The Walkabouts
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
| Products | Rock music albums, EPs, singles |
The Walkabouts originated as a rock group from Seattle, Washington, established in 1984. The band's principal members were vocalists Carla Torgerson and Chris Eckman, who also contributed as a songwriter. Throughout most of their existence, Michael Wells, Glenn Slater, and Terri Moeller rounded out the ensemble.
Their musical style was shaped by influences from folk and country legends such as Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, and Johnny Cash, alongside inspiration drawn from Scott Walker, Leonard Cohen, French chanson traditions, and Jacques Brel. This blend resulted in a sound that merged lush string arrangements and keyboard elements with conventional rock instrumentation.
Starting in the early 1990s, the band gained both commercial recognition and a dedicated following across Europe through persistent touring and promotion efforts. They achieved chart success in nations including Greece and Norway.
History
Carla Torgerson and Chris Eckman first crossed paths at Whitman College in 1983 before moving to Seattle the following year to establish the band with Eckman's brothers Grant (drums) and Curt (bass). Their name was inspired by Nicolas Roeg's cult classic film Walkabout.
In 1985, they introduced their initial EP titled 22 Disasters. After Curt Eckman left the group, Michael Wells took over bass duties. Their sophomore EP Linda Evans/Cyclone was released in 1987, preceding their debut album See Beautiful Rattlesnake Gardens under PopLlama Records. Notably, they became Sub Pop's inaugural signing outside the grunge genre, issuing three albums: Cataract (1989), Rag & Bone (1990), and Scavenger (1991). The band maintained an extensive touring schedule, particularly throughout Europe. In 1992, they parted ways with Sub Pop's Seattle branch but continued to work with Sub Pop Europe, which issued New West Motel (1993), Satisfied Mind (1993), and Setting the Woods on Fire (1994). That same year, Terri Moeller replaced Grant Eckman on drums when he stepped down to focus on family responsibilities.
The release of Satisfied Mind initiated a series of albums featuring covers from an eclectic range of artists including Nick Cave, Charlie Rich, Patti Smith, and Gene Clark. The 1996 compilation Death Valley Days incorporated songs by Neil Young and Bob Dylan; later in 2000, Train Leaves at Eight broadened this concept by integrating European influences such as Mikis Theodorakis and Goran Bregović.
In 1995, after signing with Virgin Records Germany, the band released Devil's Road (1996)—partly recorded alongside the Warsaw Philharmonic—and followed it with Nighttown (1997), significantly raising their profile across Europe. The single "The Light Will Stay On" enjoyed substantial airplay on MTV Europe. Michael Wells temporarily departed between 1996 and 2003; during this interval, bass roles were filled by John Baker Saunders, Fred Chalenor, and Joe Skyward. By 1999, The Walkabouts transitioned to Glitterhouse Records where they produced Trail of Stars (1999), Train Leaves at Eight (2000), Ended Up a Stranger (2001), a Nina Simone tribute EP titled Slow Days with Nina (2003), and Acetylene (2005). Drummer Terri Moeller took a hiatus around 2000 but rejoined in 2001.
In 2010 guitarist Paul Austin became part of the lineup; after a six-year break, they released Travels in the Dustland in 2011 to positive critical reception. A subsequent tour throughout Europe resulted in the live album Berlin.
Chris Eckman announced in 2015 that The Walkabouts had officially disbanded. He remains active as a songwriter and recording artist across various ventures and oversees operations at Glitterbeat Records.
Side projects
Chris Eckman and Carla Torgerson have both pursued individual and collaborative projects beyond their main band, sometimes releasing work under the name "Chris & Carla" as well as solo endeavors. Carla Torgerson teamed up with Greek artist Akis Boyatzis on Sigmatropic’s 2001 album 16 Haiku & Other Stories and subsequently launched her solo record Saint Stranger in 2004, which also featured Boyatzis.
