The Ghost of Tom Joad guitar work and the lyrics on many of the tracks are a somber reflection of life in the mid-1990s in America and Mexico. The character of Tom Joad entered the American consciousness in John Steinbeck’s 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Grapes of Wrath", set against the economic hardships of the Great Depression. This spawned a film version starring Henry Fonda, which in turn inspired folk singer Woody Guthrie to pen "The Ballad of Tom Joad". The album's release was followed by Springsteen's solo acoustic Ghost of Tom Joad Tour, which ran from 1995 to 1997 and consisted of mostly small
The Royal Family and the Poor and "North-West Soul" (2004), with Keane the only constant member. In 2010, McDonald reemerged to self-release an album titled "The Pope's Daughter", though Keane was not involved. Other members at various times included bassist Ambrose Reynolds (who had previously played in Liverpool bands such as Big in Japan, Hollycaust, Nightmares in Wax and Walkie Talkies, and was also a member of Pink Industry), Jeff Turner (saxophone, clarinet, guitar, violin), Karen Halewood (synthesizer, vocals), John Walsh (bass guitar), Phil Hurst (drums) and Kif (drums). The Royal Family and the Poor The Royal Family and the Poor are a band from Liverpool,