Eddie and the Upsets, with Eddie on left, and Jesus Escoto on right
Eddy and the Upsets had a number of singles beginning in 1966, sometimes as Eddie Dimas & the Upsets. Most of their singles are Mexican guitar instrumentals or ballads, but “I Got News” sounds very garage. Recorded at Audio Recorders in Phoenix, it was released on Dektr ARA-41668 in 1966 with the ballad “Cry Cry Cry” on the flip.
The band formed at Phoenix Union high school. Eddie Dimas played lead guitar and sang some lead vocals. His older brother was Benny Dimas of the Majestic Five.
Jesus Escoto is on bass in the black & white photo and wrote “So Long”.
I don’t know the names of other members of the ’60s version of the band.
Dave Rivero wrote “I Got News” and the ballad “Don’t You Ever”.
Eddie Dimas at the Id Club on South Central Ave in PhoenixFreddie Brown sings lead on “No Me Tengas Compacion”, the B-side to a single on Christy as Eddy Dimas and the K-Men. Freddie Brown had his own releases on Christy.
Arthur Castro co-arranged “El Mitote”, and Benny Dimas co-arranged “La Vieja Seca”. Ross Benavidez produced a 1970 single on the Lance label.
Johnny Collins produced the Dektr singles, while G.G. Hardin gets production credit for most of the Cristy singles. Christy collected a number of instrumentals for an album El Mosquito on Christy CR 5007.
Edward Dimas passed away on March 8, 2013, and his brother Bennie Dimas on April 12, 2018.
Thank you to Francisco Candia for suggesting this post and for providing info, photos, and scans of the singles.
According to guitarist Joe Memmer, this psych-driven single, which features Dave Gilbert on lead vocals, was recorded in 1968 at Ralph Terrana and Al Sherman’s Tera Shirma Studios. The band paid for the sessions, themselves. Carl Cisco, who managed the career of CKLW DJ Tom Shannon, earned his production credit on the single as result of his bringing in Motown’s horn section for the sessions. Shannon, in partnership with Carl Cisco and Nick Ameno—both of the Antiques, the Buena Vistas, and the LaSalles—operated the Detroit-based Marquee Records.
Carl Cisco’s production assistance resulted in “Decision for Lost Soul Blue” being issued on the Marquee label around December of 1968, with the B-side, “What Makes You.” Making the regional sales charts via airplay on CKLW Toronto and WKNR Detroit, the single went on to have a three-week run as the “Pick of the Week” on CKLW. Impressed with the sales and airplay, Atco/Atlantic picked up the record for national distribution, issuing the single in March 1969. (The label variations of the Atco version are result of different pressing plants manufacturing the record. On those releases, the A-Side title was expanded to “(Day of) Decision for Lost Soul Blue.”)
The Free remained together for about a year, until Dave Gilbert left to become the lead vocalist for Ted Nugent in January 1971. While he doesn’t appear on the album, Gilbert toured Nugent and the Dukes’ fifth release, Survival of the Fittest (1971). According to Memmer, Dave’s hard partying lifestyle conflicted with Nugent’s anti-drug stance (which caused him to dissolve the Amboy Dukes in the first place); that, in addition to Dave’s desire to start a band proper with his brother Marc, resulted in Gilbert’s departure.
Shadow signing announced in Billboard, October 9, 1971
Joe Memmer and Dave Gilbert starting writing songs again and, along with Gilbert’s brother, Marc, formed Shadow. The band recorded a pair of singles in 1972 for Clean Records, an Atlantic subsidiary operated by Robert Stigwood and Rolling Stone Records’ Earl McGrath; the label’s other signings were the commercially-successful soft-rockers America and Starbuck. According to Memmer, Gilbert’s drug use, compounded with his reluctance to work with Stigwood’s suggestions for the band (adding string orchestrations; remembering Stigwood managed-produced the Bee Gees at the time), soured the deal.
New Order with Dave Gilbert at the mic
By 1974, Gilbert moved to Los Angeles and joined the Stooges’ guitarist Ron Asheton and MC5’s drummer Dennis Thompson in New Order; the band also included KJ Knight from the Amboy Dukes. Marc Gilbert’s next band, the hard-rocking Adrenalin formed in 1977, recorded two albums issued through MCA Records in the early-to-mid ‘80s.
Joe Memmer became a non-recording member of Detroit’s Pendragon from 1977 to 1981; Pendragon eventually recorded two 7” singles with Rick “The Lion” Stahl, formerly with the Wilson Mower Pursuit and Sincerely Yours.
