• 1986-

  Margo TimminsVocals

  Michael TimminsGuitar

  Peter TimminsDrums

  Alan AntonBass
• The Cowboy Junkies are a family band. Three of the members are siblings: Michael Timmins (songwriter, guitarist), Margo Timmins (vocals), and Peter Timmins (drums). Alan Anton (bassist) completes the core lineup and has been with the band since their early days.
• Alan Anton and Michael Timmins first met in kindergarten in Montreal, Canada. They have been friends since the age of 5 and formed their first band in high school.
• Believe it or not, the band's name, Cowboy Junkies, wasn't some carefully crafted statement. They simply needed a name for their first gig and came up with it on the spot. Later, Townes Van Zandt wrote a song called "Cowboy Junkies Lament" specifically for the band.
• The Cowboy Junkies' story began not with a bang, but with a dive into Toronto's live music scene. Their first gigs happened in the clubs along Queen Street West, including the Beverley Tavern – a spot that would forever hold a special place as the birthplace of their public debut. The shy Margo Timmins, who was working as a secretary at the time, had never sung in public before.
• It was their second album, The Trinity Session, that launched them to a wide audience. Recorded in a single day in The Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto using a single microphone, the album's minimalist approach and Margo Timmins' haunting vocals created a unique and captivating sound. A cover of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" on the album was even praised by Reed himself, who began performing their version in concert.
• In the early 1990s, People magazine named Margo Timmins "one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world."
• The Cowboy Junkies have garnered a lot of critical acclaim throughout their career, being nominated for Group of the Year at the Juno Awards in Canada multiple times. However, despite their success in Canada, they haven't exactly been chart-topping sensations elsewhere. Rather, they've accumulated a dedicated cult following around the world who appreciate their unique blend of country-rock, folk-rock and blues-rock.
• Geffen Records dropped Cowboy Junkies following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home. Instead of chasing another major deal, they embraced their independence and revived Latent Recordings, a label formed in London in 1981 by Michael Timmins and Alan Anton for their earlier projects. It remained dormant in the 1990s while the Cowboy Junkies were signed to American labels.

Comments

More Songfacts:

I Can See Clearly NowJohnny Nash

"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash was the first reggae song to hit #1 in America on the Hot 100.

PanamaVan Halen

"Panama" by Van Halen is not about the country or the canal, but about a stripper David Lee Roth met in Arizona.

That's What Friends Are ForDionne & Friends

Elton John didn't win a Grammy until 1986, when he got one for singing on "That's What Friends Are For."

The ScientistColdplay

There aren't many songs with a scientist as the main character, but Coldplay's "The Scientist" is one of their biggest hits. The guy in the song is brilliant, but despondent because he's lost his girl after neglecting her for his work.

Lips Are MovinMeghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor wrote "Lips Are Movin" in just eight minutes with her writing partner Kevin Kadish.

Paper PlanesM.I.A.

"Paper Planes" was inspired by M.I.A.'s hassles trying to get a visa to enter America.

Editor's Picks

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.