and Connole as a BMI affiliated songwriter. ASCAP does not list Buxer as an author of the song "Hard Times." BMI lists Connole as the sole writer of "Hard Times." The Strand The Strand was an alternative rock band named for the Roxy Music song, "Do The Strand." They made their debut in 1987 at The Mason Jar, a nightclub and music venue in Phoenix, Arizona. The Strand was a trio which included Connole (guitar and vocals), Damon Doiron (bass) and Alan Ross Willey (drums). Connole had been struggling with heroin addiction and had moved to California when Doiron called to ask him to return to Arizona to form a new band. Buxer almost joined The Strand, but decided to remain in Los Angeles as a session musician. The Strand marketed their first cassette by making it available in limited supply to the first 250 people to buy tickets to one of their first shows. This idea was initiated by Johnny D, a disc jockey at KEYX in Phoenix. In 1986, they self-released the album, The Strand. Connole's addictive cycle eventually broke up the band. Cryptics The Cryptics were a grunge band created in 1990 with Connole (guitar and vocals) Jason Huff (guitar), Mark Cady (bass), and Rick Trobman (drums). Connole commented that the music he wrote for the Cryptics came from reading Baudelaire's poetry, William Burrough's writing, the music of Ministry and Big Black, and the depths of his depression. In 1991, the Cryptics released their album Kill Me with Machine Publishing, and in 1992 they released Darker Side of You with Epiphany Records. The Pearl Chuckers During 1999–2000, Connole put together and performed with The Pearl Chuckers, a bluegrass side project, which consisted of artists Connole (banjo and vocals), Richard Taylor (guitar and vocals) who was later replaced by Amos Cox; Bobby Domings (drums) who was later replaced by Joe Jacques; and Ruth Wilson (bass), who was later replaced by Paul Schneider (bass). Suicide Kings/The Revenants The Suicide Kings are a 50s and 60s-style honky tonk/alternative-country band which has been composed of different band members over the years: Bruce Connole (lead vocals and guitar), Richard Taylor (guitar and lap steel guitar), Mike Wolfe (guitar) John Rauhouse (steel guitar), Bobby Domings (drums), Chris Olson (drums), Al Penzone (drums), Vince Ramirez (drums), Brad Buxer (keyboards), Paul Schneider (bass) and Scott Kalkbrenner (bass). The band was named for the gambler's term