
  • Ko Shih (fuzz)
  • Ben Blackwell (drums)
  • Patrick Keeler (drums)

• Live 8/4/04 through 2/12/05: Lineup #17
  • Mick Collins (guitar/vocals)
  • Troy Gregory (bass)
  • Ko Shih (fuzz)
  • Ben Blackwell (drums)
  • Patrick Pantano (drums)
• Live April 1, 2005: Lineup #21
  • Mick Collins (guitar/vocals)
  • Ko Shih (fuzz)
  • Deanne Iovan (bass)
  • Ben Blackwell (drums)
  • Patrick Pantano (drums)
• Live April 15, 2005 through the present: Lineup #17
  • Mick Collins (guitar/vocals)
  • Troy Gregory (bass)
  • Ko Shih (fuzz)
  • Ben Blackwell (drums)
  • Patrick Pantano (drums)

Mick Collins is the “idea man” of the Dirtbombs. He previously played in the Gories, Blacktop, King Sound Quartet and the Screws. He collects furry animal comics.

Chris Fachini has played with Rocket 455, Godzuki and the Detroit Cobras and is the main entity behind Teach Me Tiger. He also exhibited a bad-ass dub sound system at the MOCAD in 2007.

Patrick Pantano has played drums for the Colors, Cathouse and the Steel Miners and is a founding member of the Come-Ons. He’s a world-renowned photographer, famous for his shots of the White Stripes.

Tom Lynch performed with the Gear and Rocket 455 before moving to San Francisco in 1997 to accept a killer job at Amoeba Records.

Eric Johnson is also known as “Dana Spicer” and is best remembered for his fanzine, The Wedge.

Joe Greenwald was confused during most of his time in the Dirtbombs and remains the only band member to ever be fired. He’s responsible for Third Gear Records and Elevation Recordings.

Scott Michalski has played drums with the Volebeats and Godzuki.

Chris Handyside is a founding member of the Hentchmen, was a former music editor of the Metro Times, and is partly responsible for the Fighting Pinheads.

Ewolf is sometimes known as Eric Wheeler and has played drums for Angry Red Planet and Cinecyde. He’s also an accomplished photographer who’s taken some of the more classic Dirtbombs pix.

Bob McCreedy is best known for his work with the Volebeats.

Jim Diamond has played in the Beat-o-Sonics, the Wayouts and the Neoplastics. He recorded many early Dirtbombs sessions and owns/operates Ghetto Recorders

Dion Fischer was in Godzuki and the Go and is currently with Tranzistors. He’s also a big part of the UFO Gallery in Eastern Market.

Gisela Albertini just happened to be in the studio for a second. She’s also played with Two Bo’s Maniacs and the Cave Dogs.

Troy Gregory has done time in Flotsam and Jetsam, Prong and Killing Joke. He’s the brains behind the Witches and Troy Gregory and the Stepsisters.

Ben Blackwell has played hired gun for Weird War, Dan Sartain and Kelley Stoltz. He runs Cass Records and was the sorry sap who had to research this damned beast of a family tree.

Mike Gabriel currently fronts the Sermon and formerly spent time with the Mount McKinleys.

Tom Potter has played with Just Say No and Kill Devil Hill — but is better known for fronting Bantam Rooster and the Detroit City Council (the band, not the governmental organization).

Deanne Iovan co-founded the Come-Ons and is currently working on a solo album.

Nick Lloyd has played drums for the Dirtys and Bantam Rooster.

Ryan Pritts played drums in Paik and They Come in Threes.

Ko Shih fronts Ko and Knockouts and has also played with the Von Bondies, the Soledad Brothers, the Detroit Cobras and the Come-Ons. She also has a Sirius satellite radio show on Little Steven’s Underground Garage channel.

Steve Mackay played saxophone on the Stooges Funhouse and still tours with them today.

Patrick Keeler plays drums for the Greenhornes and the Raconteurs.

Adam Renshaw played drums for the Forty-Fives.

This article appears in Feb 6-12, 2008.