King's X Marks The Spot: Three Bands Spawned by Houston's Hard-Rock Power Trio

By Jeff Balke Wed., Feb. 29 2012 at 2:00 PM

Photo by Mark Britain

Jerry Gaskill of King's X

As many local music fans and members of the hard-rock/metal scene, King's X drummer Jerry Gaskill had a heart attack Saturday. Fortunately, according to bandmate DUg Pinnick, he seems to be responding to treatment and the prognosis appears to be good for the founding member of Houston's third most-recognized musical trio behind ZZ Top and Destiny's Child.

Despite the fact that King's X has wielded substantial influence in the world of hard rock since their debut release Out of the Silent Planet in 1988, they have remained largely an underground band with a startling lack of recognition, particularly in Houston. They may have formed in their home of Springfield, Mo., but it was Houston where they changed their name and began the career as the band we know today.

In addition, they influenced the migration of other similar acts from Springfield, which spawned additional bands with varying degrees of success. In many ways, King's X changed the dynamic of music in the late '80s and early '90s in Houston and left an indelible mark on the city's music scene.

Photo by Jeff Balke

David Ohlerking (right) hugging DUg Pinnick at the Axiom reunion in 2007 at Fitzgerald's.

The Awful Truth: Another trio featuring David Von Ohlerking, Monte Colvin and Alan Doss who moved to Houston at the same time as King's X and recorded with producer Sam Taylor (the central nexus for all of these bands), the band only released one record, but the lush Beatles harmonies (a central theme of all the Springfield bands), heavy Metallica-esque grooves and soaring Siouxsie and the Banshees wail were memorable. Von Ohlerking split with the rhythm section to form In the Garden, a decidedly more goth version of the Awful Truth while Colvin and Doss left to form the next band on this list.

Ohlerking is now a painter living in Philadelphia. In 2007, he performed again under the Awful Truth banner at the Axiom reunion without Colvin and Doss. He was joined on stage by Pinnick for a song and aided by at least one member of the next band.

Tags:

atomic opera, awful truth, galactic cowboys, kings x

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Splat

Very well written article, THX.

Harry Bartholomew

I think the Picture of Jerry captures the way he is when he plays,it's a moment in time! Thanks for putting the picture of Doug and David,I remember that moment, what a great night of music. Cheers

Kings X Fan

They must've only had one pic of him to choose from.

Jim Calvert

Thanks for the article. I'm still a huge fan of KX and GC and consider myself very lucky to have met and worked with some of them since moving down from MO myself. I will always be grateful to Alan for the work he did with our band.

Dsonnier

Those were the days, my friend. Jerry is a sting person and I know we all expect him to fully recover. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Jeff..

Splat

Dsonnier

Ooops..."strong person"..

Kings X Fan

Wishing Jerry a full recovery. Kings X rocks!!!

Ronnie

Is Destiny's (illegitimate) Children even worth mentioning?? They were a ghetto R&B act...

Step your game up Jeff !

Jeff

How is acknowledging them stepping my game down? I didn't say I was a fan. I said that they were one of the three most successful trios ever to come out of Houston and that's a fact. Like or dislike is irrelevant.

Kings X Fan

Couldn't you find a better picture of him? Lazy.

Clownpenis

Wow. Lame.

Kings X Fan

Mind your own business, no one was writing to you.

Kings X

If you think posting that awful pic a good deed, you should really should go get your eyes checked ASAP.

Harry Bartholomew

Really? You really had to go there? Love the pics Jeff

Kelly Watson

Good article. Don't listen to the haters.

Jeff

That is a photo taken by one of our photographers at a show not that long ago. I was going to use one of the whole band instead, but since this was available I chose it thinking it would be nice to use of photo of Jerry specifically. No good deed I guess.