Pallas and Doug started The Killer Next Door as a punk band in Norman, Oklahoma. Pallas was friends with the Snotrockits and brought them in to back her and Doug as KND. The art collective grew out of that musical beginning. James Connaughton, known as JayAre, dates the organization’s beginnings to 1999 at the University of Oklahoma.
Doug is also known as HavelDoug, Sandy Horselegs, Mr. HavelKnots, Pharmore Butterscotch, and Replica353. JayAre remembers tagging along at a few practices with Pallas, Doug, and their backing band, the Snotrockits. He believes Matt Jin headed that outfit, although he is uncertain about that detail. The wider art collective came to include JayAre, Towne Thoughts, Hopskotch Sunday, Pocket Pants, Lenny, Spencer Tracy, Rebelline, Deadly Vernis, Mark White, and Velvet Sydney.
JayAre’s time with the music group was brief, in 2003. His involvement in the art collective dates to its beginnings in 1999. He tagged along at a few practices, telling his wild stories into the microphone, until he realized he should stick to acoustic guitar, pencils, and painting instead of punk rock.
“I annoyed the band at band practice and would jabber on with my crazy stories on the microphone and would annoy the band and almost get my ass kicked at the few practices I attended...so I thought it best to go talk to my acoustic guitar and draw.”
— JayAre
The beginnings and original lineup are recalled here by James Connaughton. His recollection of Matt Jin’s role remains uncertain.
From JayAre’s photo archive
Doug and Pallas
Four photographs shared by James Connaughton.
Doug with his guitar.Doug’s mom and Pallas.Doug, from JayAre’s photo archive.Doug, seated outdoors.
Photos supplied by James Connaughton. Select a photo to view it in full.
The people
The collective
Doug
Started The Killer Next Door as a punk band with Pallas. HavelDoug · Sandy Horselegs · Mr. HavelKnots · Pharmore Butterscotch · Replica353.
A beautiful human with a mystery that is never gone.
Pallas
Started The Killer Next Door as a punk band with Doug. Friends with the Snotrockits, she brought them in to back her and Doug as KND.
A beautiful human with a mystery that is never gone.
From hopskotch SunDAY’s own website · Photo source
hopskotch SunDAY
An amazing human dedicated to equality, positivity, and humanity’s progress toward a peaceful society. His laughter is famous. As JayAre remembers it, Hop invented the phrase “Spread the Love.”
From Spencer Tracy’s Transart Institute profile · Photo source
Spencer Tracy
An interdisciplinary artist and concert poster designer whose public profile records exhibitions, teaching, and museum and gallery work in Oklahoma. He earned an MFA at Sierra Nevada University in 2019.
Photo courtesy of Lenny Vanhorn, via The OKC Edge · Photo source
Lenny Vanhorn
Acting, music, and observational comedy are part of Lenny’s creative life. In his interview with The OKC Edge, he describes finding humor in everyday life and valuing the people he meets after a show.
The Local Martyrs, via Reggies Chicago · Photo source
JayAre
James Connaughton, also known as JR, Father Phil, and thefatherphil. An art-group member since 1999 who briefly tagged along with the band in 2003. His work spans paintings, songs, books, and character films.
Also Farttits420 and TraumaticBrainInk. His public work includes drawing, pet portraits, illustrated stickers, tattoo flash, and portrait practice. His tattoo profile identifies him as Mateo in Salem, Oregon. A beautiful human with a mystery that is never gone.
Towne Thoughts later played bass for The Killer Next Door. In the early 2000s, he played bass with Father Phil at many shows and recorded backing vocals on “I Found God” from Taken By Fables, Given To Wine.
Towne Thoughts, HavelDoug, and Susan formed Kick Nancy Down and played shows until HavelDoug left Normal Towne in 2013. This musical history is recalled by James Connaughton.
A beautiful human with a mystery that is never gone.
Pocket Pants · Rebelline Mark White · Velvet Sydney
Beautiful humans with a mystery that is never gone.
Their names and presence belong to the collective’s story, even where their lives and work leave few public traces that can confidently be connected to these names.
The Snotrockits
Pallas’s friends in the local Norman punk band who backed her and Doug as KND. He believes Matt Jin headed the outfit, though that detail is uncertain. A fan-contributed concert archive lists a band called The Snot Rockets in Norman in November 1999; the spelling differs, and the entry does not establish the lineup or the connection.
JayAre names these artists among the collective’s favorite musicians who work with KND.
G Effin Smith
Ryan Lawson
Tom VandenAvond
Brad Fielder
Scotch Hollow
Bloody ol’ Mule
Andy Dugan
Christophe
Nolan Dacus
Jay Vick
Bob Holliman
Jason Harper
Mark Holder
Sources and further reading
Collective history and membership are based on James Connaughton’s firsthand recollections. The individual profiles also draw on the public sources linked beside their images.
