The only photo I’ve seen of Oedipus and the Mothers, taken by Steve Delk for the Daily Texan, May 13, 1967
Oedipus and the Mothers made one fine record, “(I Remember) How It Used to Be”, with a great combination of distorted lead guitar and tremolo rhythm.
Andrew Brown did a long interview with rhythm guitarist Joe Blinderman in “Brown Paper Sack” back in ’97. The interview is a great read, and I recommend it if you can find a copy. The facts about the group are as follows:
The band formed at the University of Texas, Austin in 1965. Don Passman was lead guitarist, Joseph Blinderman rhythm guitarist, Scott Davis played sax, Bob Hunt bass and Stuart Glass was the drummer.
Oedipus and the Mothers featured two African-American vocalists: first Alvin Easter, then Reuben Halton who sings on the record.
An early mention of the band in Jim Langdon’s Nightbeat column from February 25, 1966 lists Robi Bendorf on drums and Alvin Easter on vocals. The band played for 200 people at the opening of Ray Vines’ Orange Bull Club and continued to play there into March, alternating with the Baby Cakes.
Bob Burns was their equipment manager.
Oedipus and the Mother-Lovers, San Antonio Light, March 1967
Oedipus and the Mothers traveled to Dallas to record the 45, probably at Sumet Sound Studio. Joe Blinderman wrote “(I Remember) How It Used to Be”. Don Passman wrote “Lonesome”, which is a very mellow song and nothing like the flip. There may be a few unreleased tracks still in existence.
Don chose the shocking band name. An announcement in the San Antonio Light lists them as the even more scandalous name, “Oedipus and the Mother-Lovers”! Joe recalled to Andrew Brown that it didn’t hurt their getting gigs, and their 45 even received some local airplay.
The band broke up in May of ’67 when Don Passman graduated and left for Harvard Law School.
An article in the Daily Texas for one of their last shows on May 13 at the Union Main Ballroom has some interesting information, but I don’t think they ever released a record named “I’m Gone”: that may be an error by the writer. I haven’t seen the Time article mentioned, but a national UPI item listed Oedipus and His Mothers along with other odd band names, like the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Iron Butterfly, etc..
Oedipus and the Mothers appear very briefly at a frat party in the CBS special “If You’re Appalled at My Texas, I’m Bewildered by Your England” hosted by Dan Rather and David Dimbleby (called “Texas vs. England” in the news item at top). The English part of the special does have good footage of the Who, plus short interviews with Mary Quant, Margaret Forster, Jean Shrimpton and publisher Gareth Powell.
Bob Hunt wrote to me:
Alvin was our first singer; Ruben was the second. They both sounded a lot alike and had that high range. Needless to say, our set lists included a lot of James Brown, Sam & Dave, etc. material. We also covered the Stones, Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, etc. We were a rock & roll band with five UT students including a black vocalist and a Seminary student … me.
Baby Cakes and Oedipus and the Mothers at the Orange Bull, Austin Daily Texan, March 3, 1966
One more note on the recording of the Beacon material. I direct inputed to the board and I think now in retrospect that I may have overdriven the desk, but the engineer didn’t know that. He was impressed that I had a real Fender ’58 P-Bass with the sunburst and the gold anodized pick guard! Live, I played through a 60 watt Fender head into two Bassman cabs, each loaded with two 15″ JBL 140s. I could fill up a room and make your pant legs flap!
Bob Burns, the equipment guy actually built the sound system for us since there weren’t too many options out there at the time. We had a Bogen 100 watt, four channel amp and four mics which all plugged into two huge homebuilt speaker cabs containing four 12″s apiece. No monitors in that era! I don’t know what kept us from setting venues on fire with that set-up. Don occasionally played a Farfisa keyboard too.
If anyone has a photo of the group, please contact me
Scan courtesy of Mark Taylor. Thank you to Jonas Carlsson for pointing out the Austin Daily Texan article with the band photo.
