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Biography
Kid Congo Powers is the stage name of Brian Tristan (born 1960, Los Angeles, California), an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Most of his career has found him exploring the territory where punk rock joins older "roots music" styles.
Powers is a second generation Mexican American born and raised in Los Angeles. In 1976 he was president of the Ramones fan club, then ran a fanzine for The Screamers. After traveling to London and New York City he returned to L.A. and in 1979 met Jeffrey Lee Pierce. Pierce taught him to play guitar using open tuning, and they formed 'The Creeping Ritual', which became The Gun Club. Powers left that group before their recording debut, instead joining New York-based band The Cramps in December 1980, who dubbed him 'Kid Congo Powers'. He rejoined the Gun Club from 1983-1988, when he again left to join Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in Berlin, for several albums and their associated tours. Powers has also played with The Divine Horsemen, The Angels of Light, and Die Haut.
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