The late Dave Gilbert achieved national success as the frontman for the Rockets, which he joined in late 1975. Comprised of ex-members of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, the Rockets’ biggest hit was their cover of the early Fleetwood Mac tune, “Oh, Well.”
Today, Joe Memmer serves as the lead guitarist for the nationally, critically-acclaimed Doors tribute band, the Detroit Doors.
There are more photos to be discovered of all of Dave Gilbert’s bands—including rare images of Shadow (but none from the Free)—on The Rockets Singer Dave Gilbert Facebook.
Cesar’s Club in Bedford was a significant rock venue in the 1960s that hosted a number of notable bands, including early Pink Floyd, Family and Ten Years After.
This is the start of an entry on listed artists, advertised in the Ampthill News & Flintwick Record and/or Bedfordshire Times. There are lots of gaps and we would welcome any additions.
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 June 1967 (Friday) – Freddie Mac & The Mac Sound
10 June 1967 (Saturday) – The Merseys
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16 June 1967 (Friday) – Marmalade and The Alex Read Sound
17 June 1967 (Saturday) – The Family and The Clew
23 June 1967 (Friday) – Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas with The Minor Portions Roll Band
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 June 1967 (Saturday) – Pink Floyd (they either replaced The Skatterlights and The Contax or were replaced by them)
30 June 1967 (Friday) – The Chevells and The Peapots
1 July 1967 (Saturday) – The Dellroy Good Good Band and The Jamboree Band
Photo may be subject to copyright
7 July 1967 (Friday) – Elkie Brooks & The Scotch & Soda
8 July 1967 (Saturday) – Amen Corner
14 July 1967 (Friday) – Bag-o-Nails (ex-The Blue Flames)
15 July 1967 (Saturday) – The Move
21 July 1967 (Friday) – Wynder K Frog
22 July 1967 (Saturday) – Sonny Childe & The TNT
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 July 1967 (Friday) – Gass with The Niteshades or Nite Train
29 July 1967 (Saturday) – The Original Dyaks with Reaction
4 August 1967 (Friday) – TD Bachus & The Powerhouse and The Teapots
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 August 1967 (Saturday) – John Evans Smash and Minor Portion Roll Band
6 August 1967 (Sunday) – Minor Portion Roll Band
There is a gap in gigs advertised
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 August 1967 (Friday) – Freddie Mac & The Mac Sound
26 August 1967 (Saturday) – Tiles Big Band
27 August 1967 (Sunday) – The Kontax
There is a gap in gigs advertised
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 September 1967 (Friday) – Family and Flower Children
9 September 1967 (Saturday) – Floribunda Rose and Nite Train
10 September 1967 (Sunday) – Stuart James Inspiration
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15 September 1967 (Friday) – The Kool and The 100w Carnation
16 September 1967 (Saturday) – The Lloyd Alexander Blues Band and The Courtelles
17 September 1967 (Sunday) – The Jambourie Band
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22 September 1967 (Friday) – Amorous Prawns and The Paper Blitz Tissue
23 September 1967 (Saturday) – Hamilton & The Movement and Scotch of St James
24 September 1967 (Sunday) – The Maze
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29 September 1967 (Friday) – The Soul Caravan and The Power
30 September 1967 (Saturday) – Geranium Pond and Roscoe Brown Combo
1 October 1967 (Sunday) – Craig King & The Night Train
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 October 1967 (Friday) – The Warren Davis Monday Band and The Locomotion
7 October 1967 (Saturday) – The Trax and The Jamboree Band
8 October 1967 (Sunday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Plastic Dream Boat
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 October 1967 (Friday) – James Royal and The New Breed
14 October 1967 (Saturday) – Pink Floyd and The Tecknique
15 October 1967 (Sunday) – The Human Instinct and Modes Mode
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20 October 1967 (Friday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Triads
21 October 1967 (Saturday) – The Lemon Line and The Garden
22 October 1967 (Sunday) – Ten Years After and The Mead
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27 October 1967 (Friday) – The Orlons and The Paper Blitz Tissue
28 October 1967 (Saturday) – The Gods and The New Jump Band
29 October 1967 (Sunday) – The Derek Savage Foundation and The Pink Champagne
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 November 1967 (Friday) – The Alan Price Set and The Taylor Upton Big Band
4 November 1967 (Saturday) – The Survivors (or The Healers with Spectre Powerhouse)
5 November 1967 (Sunday) – Pesky Gee
Friday (and most Sunday) gigs appear to be missing from now on
10 November 1967 (Saturday) – The New Breed (According to Graham Sclater’s diary, The Manchester Playboys played on this date)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 November 1967 (Sunday) – Cats Pyjamas and Geranium Pond
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 November 1967 (Saturday) – The Skatelites with The Minor Portion Roll Band
25 November 1967 (Saturday) – Marmalade and The Vivas
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 December 1967 (Saturday) – Milton James and the Harlem Knock Out
9 December 1967 (Saturday) – Catch 22 (aka Katch 22)
16 December 1967 (Saturday) – The Skatelites
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23 December 1967 (Saturday) – The Human Instinct
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 December 1967 (Saturday) – The Lloyd Alexander Blues Band
13 January 1968 (Saturday) – Copper Pot
20 January 1968 (Saturday) – Workshop
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 January 1968 (Saturday) – Simon K & The Meantimers
The Bedfordshire Times stopped advertising gigs in 1968 after the above date
This is the start of an entry on a popular music venue located in Torquay’s harbour that hosted many important visiting bands during the 1960s.
