Hailing from Oxford, Mississippi, Bass Drum of Death initially started out in 2007 as the one-man-band solo project of John Barrett, releasing the Stain Stick Skin EP on Fat Possum in 2008. Their debut album, GB City, followed in 2011. Barrett also began touring, working with a varied lineup of musicians for live performances. Moving to Innovative Leisure for both a self-titled sophomore LP in 2013 and Rip This in 2014 (produced by Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Jacob Portrait), the band continued touring North America, Europe, and Australia, including lengthy support slots for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Royal Blood.
The band returned in 2018 with Just Business, released on Century Media, and by 2020, Barrett had put together a new lineup, collaborating with his younger brother, guitarist Jim Barrett, and drummer Ian Kirkpatrick. The trio then released the 7” single “Too Cold to Hold/Wait” in 2020 and “You Were Right”, a collaboration single with Eve 6 in 2021. The band then spent much of the COVID lockdown working on new material, culminating in 2023 when they reunited with Fat Possum and delivered the group’s fifth full-length, Say I Won’t, produced by Patrick Carney of the Black Keys. The group released a live LP titled Live…and Let Die in June of 2024, and is currently working on a sixth studio album.
