The Bottle Rockets were an American rock band formed in Festus, Missouri in 1992, and was based in St. Louis. Its founding members were Brian Henneman, Mark Ortmann, Tom Parr and Tom Ray; the most recent lineup consisted of Henneman, Ortmann, John Horton and Keith Voegele. Most members of the band have contributed to their catalog of original songs, as have Robert Parr and schoolteacher Scott Taylor.
As noted in the New York Times by William Hogeland, the Bottle Rockets' songwriting has been likened to Woody Guthrie's folk style in spirit, smarts, and satire. The band's lyrics encapsulate the common experiences of the everyman, and are set to rousing and searing rock 'n' roll. The band has been named as one of the leaders of the '90s alt-country/roots rock revival, alongside Uncle Tupelo. The strong social commentary of their songs reflects the influences of Woody Guthrie, Neil Young and The Replacements.