Lucky Pierre (band)

Lucky Pierre

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1974 in Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Founder	Kevin McMahon
Headquarters	Cleveland , United States
Key people	Kevin McMahon, Trent Reznor
Products	Music albums, singles, EPs

Lucky Pierre is a new wave ensemble established in Cleveland in 1974 by vocalist and guitarist Kevin McMahon, who remains the sole continuous member. The founding roster comprised McMahon, John Guardico on guitar, Dennis DeVito handling bass duties, and Brian Dempsey on drums. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, the group issued multiple singles before pausing activity. The band reassembled in 1988, incorporating guitarist Rick Christyson and keyboardist Trent Reznor, who subsequently launched the industrial rock project Nine Inch Nails.

In 2004, McMahon revived Lucky Pierre as a solo venture to introduce its first full-length album, ThinKing.

History

Kevin McMahon initiated Lucky Pierre as a solo endeavor in 1974, crafting demo recordings while his brother Brian performed with the protopunk outfit Electric Eels. The original band lineup featured John Guardico (guitar), Denis DeVito (bass), and Brian Dempsey (drums). From 1976 onward, they participated in the burgeoning new wave movement alongside artists like Elvis Costello and Devo. Despite sharing stages with groups such as Pere Ubu, Lucky Pierre encountered difficulties securing gigs due to McMahon’s preference for original songwriting.

Following Dempsey’s departure, drummer Gary Shay briefly joined for the release of the single "Fans & Cameras"/"Idlewood" on their independent Unadulterated Records label, which sold in excess of one thousand copies. Dempsey returned to the fold, and the lineup expanded with Tom Lash on bass and Tom Miller on keyboards; DeVito transitioned to rhythm guitar. Lash, who served as a radio director at Cleveland State University, actively promoted their demos via WCSB radio. This formation primarily performed at venues such as The Coach House and The Pirate's Cove before disbanding when McMahon relocated to California.

After McMahon’s return to Cleveland, Lucky Pierre reformed with DeVito taking lead guitar responsibilities, Lash on bass, McMahon himself, and new drummer Dave Zima. They released the track "Into My Arms," accompanied by a live recording of "Match" captured during their sole WMMS Coffee Break Concert appearance. Keyboardist Tom Miller rejoined shortly thereafter.

The 1981 single "Stetson's"/"Once A Child" came out prior to opening slots for the Plasmatics at Cleveland Agora and Peter Frampton at Public Auditorium. When DeVito left in 1982, guitar roles were handled by McMahon alongside Tom Sheridan. The band remained active until 1984 when McMahon moved to San Francisco.

In 1988, upon returning to Cleveland, McMahon reassembled Lucky Pierre featuring Lash, Zima, Rick Christyson on guitar, and keyboardist Trent Reznor from Exotic Birds and The Innocent. That year they recorded the EP Comminuque, which included guest musician John Guardico. Reznor remained with the group for six months before dedicating himself fully to Nine Inch Nails’ debut album Pretty Hate Machine; concurrently, his manager John Malm Jr. also began managing Nine Inch Nails. Lucky Pierre officially disbanded after their final performance in 1990.

Subsequent to Lucky Pierre’s dissolution, McMahon created the industrial rock band Prick with guitarist Chris Schleyer and drummer Andy Kubiszewski. Signed under Trent Reznor’s vanity label Nothing Records, Prick released a self-titled album produced by Reznor but were eventually dropped by Interscope Records. Their second album The Wreckard was independently issued in 2002.

In 2004, McMahon resurrected Lucky Pierre as a solo project, issuing its debut album ThinKing via his own label Lucky Pierre Music.

Members

Current lineup

• Kevin McMahon – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards (1974–1984, 1988–1990, 2004–present)

Former members

• John Guardico – guitar (1974–1979)
• Brian Dempsey – drums (1974–1979)
• Denis DeVito – guitar (1977–1982); bass (1975–1977)
• Gary Shay – drums (1978)
• Tom Lash – bass (1978–1984, 1988–1990)
• Dave Zima – drums (1979–1984, 1988–1990)
• Tom Miller – keyboards (1978–1984)
• Trent Reznor – keyboards, saxophone, backing vocals (1988–1989)
• Rick Christyson – guitar (1988–1990)

Discography

Studio albums

• ThinKing (2004, Lucky Pierre Music)

EPs

• Communiqué (1988, Banana Records)

Singles

• "Fans & Cameras" / "Idlewood" (1979, Unadulterated Records)
• "Into My Arms" / "Match" (1980, Unadulterated Records)
• "Stetson's" / "Once A Child" (1981, Unadulterated Records)
• "Cool Summer Night" / "Chilly Willy" (1983, Unadulterated Records)
• "Communiqué" (1984, Unadulterated Records)
• "Muchacha Latina Today" / "Birdman" (1984, Banana Records)

Compilation albums

• Lucky Pierre (2009, Lucky Pierre Music)

Music videos

• "Attitude" (2009)
• "Fire on the Red Line" (2012)