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Like so many disaffected teens with a jones for new music, I spent some time working in music retail…and one of the many bands I discovered during this era (1989 - 1994, with some time off to attend college) was the Gunbunnies. Signed to Virgin Records back in the days when the label was flooding stores with promotional copies of albums by their new artists, we scored both cassette and CD promos of their debut album, Paw Paw Patch, and it’s clear Virgin had high hopes for these guys.
Their single, “Stranded,” was picking up quite a bit of college radio airplay, and the critics were loving the fact that the album was produced by the legendary Jim Dickinson (Big Star, the Rolling Stones, the Replacements). Plus, the band’s lead singer and songwriter, Chris Maxwell, had put together 10 songs that could hold their own with bands like Guadalcanal Diary, House of Freaks, and the like…and although he had a highly competent band behind him, Maxwell was practically a one-man band; he played guitar, harmonica, trumpet, and electric sitar on the album! Poised for success…? Yeah, not so much. The Gunbunnies disappeared after Paw Paw Patch…and I mean really disappeared. Not only was there no follow-up album on Virgin, there was no follow-up, period. Maxwell didn’t even go solo; he just vanished. Well, okay, he didn’t vanish vanish; if AllMusic.com can be trusted (and they usually can), he left music altogether for about five years, then returned to play bass for They Might Be Giants and to do some production work for artists like the Lunachicks…but, of course, that’s if this is the same Chris Maxwell. Can anyone confirm or deny…?
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HEY!! I love the gunbunnies, and wish they had done more. My best friend and I were avid followers up until the “disappearance”. Thanks for the “possible news” and if you get any updates…….
Wow…I’m glad I happened upon this site. It’s nice to see such a recent remark about the Gunbunnies. I was actually looking for info about “Stranded.” Yes…keep us posted
I played bass for the Gunbunnies. I left right before the record deal came through. Chris moved to NYC and joined Skeleton Key (a radical departure from the ‘bunnies pop style) and later went on to form the Gleaners who put out a fantastic pop cd a couple of years ago. I highly recommend it. He’s been doing a lot of production, management, jingle writing, etc. I know he’s worked with TMBG and the Lunachicks and many others but I doubt it was as a bass player….
www.eleganttoo.com
Thanks for the update. Went to McHS and graduated with Chris. Been wondering where he ended up after the Gunbunnies.
Hi everyone. I have listened to the Gunbunnies since an early age. The reason being that he is my cousin. I have been looking for a new copy of this cd(destroyed by accidentally). I am close to his father(Paul Dee) and will ask him about current music projects. Will post a followup if i find anything out. I know that he has been a member of the band Skeleton Key. I will try to find more current info an keep everyone posted.
I love the Gunbunnies. I used to see them and Chris’ earlier band, Jubilee Dive, while in college at Arkansas. David Jukes, Gunbunnies guitarist, did a cd in 1998,”Goshen” as The Magic Cropdusers, produced by Jim Dickinson.
I need lyrics to the Gunbunnies’ song “Drinkin’ Days” so I can cover it in my band. I can’t decipher them all.
Mike, I don’t have the cd w/me, but could probably fill in any blanks for you if you’ll email me what you’ve got (doc1rc@yahoo.com). I’ll trade you that for the chords!
I saw the gunbunnies live in one of their few gigs after that record came out, at the New Music Seminar in NYC in 1990 (before SXSW took over that “debutante” scene).
They were great! Those guys and the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies were awesome at NMS. Hothouse FLowers (remember them?) sucked royally, OTOH.
Besides the fact that GUnbunnies seemed more attitude-free than a lot of the “alternative rockers” at the time…I rememebr the lead singer looked like Gene Wilder.
I hung out with them when they came to Houston way long time ago.
Fun Time
Who is B that left ‘right before the record deal’?? Brent Smith, credited as Brent Adam on the record, was bass player quite a while before the record deal and I was just curious who you are??
Saw the Gunbunnies millions of times when I lived in LR, Jubilee Dive as well. Was a huge fan of the band and Chris, Brent, Judd and Dave. I practically lived at Juanita’s.
Click the B above or send an email and ye shall see
Anyway…that was a long time ago. I was with the ‘bunnies for a bit over three years, from ‘86 to late ‘89 or maybe early ‘90?. I know I left just before the second time they played SXSW, whenever that was. I do not know Brent well but he is very good at what he does and was always gracious to me. Anyway, I am curious as to who you are as well. I’m sure I must have seen you around.
b is bruce ….. right???? i remember. i worked at pizza d with some of the bunnies. still love them
Ahh… the Gunbunnies, I remember playing tunes from Paw Paw on our pirate station back then. Is a great disc, wish there was more from that talent pool.
Yes…B is for Bruce. I don’t recall a Candy at Pizza D’ but that’s not surprising given that I’m older now and have far fewer of my wits about me. Click here to drop me a line sometime…would love to hear from you. Thanks!
would like to hear from anybody that knows where i can get a copy of paw paw patch.. thanks
I still listen to GBunnies quite often…Saw Yall at Juanita’s, Beale Street(god what a weather disaster 17 feet of rain, I think, but yall played on and it was still a blast, mud and all…several other places, can’t really remember…
you can get a copy thru B’s page above…just click the B
bought 2 new cd’s just now, thru the gunbunnies link at B’s site. One for me one for lissa.
Didn’t the guitarist for the Gunbunnies form Sparklehorse?
My bad, Sparklehorse was founded by a forming member of Dancing Hoods, not Gunbunnies. The two cassettes from my misspent youth sometimes mingle in my mind.