The Sires were teenagers from Eugene and nearby Springfield, Oregon, forming at Sheldon High School in 1964 and breaking up in 1969.
Members were:
Marty Berg (vocals)
Ron Craig (lead guitar)
Mike Briggs (bass, rhythm guitar)
Roger Koliece (keyboards)
Dean Lowman (bass, vocals), replaced on bass by Warner (Doc) Swebke
Robert Grebb (drums)
Ron Craig had been in the Tempters out of Springfield with Joe Crippen and Dave Rodakowski who were later in the Eugene-based group Truth. They played nightclubs in Florence, Oakridge and at a ballroom in Eugene. They won some battles of the bands and came in second to the Gentlemen Wild in a state-wide contest. Bruce Mitchell managed the band.
Bands like the Sires paid Alan Graves to record them in his basement home studio in Eugene, and he would have them pressed up on his own label. Alan was still cutting records here as of 2004.
Their only 45 is definitely crude in recording quality and composition, and the sound is at odds with their neat image in their photos. Recorded in 1966, the members were about 15 years old at the time.
I really dig the A-side, “Don’t Look Now” for it’s menacing repetitiveness. Several members are singing in unison, which is unusual, and the lyrics are cool when you can make them out – “give back my ring, then I will see, just how it feels, to be alone and free”. The vocalists draw some lines out in a lower voice and then shout out the chorus for good dynamic effect.
“Come to Me Baby” has chord changes a la Louie Louie, and again the whole group shouts out the lyrics. Ron Craig plunks out a guitar solo lasting some 45 seconds, and there are some good shouts in the song.
Wild and primitive indeed, and hardly the kind of material that would win band competitions, which usually favored slicker pop songs. Dean Lowman is given copyright on both sides of the 45, so I assume he wrote both songs.
Sources include: photos and some info from the PNW Bands site.
the record recorded was actually recorded at a teen club called the tork club, and was a result of the band winning a battle of the bands. the record was available in record stores and actually sold fairly well.
Dean Lowman enlisted into the Marines upon graduation and went to Viet Nam. He stepped on a landmine, returned home and after much recovery time, began playing music again. Played various groups around Ore. In 1985, he relocated to Az, where I met him and two years later we married. We had 23 amazing years together, he played his music and most say he was an excellent bass player with a great voice. He continued to write lyrics. He passed away Dec. 26, 2009, at the age of 59, from liver cancer and years of suffering from various agent orange symptoms. I have searched for a copy of the Sires record to pass down to his children but have been unsuccessful at finding one. Out of curiosity I entered vintage recordings & so happy to find these photos. Thank you so very much.
Holly this is Mike mellott I played in the sires. I was digging through stuff and found a 45 record of come to me baby I live in Springfield Oregon my number is 458-206-9417. Dean and I were close friends
Dean (Lowman) Strakbein, Dean’s father died when Dean was an infant, his mother remarried Dale Lowman. It was not until his senior year in high school that he found he had not legally been given the Lowman name.
OH MY. This is so very wonderful. In remembrance to my dear bother Dean. Those were special times I will always cherish. Bruce Mitchell was a wonderful person to take all us kids in and give us a mission. He shared his home for the boys to practice and helped them to see their talents with positive reinforcement. Thank you again for saving and sharing these memories.
I have an autographed version of the 45 it’s also signed by Jack Brown??
Mark, just came across this site after many years and saw that you have a copy of Dean’s band ‘Sires’. I so much would like to purchase it from you or somehow copy for his kids, as a piece of his legacy. Please contact me if you happen to get this mess. Thank you;
Holly (Lowman)Strakbein
Holly contact me if you receive this comment. Mike Briggs