From the New Haven Advocate, December 30, 2004
Kathleen Cei, Photo

SWAGGERT GONE SOLO
You know (or at least youd better know) Bill Collins as the spiky-haired singer and
guitarist of New Havens premier roots-rockabilly-country-punk band the Swaggerts.
Or maybe you remember his earlier roots band, the Big Bad Johns. Maybe you also
know him because you or one of your friends took guitar lessons from him. But did
you know that while he lived in California during the 80s, he played and toured with
legendary hardcore punk bands like MDC, Fang, Intensified Chaos, and Special Forces?
Or that he once played in a band with Dead Kennedys drummer Bruce Schlesinger? Or
that hes said to have given guitar lessons to Tim Armstrong (Operation Ivy, Rancid)?
Well, now you know. And heres the thing you should know Collins for: Hes been playing
a few solo acoustic gigs lately, belting out some Irish-folk-tinged, foot-stomping, rollicking
drinking songs.