The gigs below and images are all from the Herald Express newspaper
For most of the year, gigs are only on Fridays and Saturdays with occasional gigs on other days in the week, such as Mondays and Wednesdays
2 October 1964 – The Secrets
3 October 1964 – The Master Sounds
5 October 1964 – The Dictators
9 October 1964 – The Telstars
10 October 1964 – The Mon-Keys
12 October 1964 – The Hunters
16 October 1964 – The Cyclones featuring Johnny Carne
17 October 1964 – Kevin & The Kinsmen
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 October 1964 – The Townsmen
23 October 1964 – The Fortunes
24 October 1964 – Mike Allard & The Tremors
26 October 1964 – The Buccaneers
30 October 1964 – The Tycoons
31 October 1964 – The 007
1 November 1964 – The Southbeats
2 November 1964 – The Harlequins
6 November 1964 – The Telstars
7 November 1964 – The Avengers
9 November 1964 – The Cossacks
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 November 1964 – The Vikings
14 November 1964 – The Soul Agents
16 November 1964 – The Starfires
20 November 1964 – Steve Bradley & The Sounds Unlimited
21 November 1964 – The Impact
23 November 1964 – Tony Just & The Orbits
27 November 1964 – The Bossmen
28 November 1964 – The Chevrons
30 November 1964 – Bobby & The Blue Diamonds
3 December 1964 – The Buccaneers
4 December 1964 – The Master Sounds
7 December 1964 – The Harlequins
11 December 1964 – The Buccaneers
12 December 1964 – The Initials
14 December 1964 – The Starfires
18 December 1964 – Steve Bradley & Sounds Unlimited
19 December 1964 – The Companions
21 December 1964 – The Harlequins
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 December 1964 – The Jellys
26 December 1964 – The Southbeats
28 December 1964 – The Ebonies
31 December 1964 – Dek Dooley & The Dominators and The Buccaneers
1 January 1965 – The Plymouth Sounds
2 January 1965 – Dek Dooley & The Dynamic Dominators
8 January 1965 – The Merry Knights
9 January 1965 – Four Hits & a Miss
15 January 1965 – The Better Days
16 January 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (future Slade guitarist/singer Noddy Holder was a member until late 1965)
22 January 1965 – The Starfires
23 January 1965 – The Master Sounds (replaced by The Impacts)
29 January 1965 – The Better Days
30 January 1965 – The Strollers
5 February 1965 – The Tycoons
6 February 1965 – The Blues Syndicate (Bass player Geoff Penn says that the group opened for The Yardbirds this evening).
