David Barbe grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended Ridgeview High School and began playing in bands during the 1970s. Barbe’s parents were influential in his love as music as both his parents, John and Jane Barbe were big band musicians as well as creating Jingles.

David Barbe arrived in Athens, Georgia in 1981 to attend the University of Georgia, and stepped straight into a music scene that would help shape his entire life.

The move to Athens quickly found Barbe immersed in the creative energy of the music in Athens—playing with local punk bands like Bar-B-Que Killers, Mercyland and later Buzz Hungry . When Mercyland disbanded in 1991, Barbe didn’t slow down. While taking the lead in Buzz Hungry, he caught the attention of Bob Mould from the band Husker Du and joined his band Sugar, a band that was part  ...