Either Oedipus & the Mothers were known as far away as Hollywood, or there was a California group with that name, ’cause it’s the first example given of weird group names. Lubbock Avalanche Journal, January 10, 1967
15 thoughts on “Oedipus and the Mothers”
Sorry to have to keep bringing this up, but it was “Sumet Sound Studio” and it was in Dallas, not Fort Worth. Same place where the 13th Floor Elevators recorded some of the songs for their first album. Kenny and the Kasuals also recorded there, and several others documented on this site.
I saw them at UT’s Cactus Club. They had a song I thought was named “Way OUT” which got some local play. It was kinda of a James Brown sound but I do not think it was a cover. They rocked the place
I too would appreciate seeing a picture of the band. For a short time I dated the sax player. Even though he broke my heart, I have often wondered where he is now.
This article was pretty accurate. Alvin Easter came before Reuben Halton & it’s Reuben singing on the record. The flip is “Lonesome” written by Don Passman & it’s a very pretty slow piece. Hope you can find it. Recorded at Summit Studio in Fort Worth, engineer was John Allee. All my copies were melted in an apartment fire. There were a few other tracks on tape that didn’t get released. Don probably has them somewhere. He is one of the premier music attorneys in Los Angeles. I was in law school at the time & now practice in Dallas.
After Don left, the band lasted another semester w/ Joe Blinderman & me & some new players. We actually opened for Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels at Luann’s in Dallas. Then, after some graduations, flunk-outs & marriages, the band petered out.
Thanx for the recognition. It was a blast at the time.
A bit more random info. The band played lots of gigs in 1967-68. The leader of the band, Don Passman somehow came up with a wireless electric guitar which allowed him to mingle with the crowds during the show. After Harvard law school, Passman moved back to LA where he had family and became an agent for many famous musicians. He published a book called “All You Need to Know About the Music Business”. Passman had an uncle in Dallas named Abraham Zapruder who was making a home movie of the 1964 Kennedy motorcade in Dealey Plaza. The film became the basis for much of what is known (and not known) about the bullets that killed President Kennedy.
The band’s roadie was Robert Burns. Burns ultimately became a special effects designer for various sets around Austin. His best known work was as the art director for the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Burns enjoyed sharing his small workroom/office with Grandma Sawyer. He died in 2004 of carbon monoxide poisoning brought on by inoperable cancer.
Joe Blinderman became a doctor, practiced psychiatrist, and lives in Austin.
Bass player Bob Hunt was my dad. He died Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, of complications from Covid despite his vaccination. He loved music to the end, and handed off his basses and guitars to my son, who is a fine musician as well but makes his living in the music business shooting music videos. “How it used to be” was played at my wedding, much to my dad’s delight. We expect he will now be reunited with his loved ones and his beloved Fender bass.
Dianna, your dad sold me my first electric guitar. I had started playing an acoustic guitar and learned the chords playing Peter, Paul and Mary. We had a small group of kids who got together on the Winslow Landing beach for an evening camp fire. I had an entry level Silvertone from Sears. He told me he had an old Silvertone electric. Wood and painted blue and a tiny amp with a 5-6 inch speaker. 6 months later I had a Fender guitar and amp and found true happiness with a reverb! Last time we were together was the last time he and Sherry came to Brewster. He was a great guy. You have my sympathies.
Thank you, Dave. It’s so nice to hear from you! He loved music and no doubt remembered every single guitar he ever had. But nothing compared to the 1958 Fender bass.
So sad to hear about Bob. I was the “Beating Mother” in the band, and Bob was a helluva a bass player. We lost track after that first year, and 5 decades have slipped by, but we were a darn good band and it’s still one of my fondest memories. My deepest condolences. Stuart Glass
Hello Stuart Flash from the past: I sang in your band sometime in 66 to ? Michael McKane (lead singer) also my friend Dick Macourek (guitar) and an African American girl (Dorothy ?). I remember you and Robert Burns…none of the other fellas. We played UT gigs and a fond memory of playing at the Student Union …. with the girl singing Respect while Dick and I sang backup ‘rererere….’ in one mic. Somewhere in there Dick and I left your band and started another. I always loved the range of tunes we did. Sorry about your bass player Bob and of course Robert Burns years ago. Saw Bob’s obit in the Austin paper with a mention of ‘O and the M’. Memories flooded in.. Hope you are well. Does any of this ring a bell for you ?
