Suitcase Blues ble startet i 1985, og holdt det gående frem til 1989, der det ble skiftet ut en del medlemmer underveis.Den første utgaven ble startet av «The Blusman himself», Svein Holmedal, sammen med Johnny Veland og Jann Per Kalsen fra Allison, og brødrene Magne Arild Hausvik og Jan Gunnar Hausvik, fra tidligere Uncle Sam. Bandet gjorde noen bra jobber i Bergen på Bacchuskjelleren, Cafe des Artistes og Årdal i Sogn, og skrev til og med sin egen kjenningslåt, «Suitcase Blues»:

SUITCASE BLUES - (Johnny Veland / Magne Arild Hausvik/Svein Holmedal)

1) I want to tell you a story about five odd men, who once got together tryin' to "make it" again. The aim was nothing but "the fun of it all", playin' the blues, havin' a ball

Refr: we are the Suitcase Blues, we are the Suitcase Blues, we are the Suitcase Blues, lend us an ear you have nothing to lose

2) Some people told me your're doin' mighty fine, the music that you're playin' put people back in line. Keep up the good work, blow your horn, that's what we've been doin' since we were born

Refr: We are the Suitcase Blues....

3) One had a suitcase the other a bus, the third had some guitars with a whole lot of fuzz. The fourth was workin' around the clock, the fifth punched his drums sayin' "I wanna rock!"

4) Can white men sing the blues? can blue men sing the whites? that's some kind of abuse. The aim was nothing but the fun of it all, playin' the blues havin' a ball

We are the Suitcase Blues, we are the Suitcase Blues, we are the Suitcase Blues; lend us an ear you have nothing to lose

I utgave 2 ble trommeslager Jan-Gunnar skiftet ut med Trond Raunehaug, og i oktober 1987 overtok Aksel Fjæra bassen etter Jann-Per Karlsen. Gitarist Magne Arild Hausvik forlot gruppen like etter for å starte egen solokarriere. Etter oppløsningen i oktober 1989, gikk Aksel Fjæra inn i bergensbandet Hungry John & The Blue Shadows. En del av de resterende medlemmene dannet deretter storbandet 9 Wheel Drive. (Se egen omtale)