The original lineup of 3 Balls of Fire reunited in 1998
and released The Best of the Balls, 1988-1998 CD to critical
acclaim. After two years of regular Friday night gigs at
Ego's Lounge, they released the Friday Night at Ego's Lounge
CD on Austin's Deep Eddy Records in January 2000. The Austin
Chronicle listed the album in the Texas top ten of 2000.
The same year saw the band do a tour with George Tomsco,
backing the legendary guitarist for the Fireballs. In June
2001, Nokie Edwards of the Ventures toured select Texas
cities with the Balls as his backing band!
The Balls released their FirePower CD in 2002, Chrome &
Water in 2004 and Jet Set Guitars in 2008. All of the Balls'
Cds have landed in several top ten of the year lists. Firepower
was followed by the FirePower Express tour in summer 2002,
and several cuts from the CD appeared on national tv (WB,
FOX), NPR, three surf compilations, two surfing videos and
Muzack!!! The Shock-n-Awe tour of 2003 was a smashing sucsess,
and 2004 saw the release of 'Chrome & Water'and several
west coast appearances. With appearances in New York and
London,emmy-winnning television credits and the prestigeous
Austin Music Awards in '06, the Balls just keep a rollin'
to glory....
Some of the other players who have performed or recorded
with 3BF include Link Wray, Nokie Edwards of the Ventures,
Jerry Cole, Wanda Jackson, George Tomsco of the Fireballs,
Clifford Honky Tonk Scott (Duke Ellington, Bill Doggett),
Earl Poole Ball (Johnny Cash), Bob Spalding of the Ventures,
Branford Marsallis, Dennis Quaid, Don Felder (Eagles) Stu
Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival) Billy Burnett (Fleetwood
Mac) Mark Andes (Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Heart) Jimmy Carl
Black (Mothers of Invention), Jimmie Randall (Jo Jo Gunne)
Dusty Watson (Dick Dale, Slacktone, Agent Orange), Scott
Esbeck (Los Straitjackets), Ty Grimes (Captain Beefheart),
Jackie Newhouse (Stevie Ray Vaughan), Charlie Sexton (Bob
Dylan), Frankie Camaro, Mike Buck (Fabulous Thunderbirds),
Keith Ferguson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Dave Wronski (Jon
& the Nightriders, Slacktone), Speedy Sparks (Sir Douglas
Quintet), Nico Leophonte (Gene Summers), Pierre Peligrin
(Havana 3AM), Ernie Durawa (Texas Tornadoes), Alejandro
Escovedo, Thierry Lecoz, Ted Roddy, Freddie Krc (Roky Erickson,
Explosives), Lou Ann Barton, Legendary Stardust Cowboy,
Lisa Pankratz (Teisco del Rey, Ronnie Dawson), Mike Robberson
(Joe Ely) and Homer Henderson.
