Named in honor of the Stanley Brothers' "Five String Drag," the Clemson, South Carolina-based alt country unit 6 String Drag was led by singer/guitarist Kenny Roby, the onetime frontman of a punk group dubbed the Lubricators. Feeling trapped by the confines of hardcore, Roby disbanded the Lubricators in 1992 and, with bassist Rob Keller and multi-instrumentalist Ed Campbell, formed the Welfare Liners, a group devoted to covers of classic country, bluegrass, and honky tonk covers. Over time, the Welfare Liners (minus Campbell) eventually mutated into 6 String Drag, which in its original incarnation, also included lead guitarist Glenn Cannon, drummer Ray Duffey, and pianist/trombonist David "Pops" Wright. With Roby's original songs running the gamut from old-time country to straight-ahead rock, the group soon entered the studio to record their self-titled 1996 debut LP. After the departures of Cannon and Wright, 6 String Drag -- now including guitarist Scott Miller -- signed to Steve Earle's E-Squared label and traveled to Nashville to record their 1997 album High Hat. In the wake of its release, Miller was replaced by new guitarist William Tonks.