Abandoned by their parents when they were born, Sutchen and Grabsum were raised by a crazed monk who lived under a distillery named Keith. He named the boys from a vision he had from not eating properly. Keith gave the boys a diet of moldy rye bread and gin, which caused them to sing frequently. Keith called this the "Keithorian Chants" and would join in with the boys until one or both passed out. Keith was found dead after a putrid smell filled the distillery that only a half-drunk employee recognized as not being fermented grain. The boys were taken into state custody and placed at the Ted Haggart Ranch for Boys in Butte, Montana. It was here they were pseudo-surgically separated by a ranch hand named "Doc" with a boning knife "'cause I was sick a lookin' at dem freaks."