From 1996 through 2003, Chris Eckman collaborated with the Norwegian group Midnight Choir and joined forces with Al DeLoner for the electronica project "Höst," producing the album The Damage Suite in 2001. Additionally, he contributed to Willard Grant Conspiracy’s albums Regard the End (2003) and Let It Roll, while working alongside The Bambi Molesters. Eckman is also part of the trio Dirtmusic, alongside Chris Brokaw and Hugo Race, collaborating with Malian band Tamikrest; this collective toured Europe together in 2010. His collaborations extend to working with Tosca on projects such as "John Lee Huber" and partnering with Rupert Huber on the album L/O/N/G.
Terri Moeller founded The Beltanes with Eric Alton, releasing the cassette EP Love Punks in 1990, and later formed The Transmissionary Six with Paul Austin from Willard Grant Conspiracy. In 2010, she issued a solo album under the moniker Terri Tarantula.
Band members
| Name | Role | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Eckman | Vocals, guitar, piano | 1984–2015 |
| Carla Torgerson | Vocals, guitar | 1984–2015 |
| Michael Wells | Bass guitar | 1985–1996; 2003–2015 |
| Glenn Slater | Keyboards, piano | 1989–2015 |
| Terri Moeller | Drums, percussion | 1991–1999; 2001–2015 |
| Paul Austin | Guitar | 2011–2015 |
| Grant Eckman | Drums, percussion | 1984–1991 |
| Curt Eckman | Bass guitar | 1984–1985 |
| Bruce Wirth | Violin, lap steel guitar, mandolin, vibes | 1991–1994 |
| John Baker Saunders | Bass guitar | 1996–1999; deceased |
| Fred Chalenor | Bass guitar | 1999; deceased 2018 |
| Joe Skyward | Bass guitar | 2000–2002; deceased 2016 |
| Brian Young | Drums | 2000 |
Timeline
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Colors =
id:voc value:red legend:Vocals id:g value:green legend:Guitar id:b value:blue legend:Bass id:dr value:orange legend:Drums id:key value:purple legend:Keyboards id:vio value:drabgreen legend:Violin id:studio value:black legend:Studio_Album
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at:15/01/1988 color:black layer:back at:24/09/1989 color:black layer:back at:13/09/1991 color:black layer:back at:15/01/1993 color:black layer:back at:24/06/1993 color:black layer:back at:13/01/1994 color:black layer:back at:15/01/1995 color:black layer:back at:24/01/1996 color:black layer:back at:13/01/1997 color:black layer:back at:15/08/1999 color:black layer:back at:24/07/2000 color:black layer:back at:13/07/2001 color:black layer:back at:24/01/2005 color:black layer:back at:13/09/2011 color:black layer:back
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bar:CEckman text:"Chris Eckman" bar:Torgerson text:"Carla Torgerson" bar:Wirth text:"Bruce Wirth" bar:Austin text:"Paul Austin" bar:CuEchman text:"Curt Eckman" bar:Wells text:"Michael Wells" bar:Saunders text:"John Baker Saunders" bar:Chalenor text:"Fred Chalenor" bar:Skyward text:"Joe Skyward" bar:GEckman text:"Grant Eckman" bar:Moeller text:"Terri Moeller" bar:Young text:"Brian Young" bar:Slater text:"Glenn Slater"
PlotData =
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) bar:CEckman from:start till:end color:g width:3 bar:CEckman from:start till:end color:voc bar:Torgerson from:start till:end color:g width:3 bar:Torgerson from:start till:end color:voc bar:Austin from:01/01/2011 till:end color:g bar:Slater from:01/01/1989 till:end color:key bar:Wirth from:01/03/1991 till:01/06/1994 color:vio width:3 bar:Hirth from_01_03_1991 till_01_06_1994 color:g bar:CurtEchman from:start till_01_03_1985 color:b bar:wells from_01_03_1985 till_01_06_1996 color:b bar:wells from_01_01_2003 till:end color:b bar:saunders from_01_06_1996 till_15_01_1999 color:b bar_chalenor from_15_01_1999 till_31_12_1999 color:b bar_skyward from_01_01_2000 till_31_12_2002 color:b bar_GEckman from:start till_01_03_1991 color_dr bar_moeller from_01_03_1991 till_end color_dr
</timeline>
EPs
- 22 Disasters (1985 - Necessity Records - production by Terry Date and the Walkabouts)
