Laughing Hyenas

Formed in 1985 from the ashes of Negative Approach and L-Seven, the Laughing Hyenas were a highly original blues infused garage punk four-piece from Ann Arbor, MI. Larissa Strickland’s self taught guitar stylings perfectly complemented John Brannon’s voice. The Hyenas had the rawness of the Germs combined with the grittiness of John Lee Hooker. They played with Kevin Strickland and Jim Kimball for seven years, until the latter two members departed to form Mule with PW Long.

In 1992, ex-Necros drummer Todd Swalla joined the band in addition to Kevin Ries (a fan from Cleveland). Kevin Ries left after a short time, and a second member of Necros, Ron Sakowski, joined the Hyenas on bass. The Hyenas disbanded after 1995’s release Hard Times.