Editing Dieselhed

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Dieselhed
| image           = Dieselhedl.jpg
| image_size      = 230
| alt             =
| caption         = Artist rendition. Road manager John Tynan appears top-left
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Arcata, California]], United States
| genre           =
| years_active    = {{start date|1989}}–{{end date|2000}}
| label           = {{unbulleted list| [[Amarillo Records]] | [[Bong Load Records]]}}
| associated_acts =
| website         = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| current_members =
| past_members    = {{unbulleted list| [[Virgil Shaw]] | [[Zac Holtzman]] | [[Atom Ellis]] | [[Danny Heifetz]] | Shon McAllen | [[Jonathan Segel]]}}
}}
'''Dieselhed''' was a [[San Francisco]]–based band, originally from [[Arcata, California]].<ref name=Allmusic>Prato, Greg. "[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p204761|pure_url=yes}} Dieselhed: Biography]", [[Allmusic]]. Retrieved May 22, 2010.</ref>

==Early career==
Dieselhed formed in 1989 in Arcata, California later moving to San Francisco, California, playing a blend of country, punk, and pseudo-classic rock.<ref name=Express>Beal,  Jim Jr. (September 23, 1994). "Night Lights: Alternative", ''[[San Antonio Express-News]]'', p. E22.</ref> Drummer Heifetz spread his time between Dieselhed and the genre-bending experimentalists [[Mr. Bungle]]. Singer-songwriter [[Virgil Shaw]] previously played in Arcata outfit [[Brent's T.V.]]  Bassist Ellis had been a founding member of the local disbanded [[funk rock]] band [[Psychefunkapus]], and [[Jonathan Segel]] was a former member of local indie-faves [[Camper Van Beethoven]].

The band signed a recording contract with independent label [[Amarillo Records]] in the early 1990s.<ref name=Express /> Dieselhed released three full-length albums for Amarillo while maintaining a national touring schedule throughout the 1990s, often accompanied by road manager John Tynan.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

Dieselhed's self-titled 1993 debut was received well, leading to a modest spurt of college radio airplay. The band wound up selling out Amarillo's first two pressings of the album. Their second album, ''Tales of a Brown Dragon'', came out in 1995 and helped to expand their growing fan base. Dieselhed became regulars at the [[SXSW]] music festival held each year in [[Austin, Texas]].<ref>(March 14, 1996). "SXSW: Saturday", ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]'', p. 37.</ref> Their third album, 1997's ''Shallow Water Blackout'', was produced by [[Dwight Yoakam]] engineer [[Dusty Wakeman]].<ref name=Allmusic /> Dieselhed followed their 1997 release with two U.S. tours opening for [[Link Wray]].<ref>Vaughan, Robin (October 24, 1997). "Crowds take novel approach and band together", ''[[Boston Herald]]'', p. S25.</ref> For these dates Ellis and Heifitz would return to the stage after their opening set each night to back Wray.<ref>Sullivan, James (July 7, 1997). "Wray's a Link to the Future: 68-year-old guitarist gains young admirers in blast across country", ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', p. E1.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Writer |first=JAMES SULLIVAN, Chronicle Staff |title=Wray's a Link to the Future / 68-year-old guitarist gains young admirers in blast across country |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/wray-s-a-link-to-the-future-68-year-old-2833431.php |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref> The two would go on to become Wray's regular backing band<ref>Roos, John (March 7, 1998). "Wray Has Ax to Grind, and Grind: Veteran rocker can bring on the noise, but the times that should be a little quieter vex him", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', p. 2.</ref> from 1997 to 2003.

==Later years==
In 1998 Dieselhed signed a new contract with [[Bong Load Records]], a label still riding the success of their recording and release of [[Beck]]'s critically acclaimed gold record ''[[Mellow Gold]]''. Dieselhed issued ''Elephant Rest Home'' in 1998 (a collection of previously unreleased songs) and their final album, the rarely seen ''Chico and the Flute'' in 2000 on Bong Load before disbanding later in 2000.

Lead songwriter [[Virgil Shaw]] went on to release two critically acclaimed solo albums, ''Quad Cities'' and ''Still Falling'', for San Francisco's independent label [[Future Farmer Records]]. Co-songwriter Zac Holtzman now plays in the [[Los Angeles]]–based band [[Dengue Fever (band)|Dengue Fever]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Biographies |url=http://sleepwalkingthroughthemekong.com/bios.htm |work=Sleepwalking Through the Mekong |accessdate=August 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716085625/http://sleepwalkingthroughthemekong.com/bios.htm |archivedate=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> [[Danny Heifetz]], now raising a family in [[Australia]], stays busy with local studio session work and drum lessons. [[Atom Ellis]] resides between San Francisco and Los Angeles and performs as bassist with [[Neil Hamburger]], [[The New Cars]] and [[The Tubes]]. Guitarist Shon McAllin is currently a licensed contractor residing in the deep woods of Northern California.

==Band members==
*[[Virgil Shaw]] – Guitar and Vocals
*[[Zac Holtzman]] – Guitar and Vocals
*[[Atom Ellis]] – Bass and Vocals
*[[Danny Heifetz]] – Drums, Percussion, and Horns
*Shon McAlinn – Lead Guitar

==Auxiliary members==
*[[Jonathan Segel]] – Violin (until 1994)
*[[Ralph Carney]] – Various Reed and Brass Wind Instruments
*Jeff Palmer – Saw
*Josh Roberts – Guitar, Vocals, Drums

==Discography==
*''Dieselhed'' (Amarillo 1994)
*''Tales of a Brown Dragon'' (Amarillo 1995)
*''Shallow Water Blackout'' (Amarillo 1997)
*''Elephant Rest Home'' (Bong Load 1999)
*''Chico and the Flute'' (Bong Load 2000)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Punk rock groups from California]]
[[Category:American country rock groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1989]]