20 Years Later: A look back at ‘Ultraglide in Black,’ by The Dirtbombs

The Dirtbombs will forever be tied to its deep Motor City roots, but going back to the brilliant garage band’s early days reveals a couple Lansing connections. On bass was Jim Diamond, on guitar was Tom Potter — both musicians of who cut their teeth playing in Mid-Michigan bands throughout the ’80s and ’90s.

Having two capital city guys in the Dirtbombs’ tour van was not surprising, since the group’s lineup is always obnoxiously lengthy and loud thanks to its unusual presence of two drummers and two seasoned bassists. While “garage rock” is often rooted in primal minimalism, band leader Mick Collins (guitar/vocals) pushed the genre to its limit, and the results left the band peerless. Perhaps it was a reaction to his previous outfit, The Gories, a crude trio. Collins wanted something new and unconventional to devote his time to. Fitting into the Dirtbombs mix perfectly was Diamond and Potter, two musicians not afraid to get loud and experimental. 

In May 2001, that sonic magic was properly documented with the release of the The Dirtbombs’ “Ultraglide in Black” LP, released via In The Red Records. A follow up to 1998’s “Horndog Fest,” the album was recorded in August of 2000 at the now-demolished Ghetto Recorders in Detroit, Diamond’s own analog studio. 

In a 2007 interview, before it was torn down, Diamond described his Ghetto Recorders studio space to me. It’s not shocking at all that “Ultraglide” was made in such a Detroit-style facility. 

“It’s like a big practice space on the second floor of this building downtown and there are amps and organs and guitars all over the place,” Diamond explained. “I think most recording studios are like the doctor’s office, very sterile. I like people to feel comfortable and have a good time. This studio used to be a chicken processing factory way back in the 1920s and ’30s. The control room, where all the equipment is, used to be the freezer where they stored the chickens!"

 In a nutshell, “Ultraglide” consists of all ’60s and ’70s soul covers — songs the band members love and were able to put their own stamp on. Some obscure tunes are there, some well-known cuts, too — but they all blend into a seamless album that tips its hat to soul legends, while not losing The Dirtbombs’ gritty edge. 

Track one, “Chains of Love,” is the stand-out scorcher of the bunch. When it was originally recorded by JJ Barnes in 1967 for the Groovesville label, it was a straightforward, yet raw, soul single. Compared to other Northern Soul 45s of the time, it’s a raw chunk of R&B. But in 2001, The Dirtbombs pushed the song even more. At the drop of the needle, Collins’ distorted intro guitar riff kicks in like a buzzsaw and you know this isn’t going to be a typical covers album. It’s tastefully amped up in all the right ways, without losing the true soul of the song — and that chemistry keeps going throughout all 13 tracks on the record.  On the list: Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Ever wondered what they’d sound like backed up by a roomful of talented garage-punks? Pick up “Ultraglide in Black.”

The release of the album coincided with another Detroit garage rock happening: the rise of The White Stripes. That wave of press on the close-knit scene pushed The Dirtbombs up as well, and soon the group, including Potter and Diamond, were touring the world. In the years after the two Lansing cats left the band, they both kept busy. Diamond still engineers and produces bands from across the world. Potter has played in a few other bands, like The Detroit City Council, and Choke Chains. He even fronted The Seger Liberation Army, a group dedicated to raising awareness to Bob Seger’s early (oft overlooked) catalog.

In a 2006 interview I did with Potter, he said that influx of band activity is what ultimately ended his notorious Lansing-born duo, Bantam Rooster.

“Actually, I never really ended Bantam, I suppose,” Potter said. “I just hit a point around that time where I was busy with the Detroit City Council and The Dirtbombs and couldn’t give 100 percent to Bantam ... and Bantam Rooster kind of requires 100 percent.”

That said, to hear some stone-cold Lansing punk rock, be sure to check out Bantam Rooster’s entire catalog of LPs and singles. It’s unreal rock ’n roll havoc.  

In the meantime, you can also easily stream The Dirtbombs catalog, just go here: thedirtbombs.bandcamp.com.

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