Union Guns

The Grand Rapids, Michigan based country music band Union Guns assembled in the winter of 2008. Like many bands, it all started with three guys at a bar, too much beer on the table, and not enough music in their lives. Timmy Lee and Frank Pop were in a popular regional country band ready to play their last show together, and Curt Hines was done as a touring, "hired gun" guitarist and struggling to put together his second record as a front man for his pop/rock band. The next weekend, Timmy Le...

The Grand Rapids, Michigan based country music band Union Guns assembled in the winter of 2008. Like many bands, it all started with three guys at a bar, too much beer on the table, and not enough music in their lives. Timmy Lee and Frank Pop were in a popular regional country band ready to play their last show together, and Curt Hines was done as a touring, "hired gun" guitarist and struggling to put together his second record as a front man for his pop/rock band. The next weekend, Timmy Lee and Frank showed up at Curt's basement studio with a case of beer, some songs, and the hope that one band's end could mean the beginning of something even bigger. From the first note, the ideas flowed like Miller Lite from a can. Within a few weeks, the guys had demoed 7 original songs, settled on a name, and booked their first show opening for Jamey Johnson. (I believe they should get some sort of award for this, someone call CMT!) With a call to a few longtime friends Scott Mikulski (Drums) and JR Bell (Acoustic Guitar), they started rehearsing for a live show that could pack a dance floor with drunk cowboys or nudge the toughest redneck to grab his girl for their first slow dance in years. Timmy Lee (Vocals, Guitar) and Frank Pop (Bass) have been on the Michigan country radar with their band "Branded" for many years. The band had an extremely loyal following, drawing over 1200 to their CD release party, and the same for their farewell show. Over the last 3 years, they have opened for the likes of Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Lonestar, Trent Tomlinson, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, and countless others. When a bar in town wasn't sure how sales were going to look for an artist, Branded always got the call to bring the party. Their original songs were released on the debut record "Fifty Turns" in late 2007 and is still available. Many of these tracks received repeated airplay on local country radio, as well as some airplay in Canada and Europe. The Branded single “Gonna Go Get Lost” scored an 89% listener approval ratings on 2 different new artist radio plays, and ran 7 days in the WBCT music shootout, winning against new singles by national artist like Kenny Chesney, Tracy Lawrence, Clint Black, Alison Krauss, JoDee Messina, and Taylor Swift. There is also a good chance you could hear a certain Timmy Lee-penned Branded song the next time you see Union Guns. They are also no strangers to huge crowds, playing at the B93 Birthday Bash to 80,000? people, as well as being finalists for the Kenny Chesney "Next Big Star" competition. Whereas Timmy and Frank found their success in country, Curt took a path through pop, rock, and alternative. He joined Grand Rapids band Papa Vegas (which became Miles to Mars) that was signed to RCA and charted 17 in the Billboard carts with their single "Bombshell". After leaving, he joined Molly (Idol Records), a Grand Rapids pop/punk band that had success nationwide. When he left, he became the guitarist for Belgian alt/rock band K's Choice and singer Sarah Bettens. His touring took him through the U.S. and Europe playing their hit single "Not An Addict" and playing to crowds of over 100,000. He has played on the same stage as Oasis, REM, Foo Fighters, Beck, Queens of the Stone Age, Deep Purple, and Ice-T, to name a few, but has always had roots in southern rock/country where he honed his slide guitar/finger picking style. His original project Cold Cash Machine (with Union Guns drummer Scott Mikulski) released the record Memory Overdose in 2004. The guys that consider themselves Union Guns have roots. Deep musical roots. Whether it's Timmy Lee listening to Waylon, Frank blowing his ears out to "Highway to Hell", or Curt listening back and forth between Ryan Adams and Tim McGraw's versions of "When the Stars Go Blue", the band has it all and that's what it plans to deliver. It All. Country for the Rockers, Rock for the Country Boys. Southern Rock for the Union, Union Guns for Dixie....and all of ya'll!!