Bickley (band)
| Company type | Punk rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
| Products | Punk rock music, albums, live performances |
Bickley is a punk rock group originating from Houston, Texas, United States, with initial activity spanning from 1995 to 2001. The band reunited sporadically between 2002 and 2018, before resuming performances in 2023. Their name is inspired by Travis Bickle, the character portrayed by Robert De Niro in the film Taxi Driver.
Drawing inspiration from bands such as The Vindictives, The Queers, and Screeching Weasel, Bickley crafted a direct and potent musical style. Their first full-length record, Pogo Au Go-Go (PaperDoll), debuted in 1996 and helped them establish a dedicated following within Houston. By 1998, they had secured a deal with Fearless Records, which re-released Pogo Au Go-Go. That same year, the band unveiled their sophomore album, Kiss The Bunny, broadening their audience nationwide through extensive tours primarily across the Southwest, with occasional stops on the West Coast, East Coast, and Deep South.
In 2001, Bickley’s final album, Fat, Drunk and Stupid (PaperDoll Records), was issued, featuring a live recording from a show at Houston’s Fitzgerald's venue. The band gained recognition for their mature-themed lyrics and the unique vocal delivery of frontman Ben Fondled.
From 1998 onward, the principal lineup consisted of Ben Fondled on vocals, Uncle Dig handling guitar duties, and Dave Wreckoning on drums. The bass position alternated between Rubio Coconut (formerly of Houston punk outfit 30 Foot Fall) and Bill Fool between 1998 and 2001 due to scheduling conflicts. Matte Finish served as the original drummer during their earliest sessions.
At the height of their popularity in 2001, Bickley disbanded to prioritize family life but reunited intermittently for benefit concerts and special reunion performances. A notable reunion occurred on July 20, 2013, when the band—including Rubio Coconut and Bill Fool—performed at Fitzgerald's to mark 30footFALL's two-decade anniversary. Around this time, they also reissued Down The Hatch on vinyl and released a greatest hits compilation entitled Good To See You Again, Asshole!, which featured twenty fan-selected tracks.
Additional reunion shows took place in 2015 for their own 20th anniversary event and the 30footFALL Christmas concert, as well as in 2018 for memorial tributes and Fitzgerald's final Christmas event.
In January 2023, Bickley returned to the stage after a three-year hiatus at Houston’s Black Magic Social Club during the You Ain't Punk festival. This iteration saw Uncle Dig stepping into the lead vocalist role previously held by Ben Fondled and welcomed Greg Urgitate from Monster Soup as a second guitarist.
Band members
Current
- Uncle Dig – guitar (1995–2001; reunions; 2023–present); lead vocals (2023–present)
- Greg Urgitate – guitar, backing vocals (2023–present)
- Rubio Coconut – bass guitar, backing vocals (1995–1997; reunions; 2023–present)
- Dave Wreckoning – drums, backing vocals (1998–2001; reunions; 2023–present)
Former
- Ben Fondled – lead vocals (1995–2001; reunions)
- Bill Fool – bass guitar, backing vocals (1997–2001); guitar, backing vocals (reunions)
- Matte Finish – drums, backing vocals (1995–1998)
Studio albums
- Pogo Au Go-Go (1996) (PaperDoll)
- Pogo Au Go-Go (1998) (Fearless) (re-release)
- Kiss The Bunny (1998) (Fearless)
- Fat, Drunk and Stupid (2001) (PaperDoll)
7" Records and Cassette Releases
- Down The Hatch (1995) (7" vinyl released by PaperDoll)
- Texas Tag Team Up (1998) (7" vinyl on Chicken Ranch Records) split release with The Put-Downs
Compilation Albums
- Punk Bites 2 (1999) (Fearless Records)
- Punk til ya Poop (1999) (Bad Stain Records)
- Good To See You Again, Asshole! (2013) (Little T&A Records)