BAND BIOGRAPHY

Playing what has been dubbed "Hot-Rod Rockabilly," this Illinois trio takes the traditional rockabilly sound and soups it up with a high-octane edge. The Blacktops play more towards the raw rock influences of bands like The Black Crowes, throw in a little throttle, and combine the groove of Chuck Berry and Eddie Cochran to create danceable music without the thinness of pure rockabilly. "Its basically rock-n-roll, with a punk feel to it," says guitarist/vocalist Jim Rotramel.

Crediting Dallas Alice's frontman Sean Hopkins with the nickname "Skinny" (its from an Eddie Cochran song), the Number 9 Blacktops take their name from an old country road outside Rotramel's hometown of West Frankfort, Illinois. "We'd drag race CR 250s until our knuckles bled," says Rotramel.

Rotramel released the freshman album "Hickory-Smoked Rockabilly" in 2003. In early 2006, the Blacktops moved from the studio to the live venues. Consisting of Taylor Sprehe on drums, and Blake Bramlett on slap bass, the Blacktops lineup is on fire. In September, 2007, the Blacktops finished up their second album, "Horsepower, Horsepower," produced by Rick Miller of the Yep Roc trashabilly band "Southern Culture on the Skids."

Summer of 2010 has the boys at The Sound Kitchen in Nashville, tracking the newest release. In March of 2008, Rotramel became officially endorsed by Gretsch Guitars! "A true honor.....I get to open up for Chuck Berry, and get endorsed by Gretsch in the same week!"

When he's not fronting the Blacktops, Rotramel can be found at Carbondale, Illinois' Tuff Luck Tattoos (618-549-2034), poking holes in kids for cash.

Make sure and check out Darrell Mankin at darrellmankin.org. Darrell snapped all the black and white photos in our pics section, and is America's finest old-school photographer, hands down.

For booking, merch, or just to check out more of The Number 9 Blacktops, go to skinnyjimrocks.com.