Red House Painters

Red House Painters is an indie rock group formed in 1989 in San Francisco by singer/songwriter Mark Kozelek. Kozelek used this group primarily as a vehicle for his very personal and emotional songs of des

Red House Painters is an indie rock group formed in 1989 in San Francisco by singer/songwriter Mark Kozelek. Kozelek used this group primarily as a vehicle for his very personal and emotional songs of despair, pain and suffering. Mark Kozelek was a troubled teenager in the 1980s, being addicted to drugs at a very early age. He entered rehab intermittently during those years. While in Atlanta, he became friends with one Anthony Koutsos, a drummer. He then moved to San Francisco, adding guitarist Gorden Mack and bassist Jerry Vessel to complete the lineup for Red House Painters.

They signed up with 4AD Records in England in 1992. 4AD issued the group's first demos as an album entitled Down Colorful Hill. It was a compilation of haunting melodies complemented by Kozelek's eerie yet emotional vocals. In 1993, the group came out with two eponymous records (known as Rollercoaster and Bridge), solidifying Kozelek's reputation as a songwriter by writing harrowing autobiographical tales of his troubled life and errant living with no punches being pulled. In 1994, they released an EP entitled Shock Me and in 1995, the introspective Ocean Beach. When Kozelek was beginning work on a solo project, 4AD Records quit on him after a tumultuous relationship. Entitled Songs for a Blue Guitar, it was released on Polygram in 1996. It was more of a guitar-driven rock album that they released under the Red House Painters name to give the album more publicity. A year later, they came up with Old Ramon, their most accessible recording to date. However, major label mergers during the late 90's would leave them without a record label, and it was only in 2001 that they were able to release the album.