Sidewinders were a band from Arizona that started out, on their debut Cuacha (Sam Jacinto, 1987), with a revivalist blend of garage-blues and folk-rock.

That sound began to coalesce on Witchdoctor (Mammoth, 1989). The blues, folk and pop traits of their catchy tunes, David Slutes' macho tenor and Richard Hopkins' neurotic guitar positioned the band somewhere between compatriotes Green On Red and Gin Blossoms, and occasionally struck the domestic pathos of Tom Petty.

Auntie Ramos' Pool Hall (Mammoth, 1990) elaborates on the same premises, albeit through a more forceful approach (Doesn't Anyone Believe).

Forced for legal reasons to change their name, the Sidewinders became the Sand Rubies. The first album under the new moniker, Sand Rubies (Atlas, 1993), does not considerably alter the course of the Sidewinders' delicate roots-rock (Guns In The Churchyard sidetracks towards a poetic country). The band dissolved after the EP Goodbye (Atlas, 1993).

Rich Hopkins started a prolific but not very exciting solo career. Personality Crisis (Houses In Motion, 1992), with a number of vocalists lending their voice, was followed by Mumblypeg (Brake Out, 1993), credited to Underbelly. Dirt Town (Brake Out, 1994) and Dumpster Of Love (San Jacinto, 1995) wear his Neil Young obsession all over the place. The instrumental acoustic Paraguay (San Jacinto, 1995) was a good idea but not fully developed.