I’m pleased to hear you saw the obit in the Statesman. I wasn’t sure who all those obits might have reached, but I’m glad it found some people who would appreciate the work. I’m Bob’s daughter.
Thank you, Stuart. He was very fond of those memories, too. I think he kept a bit of the Bass Mother in him until the end. I actually heard you guys perform in 1967. He graduated from seminary in May 1967 and then married my mother in June 1967, when I was 8 years old. My mom and I traveled to Austin, and I saw the band practice and then later perform at what I now assume was a frat party. Lots of dancing, people plopping onto the floor doing the Alligator, lots of liquor, as I recall. It was quite a band and I still have several copies of the 45. I still chuckle at the name.
Thank you, Stuart. He was very fond of those memories, too. I think he kept a bit of the Bass Mother in him until the end. I actually heard you guys perform in 1967. He graduated from seminary in May 1967 and then married my mother in June 1967, when I was 8 years old. My mom and I traveled to Austin, and I saw the band practice and then later perform at what I now assume was a frat party. Lots of dancing, people plopping onto the floor doing the Alligator, lots of liquor, as I recall. It was quite a band and I still have several copies of the 45. I still chuckle at the name.
This is so heartfelt and amazing to read – sometimes the internet world works ! I was given a copy of Texas Punk from the Sixties way back in 1985 and the Oedipus track has literally been one of the biggest influences on me – I’ve made albums in the 90s as a musician and the unhinged power of How it used to be is still a benchmark for me 😂 obviously I’ll never achieve it but it fills me with joy and sets my mind alight every time I hear it
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
Oedipus and the Mothers made one fine record, “(I Remember) How It Used to Be”, with a great combination of distorted lead guitar and tremolo rhythm.
Sorry to have to keep bringing this up, but it was “Sumet Sound Studio” and it was in Dallas, not Fort Worth. Same place where the 13th Floor Elevators recorded some of the songs for their first album. Kenny and the Kasuals also recorded there, and several others documented on this site.
There never was a “Summit” Studio in Dallas.
I saw them at UT’s Cactus Club. They had a song I thought was named “Way OUT” which got some local play. It was kinda of a James Brown sound but I do not think it was a cover.
They rocked the place
I too would appreciate seeing a picture of the band.
For a short time I dated the sax player. Even though
he broke my heart, I have often wondered where he is now.
This article was pretty accurate. Alvin Easter came before Reuben Halton & it’s Reuben singing on the record. The flip is “Lonesome” written by Don Passman & it’s a very pretty slow piece. Hope you can find it. Recorded at Summit Studio in Fort Worth, engineer was John Allee. All my copies were melted in an apartment fire. There were a few other tracks on tape that didn’t get released. Don probably has them somewhere. He is one of the premier music attorneys in Los Angeles. I was in law school at the time & now practice in Dallas.
After Don left, the band lasted another semester w/ Joe Blinderman & me & some new players. We actually opened for Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels at Luann’s in Dallas. Then, after some graduations, flunk-outs & marriages, the band petered out.
Thanx for the recognition. It was a blast at the time.
SEG
Stuart,
Thanks for the corrections. Are there any photos of the group we could add to this page? You can reach me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com
A bit more random info. The band played lots of gigs in 1967-68. The leader of the band, Don Passman somehow came up with a wireless electric guitar which allowed him to mingle with the crowds during the show. After Harvard law school, Passman moved back to LA where he had family and became an agent for many famous musicians. He published a book called “All You Need to Know About the Music Business”. Passman had an uncle in Dallas named Abraham Zapruder who was making a home movie of the 1964 Kennedy motorcade in Dealey Plaza. The film became the basis for much of what is known (and not known) about the bullets that killed President Kennedy.
