The Scary Time Ramblers – “Head on Right” (1997, Kill Bad Music Records)

Before Eagles of Death Metal became a desert-rock institution, frontman Jesse Hughes cut his teeth in The Scary Time Ramblers. Formed in the Palm Desert music scene of Southern California in the mid-1990s, the band blended desert rock grit with punk energy and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

Their lone album, Head on Right, was released in 1997 on Kill Bad Music Records and captures the early spirit of what would evolve into the desert rock sound. Hughes handled drums and vocals, Bubba Williams played guitar, and Craig Armstrong—who would go on to become the first bass player for Eagles of Death Metal—played bass.

Recorded live in 1997, Head on Right includes tracks such as “Ramblers Theme,” “Hughes Boogie,” and “Tootsie’s Rebels,” showcasing a raw, playful, and fearless approach to rock. Though short-lived, The Scary Time Ramblers stands as a formative chapter in Hughes’ musical evolution, bridging his transition from local desert gigs to international recognition.