12 February 1965 – The Telstars
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 February 1965 – Les Fleur De Lys
17 February 1965 – The Montanas
19 February 1965 – The Royals
20 February 1965 – The Southbeats
26 February 1965 – The Better Days (replaced by Gary Kane & The Tornados)
27 February 1965 – Ricky Vernon & The Pathfinders
1 March 1965 – The Montanas
5 March 1965 – Four Steps Beyond
6 March 1965 – The Tallmen (replaced by The Dynacords)
8 March 1965 – The Secrets
12 March 1965 – The ‘N Betweens (this band evolved into Slade)
13 March 1965 – The Nite People
15 March 1965 – The Better Days
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 March 1965 – The Better Days
20 March 1965 – The Soul Agents (Rod Stewart was singer at this point)
22 March 1965 – The Better Days
26 March 1965 – The Better Days
27 March 1965 – The 007s
29 March 1965 – The Buccaneers
2 April 1965 – Tony Just & The Orbits
3 April 1965 – The Freebooters (replaced by The Palmer James Group)
5 April 1965 – The Tacits
9 April 1965 – The Emeralds with Daniel Boone
10 April 1965 – The Emeralds with Daniel Boone
12 April 1965 – Clive Richie & The Couriers
17 April 1965 – Zuider Lee (could be Zuyder Zee, a popular Dutch band)
19 April 1965 – The Southbeats
23 April 1965 – The Better Days
24 April 1965 – The Hoboes
26 April 1965 – The Guild
28 April 1965 – The Emeralds
30 April 1965 – The Condors
1 May 1965 – The Big T Show
3 May 1965 – The Better Days
5 May 1965 – The Guild
7 May 1965 – The Tac Tics
8 May 1965 – The Riots
10 May 1965 – The Better Days
12 May 1965 – The Telstars
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 May 1965 – The Undertakers
15 May 1965 – The Primitives
17 May 1965 – The Tic Tacs
19 May 1965 – Peter & The Wolves
21 May 1965 – The Applejacks
22 May 1965 – The Cougars
24 May 1965 – The Hunters
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 May 1965 – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
29 May 1965 – The Diplomats
30 May 1965 – Robin & The Four Hoods
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 June 1965 – The Loose Ends and The Buccaneers
This is roughly the start of the summer season each year (the same applies for subsequent years) when certain artists play the entire the week from Saturday through to Friday. However, it’s not always clear whether they also played the Sunday
5 June 1965 – George Washington & His Congress Men
7-11 June 1965 – George Washington & His Congress Men
12 June 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
14-18 June 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
19 June 1965 – Mike Raynor & The Condors
21-22 June 1965 – Mike Raynor & The Condors
23-25 June 1965 – The Dynamos
26 June 1965 – The Emeralds
28 June-2 July 1965 – The Emeralds
3-9 July 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
10-16 July 1965 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
17 July 1965 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
19-23 July 1965 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
23 July 1965 – The Dowlands and The Sound Tracks
25-30 July 1965 – The Dowlands and The Sound Tracks
31 July 1965 – The Marauders
1-3 August 1965 – The Marauders
4-6 August 1965 – The King Pins with Roy Grant
7 August 1965 – The Spectres (this may be the same group that evolves into Status Quo)
9-13 August 1965 – Plain & Fancy
14-20 August 1965 – The Emeralds
21-27 August 1965 – The Quiet Five
28-31 August 1965 – The Big T Show
1-3 September 1965 – The Big T Show
4-10 September 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (Noddy Holder is still a member at this point)
11-12 September 1965 – Bern Elliott & His Clan
13-14 September 1965 – The Emeralds
15-16 September 1965 – The Rock-A-Fellows
18 September 1965 – The Emeralds
20-24 September 1965 – The Emeralds
25 September 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
27-30 September 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
1 October 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
2 October 1965 – Peter Fenton & The Tasty Mob
4-6 October 1965 – The Hi-Jackers
8 October 1965 – Tommy Quickly & The Remo Four
9 October 1965 – The Alleycats
11 October 1965 – The Better Days
15 October 1965 – Sounds Incorporated
16 October 1965 – The In-Sect
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 October 1965 – The Cherokees
22 October 1965 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
23 October 1965 – The Condors
25 October 1965 – The Prophets
29 October 1965 – The Checkmates
30 October 1965 – The Kingpins
1 November 1965 – The Telstars
5 November 1965 – The Applejacks
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 November 1965 – The Hellions
8 November 1965 – The Blackjacks
12 November 1965 – The Swinging Blue Jeans
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 November 1965 – The Emeralds
15 November 1965 – Gary Kane & The Tornados
19 November 1965 – Rob Storm & The Whispers
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 November 1965 – The Wheels
22 November 1965 – The Cordettes
26 November 1965 – Eden Kane with supporting group
27 November 1965 – Pete de Witt & The Magic Strangers (Dutch band)
29 November 1965 – The Spartans
3 December 1965 – The Dedicated Men’s Jug Band and support
4 December 1965 – The Montanas
6 December 1965 – The Telstars
10 December 1965 – The Mojos
11 December 1965 – The Montanas (replaced by Trendsetters Limited)
13 December 1965 – The Royals
17 December 1965 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs with support