The band’s roadie was Robert Burns. Burns ultimately became a special effects designer for various sets around Austin. His best known work was as the art director for the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Burns enjoyed sharing his small workroom/office with Grandma Sawyer. He died in 2004 of carbon monoxide poisoning brought on by inoperable cancer.
Joe Blinderman became a doctor, practiced psychiatrist, and lives in Austin.
Bass player Bob Hunt was my dad. He died Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, of complications from Covid despite his vaccination. He loved music to the end, and handed off his basses and guitars to my son, who is a fine musician as well but makes his living in the music business shooting music videos. “How it used to be” was played at my wedding, much to my dad’s delight. We expect he will now be reunited with his loved ones and his beloved Fender bass.
Dianna, your dad sold me my first electric guitar. I had started playing an acoustic guitar and learned the chords playing Peter, Paul and Mary. We had a small group of kids who got together on the Winslow Landing beach for an evening camp fire. I had an entry level Silvertone from Sears. He told me he had an old Silvertone electric. Wood and painted blue and a tiny amp with a 5-6 inch speaker. 6 months later I had a Fender guitar and amp and found true happiness with a reverb! Last time we were together was the last time he and Sherry came to Brewster. He was a great guy. You have my sympathies.
Thank you, Dave. It’s so nice to hear from you! He loved music and no doubt remembered every single guitar he ever had. But nothing compared to the 1958 Fender bass.
So sad to hear about Bob. I was the “Beating Mother” in the band, and Bob was a helluva a bass player. We lost track after that first year, and 5 decades have slipped by, but we were a darn good band and it’s still one of my fondest memories. My deepest condolences. Stuart Glass
Hello Stuart
Flash from the past: I sang in your band sometime in 66 to ?
Michael McKane (lead singer) also my friend Dick Macourek (guitar) and an African American girl (Dorothy ?). I remember you and Robert Burns…none of the other fellas. We played UT gigs and a fond memory of playing at the Student Union …. with the girl singing Respect while Dick and I sang backup ‘rererere….’ in one mic.
Somewhere in there Dick and I left your band and started another.
I always loved the range of tunes we did.
Sorry about your bass player Bob and of course Robert Burns years ago. Saw Bob’s obit in the Austin paper with a mention of ‘O and the M’. Memories flooded in..
Hope you are well. Does any of this ring a bell for you ?
I’m pleased to hear you saw the obit in the Statesman. I wasn’t sure who all those obits might have reached, but I’m glad it found some people who would appreciate the work. I’m Bob’s daughter.
Thank you, Stuart. He was very fond of those memories, too. I think he kept a bit of the Bass Mother in him until the end. I actually heard you guys perform in 1967. He graduated from seminary in May 1967 and then married my mother in June 1967, when I was 8 years old. My mom and I traveled to Austin, and I saw the band practice and then later perform at what I now assume was a frat party. Lots of dancing, people plopping onto the floor doing the Alligator, lots of liquor, as I recall. It was quite a band and I still have several copies of the 45. I still chuckle at the name.
Thank you, Stuart. He was very fond of those memories, too. I think he kept a bit of the Bass Mother in him until the end. I actually heard you guys perform in 1967. He graduated from seminary in May 1967 and then married my mother in June 1967, when I was 8 years old. My mom and I traveled to Austin, and I saw the band practice and then later perform at what I now assume was a frat party. Lots of dancing, people plopping onto the floor doing the Alligator, lots of liquor, as I recall. It was quite a band and I still have several copies of the 45. I still chuckle at the name.
This is so heartfelt and amazing to read – sometimes the internet world works ! I was given a copy of Texas Punk from the Sixties way back in 1985 and the Oedipus track has literally been one of the biggest influences on me – I’ve made albums in the 90s as a musician and the unhinged power of How it used to be is still a benchmark for me 😂 obviously I’ll never achieve it but it fills me with joy and sets my mind alight every time I hear it