- Rag & Bone (1990 - Sub Pop - produced by Tony Kroes, Ed Brooks, and the Walkabouts)
- Slow Days With Nina (2003 - Shingle Street Records) – a homage to Nina Simone
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart rankings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWE | BEL (FL) |
NOR | GER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| See Beautiful Rattlesnake Gardens |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cataract |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scavenger |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New West Motel |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Satisfied Mind |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Setting the Woods on Fire |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Devil's Road |
|
41 | — | — | 53 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nighttown |
|
— | 46 | 37 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trail of Stars |
|
— | — | 30 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train Leaves at Eight |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ended Up a Stranger |
* Release year: 2001 * Label: Glitterhouse * Producers: Larry Crane, Phill Brown, and the Walkabouts |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acetylene |
* Released in 2005 * Label: Glitterhouse * Production handled by Tucker Martine and the Walkabouts |
— | — | — | 87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Travels in the Dustland |
* Year released: 2011 * Issued via Glitterhouse |
— | 92 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "—" indicates albums that did not enter charts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compilations
- Death Valley Days: Lost Songs and Rarities, 1985–1995 (1996 – Glitterhouse) – Collection of uncommon and previously unreleased tracks spanning 1985 to 1995
- Watermarks: Selected Songs, 1991 to 2002 (2002 – Innerstate) – Compilation featuring standout tracks from releases under Sub Pop, Glitterhouse, and Virgin
- Drunken Soundtracks: Lost Songs and Rarities, 1995–2001 (2002 – Glitterhouse) – Two-disc set containing rare and unreleased material
- Shimmers (2003 – Glitterhouse) – A curated best-of album covering releases from 1993 through 2001
- Got No Chains / The Songs of The Walkabouts (2009 – Glitterhouse) – Remastered tracks accompanied by a tribute disc; issued as a two-CD package
DVDs
- Life: The Movie Collected Films & Clips (2012 - Glitterhouse) – Features "Live in Prague," a 40-minute documentary on tour life, interviews, plus all official music videos
Singles
| Year | Title | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "Linda Evans" / "Cyclone" | Released by Necessity Records; produced by Bruce Calder, Tony Kroes, and the band |
| 1991 | "Where the Deep Water Goes" | |
| 1992 | "Dead Man Rise" | |
| 1993 | "Jack Candy" | |
| 1993 | "Your Hope Shines" | |
| 1994 | "Good Luck Morning" | |
| 1996 | "The Light Will Stay On" | |
| 1996 | "All for This" | |
| 1997 | 'Lift Your Burdens Up' | Not officially issued |
| 1997 | 'Immaculate' | Not officially issued |
| 1999 | "Drown" | |
| 2005 | "Devil in the Details" | Featured in advertising campaigns by Jack Wolfskin |
Official bootlegs
These official bootlegs were distributed at live shows and through mail order via Glitterhouse Records in Germany.
| Year | Title | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | To Hell and Back - Live in Europe | Available only through mail order (GRCD 356) |
| 1997 | Mystery Mountain Chronicles | Designated official bootleg release |
| 1999 | Airmail | Recognized as an official bootleg |
| 2000 | Bruxelles featuring Nighttown Orchestra | Exclusively mail order (GRCD 505) |
| 2002 | I'm Sorry | Official bootleg edition |
| 2003 | Emona | Issued with the Italian publication "Mucchio Extra" |
| 2005 | No You Won't | Official bootleg release |
| 2007 | Prague | Mail order exclusive (GRCD 669) |
| 2012 | 'Reuters - Live 1996 & 2006' | 'Official bootleg release' |