Hank Williams Died For My Sins

Joe Swank & The Zen Pirates performed at the clubs throughout North Carolina and outer-lying areas with such area greats as The Backsliders, The Two Dollar Pistols, Tres Chicas & Kenny Roby (amongst many others) from 2002 to 2008, while attempting to record the songs that were being performed from the very beginning. After no less than 3 false starts, the band finally hit their collective stride at Rick Miller’s Kudzu Ranch Studios in the summer of 2008. HANK WILLIAMS DIED FOR MY SINS will finally be released on 11/10/09.

Prior to the move to North Carolina, Swank completed the album COWPUNK! with Southern Illinois outfit Joe Swank & The Mule Skinner Band (2001), but the band had ceased to exist before the record was completed. Only a few hundred finished copies were circulated, but the record was eventually released digitally and contains covers of “Mule Skinner Blues” by Jimmie Rodgers, “Don’t Let Another Penis Come Between Us” by Athens luminary Redneck Greece Deluxe as well as several Swank originals. “All Fucked Up Inside” from Cowpunk! was included in the Dropped On The Head compilation in 2002.

The first release for Swank was the self titled release with The MoJoDeans in Carbondale in 1998. The MoJoDeans toured the south east in the late 90’s performing several shows with The Drive-By Truckers as well as shows with Junior Brown, Slobberbone, the Backsliders and Jason & The Scorchers. The MoJoDeans were selected to perform at Atlantis Music Festival, The Memphis in May music festival, Honky-Tonk-O-Rama in Chapel Hill and Greenfest in Mebane, NC.

Swank currently resides in Chicago, Illinois where he does radio promotion and tour press for Bloodshot Records. Previously he spent 7 years at Yep Roc Records in Haw River, North Carolina as head of radio promotions. Swank also has a collective 20+ years as on air talent in both commercial and non-commercial radio, roughly 5+ years as an entertainment journalist for the Nightlife in Carbondale, Il, a six month stint as a stand-up comedian and has written/produced/directed 3 one-act plays. A co-write with Swank and John Howie Jr. “It’s All Fun And Games…” appeared on the Two Dollar Pistols -HANDS UP! Release in 2004