A primitive swamp-rock duo comprised of Ben Reynolds (vocals, electric guitar, percussion) and Brant Slay (vocals, harmonica, washboard), the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies were proteges of R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, a fellow Athens, Georgia resident who teamed with John Keane to co-produce their 1990 debut White Dirt. Chicago blues legend Willie Dixon split production chores with Stipe for 1991's 8 Track Stomp, after which the duo called it quits; Reynolds later resurfaced as a solo artist. ~ Jason Ankeny