National Dieselbilly Day – June 29, 2026

History of National Dieselbilly Day

Bill Kirchen was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut June 29, 1948, and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. During his high school days, Kirchen learned how to play the trombone. He soon met folksinger David Siglin and delved into the local folk scene. As he learned the banjo and guitar, his musical interest began to diversify beyond folk music. When he enrolled at the University of Michigan, he founded a “psycho folk-rock” band that later transitioned into a country band. This formed the basis of his future band.

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen was a country-rock band that was formed in 1967 by Kirchen, George Frayne, and John Tichy. In 1969, the band moved to California, where they were deemed musical outlaws. Their music was described as “a collection of rock ‘n’ roll, hard-core country, boogie, and rockabilly sounds produced in a ‘high-octane mix.’” The band ultimately broke up in 1976. After Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, Kirchen formed a swing orchestra called Moonlighters. Around 1986, Kirchen moved to D.C. and formed the band Too Much Fun. The band frequently received awards for their music, and Kirchen’s prowess as a guitarist only reached new heights.

Kirchen is credited with being one of the founders and forerunners of the Americana movement. He coined the term ‘dieselbilly,’ which refers to a tradition of truck-driving songs, songs that are “from another era when gears still jammed and no little black boxes told tales on the driver.” Kirchen’s career has spanned over five decades and remains professionally active today.