18 December 1965 – Finders Keepers (replaced by The Candles)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 December 1965 – The Deltas
27 December 1965 – The Riots
31 December 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 January 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
7 January 1966 – The Power House Six
8 January 1966 – Zuyder Zee (a popular Dutch band)
14 January 1966 – The Emeralds
15 January 1966 – The Symbols
21 January 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
22 January 1966 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
28 January 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (Noddy Holder had recently left)
29 January 1966 – The Cougars
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 February 1966 – The Nite People
5 February 1966 – The Manchester Playboys
11 February 1966 – The Quiet Five
12 February 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited
18 February 1966 – The Meddyevils
19 February 1966 – The Condors
23 February 1966 – The Maurice Price Seven
25 February 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
26 February 1966 – The Vibros
2 March 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited
4 March 1966 – The Symbols
5 March 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
9 March 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited
11 March 1966 – The Hot Springs (formerly The Riots)
12 March 1966 – The Majority
16 March 1966 – Carnaby 1 Plus 4
18 March 1966 – The Tennessee Teams
19 March 1966 – Ray Anton & The Profoma
23 March 1966 – The Couriers
25 March 1966 – Cops ‘N’ Robbers
26 March 1966 – The Vogue
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 April 1966 – The Alan Bown Set
2 April 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
9 April 1966 – The Bystanders
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 April 1966 – The Emeralds
15 April 1966 – Kris Ryan & The Questions
16 April 1966 – The Big Sound with Karol Keyes
22 April 1966 – The Statesmen
23 April 1966 – The Kingpins
29 April 1966 – The Couriers
30 April 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
6 May 1966 – The First Lites
7 May 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
13 May 1966 – Carnaby 1 Plus 4
14 May 1966 – The Deltas
20 May 1966 – Peter Fenton with Him & The Others
21 May 1966 – George Bean & The Runners
27 May 1966 – The Silhouttes
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 May 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex
30 May 1966 – The Gaylords (this band became Marmalade)
3 June 1966 – The Anzaks
4 June 1966 – The ‘N Betweens (Noddy Holder may have joined by now)
6-10 June 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
11 June 1966 – The Vogue
13-17 June 1966 – The Vogue
18-24 June 1966 – The Bystanders
25-30 June 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
1 July 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 July 1966 – John Bull Breed (Bass player John Lodge joined The Moody Blues in October 1966)
4-8 July 1966 – John Bull Breed
9 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six
11-15 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six
16 July 1966 – The Nite People
18-22 July 1966 – The Nite People
23 July 1966 – Ray Grant & The Kingpins
25-29 July 1966 – Ray Grant & The Kingpins
30 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six
1-5 August 1966 – The Powerhouse Six
6 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
8-12 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 August 1966 – The Noblemen (Guitarist Martin Barre joined Jethro Tull in late 1968)
15-19 August 1966 – The Noblemen
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 August 1966 – Ray Anton & The Proform
21-22 August 1966 – The Symbols
Photo may be subject to copyright
23-24 August 1966 – The Quiet Five
25-26 August 1966 – Trendsetters Limited
27 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
29 August-2 September 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
3 September 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
4 September 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
5-9 September 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 September 1966 – Cops ‘n’ Robbers
12-16 September 1966 – Cops ‘n’ Robbers
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens (this Wolverhampton band later became Slade)
19-23 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
24 September 1966 – The Beau Oddlot
Photo may be subject to copyright
26-27 September 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
28 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
29-30 September 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
1 October 1966 – Giorgio & Mario’s Men
Photo may be subject to copyright
7 October 1966 – Listen (possibly Robert Plant’s band)
8 October 1966 – Blaises
14 October 1966 – The Voids
15 October 1966 – The Combine
21 October 1966 – The Anzaks
22 October 1966 – Mr Hip Soul Band
28 October 1966 – The Onyx Set
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 October 1966 – The Palmer James Group
4 November 1966 – The Rage
5 November 1966 – The Kingpins with Ray Grant
12 November 1966 – The Lonely Ones
19 November 1966 – The Raging Storms
26 November 1966 – The Talismen
2 December 1966 – The Reason Why
3 December 1966 – The Palmer James Group
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 December 1966 – Grand Union
16 December 1966 – Guest Group
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 December 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 December 1966 – The Onyx Set
