Dylan, Wallflowers land at The Fox
Revamped version of band that first soared in the ’90s hits road to promote its best-of collection
From the beginning, The Wallflowers have had an unstable formula for success, with an ever-changing lineup throughout a two-decade dance from label to label and in and out of the spotlight.
The founding band that produced the self-titled debut album didn’t last long enough to see its quiet climb to platinum status.
Heartthrob frontman Jakob Dylan has been the one constant.
According to the group’s Web site, the current touring lineup consists of Dylan; bassist Greg Richling, the only other remaining member who appeared on the breakthrough sophomore album “Bringing Down The Horse”; drummer Fred Eltringham, who came on for the last album, 2005’s “Rebel, Sweetheart”; guitarist Stuart Mathis, who has not appeared with the band since “Rebel”; and keyboardist Bill Appleberry, who co-produced the 2002 album “Red Letter Days.”
This is the version of The Wallflowers fans can expect to see Saturday at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox.
The band has been patched back together to tour behind its Best Buy- and iTunes-endorsed greatest hits album, “Collected: 1996-2005.”
The album contains 16 tracks covering ground from the quadruple-platinum ’90s classic, “Bringing Down The Horse,” to “Rebel, Sweetheart,” plus two previously unreleased tracks.
After the original lineup broke up, The Wallflowers switched from Virgin to Interscope Records to rebuild its fiery, roots-infused brand of rock and roll, which fed on Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello.
The result of the new lineup and label was “Bringing Down the Horse,” which won Grammys for Best Rock Performance by a Group with Vocals, and Best Rock Song for “One Headlight.”
Four years later, The Wallflowers re-emerged from a long tour stint with the gold-selling “(Breach).” The album featured Elvis Costello singing on “Murder 101.”
Guitarist Michael Ward left the band before the creation of “Red Letter Days,” which marked The Wallflowers as a quartet and was the first album to feature Dylan playing nearly all of the lead guitar parts.
The group parted ways with Interscope after the release of “Rebel, Sweetheart,” barely touring the album before founding keyboardist Rami Jaffee left the group in 2007 to be replaced by Mathis.
The Wallflowers have been dormant since, with Dylan forming his own band, Jakob Dylan and The Gold Mountain Rebels, and releasing his first solo album, last year’s “Seeing Things.”
Although it has been publicized that the current lineup includes Jaffee, both his and The Wallflowers’ official Web sites say he is not touring with the band.