The Derailers

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The Derailers are an American country band from Austin, Texas. They started in 1994 when Portland-born Tony Villanueva and Brian Hofeldt formed the group. Their first album, Live Tracks, came out in 1995 on Freedom Records and helped them gain heat at the South by Southwest festival. They became a key part of the growing Americana and alternative-country scene with a traditional honky-tonk sound.

They signed with Watermelon Records for Jackpot (1996), then moved to Sire for Reverb Deluxe (1997). Aggressive touring and radio play built a bigger fan base, and they released Full Western Dress on Curb Records in 1999, which reached No. 69 on the Billboard Country chart. A single from the album, "The Right Place," reached No. 71, and its video was among the most requested on CMT in 2000.

To reach a wider audience, they joined Sony’s Lucky Dog Records for Here Come the Derailers, produced by Kyle Lehning. Released on September 11, 2001, the album was largely overlooked by mainstream radio, but NPR’s Morning Edition helped it reach the Top 50 on the Billboard country chart. The follow-up, Genuine (2003), peaked at No. 44.

Founder Tony Villanueva left the band to spend more time with family and to become a pastor. Brian Hofeldt became the frontman, and the group returned to independence, releasing Soldiers of Love (2007) and Under the Influence of Buck (2007) on Palo Duro. The Buck Owens tribute reflects a major influence on the Derailers, and Owens himself played a track with the band and invited them to his 70th birthday party in 1999.

The Derailers also draw inspiration from 1960s pop-rock artists like The Beatles, Roy Orbison, and The Beach Boys. A Stephen King short story published in 2006 mentions a band named "the Derailers" and Tony Villanueva.

Current members include Brian Hofeldt, Karen Biller, Sweet Basil McJagger, and Bracken Hale. Former members include Tony Villanueva and other musicians who contributed to the band over the years. Their website is derailers.com.