Those Poor Bastards are an American gothic country doom band based in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Since 2004 they have released ten full-length studio albums, six EPs and have toured in both North America and Europe. They are frequently critical of commercial mainstream country music, and play a style that derives from gothic rock, traditional Americana and doom metal, often with themes in the genre of murder ballads. Their lyrics focus on themes of sin, damnation, misery, religion and death.
The band is composed of Lonesome Wyatt (vocals, guitar) and The Minister (banjo, bass, percussion, backing vocals). They are secretive and reveal very little information about themselves. The Minister veils his face in all official band photography, does not perform live and has not revealed his identity. For live performances, Wyatt performs with a third musician, Vincent Presley, on drums and keyboard.
Their song Pills I Took was covered by Hank Williams III on his landmark 2006 release, Straight to Hell.