The Afghan Whigs

The Afghan Whigs were an American soul-influenced hard rock band of the 1990s. Greg Dulli (vocals, rhythm guitar), John Curley (bass), Rick McCollum (lead guitar) and Steve Earle (drums) formed the band in Cincinatti in 1986. Their debut album, Big Top Halloween (Ultrasuede, 1988) created a buzz in the independent music community, and the band soon signed to Sub Pop of Seattle in 1989. Then in 1990, Up in It was released; this was followed by the critically acclaimed 1992 album Congregation and a covers album, Uptown Avondale.

The Afghan Whigs then signed to a major label, Elektra Records, and released another critically acclaimed album, Gentlemen that failed to break the band into the mainstream. For the next few years, personnel problems interfered with recording and touring, and the band released two albums by the time they broke up in 2001, Black Love, 1965.