24 December 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 December 1966 – Lord Caesar Sutch & The Roman Empire
31 December 1966 – Mr Hip Soul Band
7 January 1967 – Trendsetters Limited
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 January 1967 – The Albert Square
20 January 1967 – The Undertakers
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 January 1967 – The Bystanders
27 January 1967 – The Onyx Set
28 January 1967 – The Upliners
4 February 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
10 February 1967 – The Jaguars
11 February 1967 – The Ziggy Turner Combo
18 February 1967 – The Lonely Ones
25 February 1967 – The Raging Storms
4 March 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 March 1967 – The Palmer James Group
17 March 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
18 March 1967 – The Shannons
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 March 1967 – Paul Young’s Toggery
27 March 1967 – The Anzaks
31 March 1967 – Johnston McPhilby Five
1 April 1967 – The Measles
7 April 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 April 1967 – Heart & Souls
14 April 1967 –The Jaguars
15 April 1967 – The Vogues
21 April 1967 – The Jigsaw
22 April 1967 – The Delroy Good Good Band
28 April 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
29 April 1967 – The Sunspots
5 May 1967 – The Hoboes
6 May 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 May 1967 – The Onyx Set
13 May 1967 – The Outer Limits
19 May 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
20 May 1967 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
26 May 1967 – The Jaguars
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 May 1967 – The Lemon Line
2 June 1967 – The Hoboes
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 June 1967 – The Worrying Kynde
9 June 1967 – The Children
10 June 1967 – The Ray King Soul Band
Photo may be subject to copyright
16 June 1967 – The Parchment People
17 June 1967 – The Five Proud Walkers
23 June 1967 – Omega Plus
24 June 1967 – Dual Purpose
30 June 1967 – Pentworth’s People
Photo may be subject to copyright
1-7 July 1967 – The Mike Stuart Span
8 July 1967 – The Raging Storms
10-12 July 1967 – The Raging Storms
Photo may be subject to copyright
15-21 July 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
22-28 July 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band
29 July-4 August 1967 – Wellington Kitch Band
Photo may be subject to copyright
5-11 August 1967 – The Heart and Souls
12-18 August 1967 – The Delroy Good Good Band
19-21 August 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 August 1967 – The Tremeloes and The ‘N Betweens
23-25 August 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
26 August-1 September 1967 – The Ziggy Turner Combo
2-8 September 1967 – The Real McCoy
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 September 1967 – The Colour Supplement
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 September 1967 – Wynder K Frog
15 September 1967 – The Jaguars
16 September 1967 – The Strange Fruit
23 September 1967 – The Shame (Greg Lake was the band’s bass player)
30 September 1967 – The Workshop
7 October 1967 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 October 1967 – Scots of St James (rebooked for 17 November)
14 October 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
21 October 1967 – The Dreaded Spectres
28 October 1967 – The Omega Plus
3 November 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
4 November 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band
11 November 1967 – The Vogues
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 November 1967 – The Scots of St James
18 November 1967 – The Shiralee
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 November 1967 – The Cat Soul Packet
25 November 1967 – The Shame
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 December 1967 – The Shell Shock Show
2 December 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
8 December 1967 – The Foundations
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 December 1967 – Robert Plant & The Band of Joy
15 December 1967 – The Lamb Bros & Co
16 December 1967 – Dual Purpose
22 December 1967 – Sounds Incorporated
23-24 December 1967 – The Mike Stuart Span
Photo may be subject to copyright
26 December 1967 – Pinkerton’s Colours
29 December 1967 – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
30-31 December 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band
5 January 1968 – The Calgary Stampede
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 January 1968 – The Maze (singer Rod Evans and drummer Ian Paice co-founded Deep Purple)
12 January 1968 – The Clockwork Orange
13 January 1968 – The Go Show
19 January 1968 – The Tremeloes
20 January 1968 – John Drevar’s Experience
26 January 1968 – The Gods
27 January 1968 – The Purple Dream
2 February 1968 – Purple Art
3 February 1968 – Heart & Souls
9 February 1968 – The Vigilantes
10 February 1968 – Blossom
16 February 1968 – The Albie
17 February 1968 – The ‘N Betweens (the band became Slade)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 February 1968 – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
24 February 1968 – Cat Soul Show
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 March 1968 – The New York Public Library
2 March 1968 – The Firestones
8 March 1968 – The Bunch
9 March 1968 – The Maze
15 March 1968 – Freddie Mack Show
16 March 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 March 1968 – Status Quo
23 March 1968 – The Shell Shock Show
29 March 1968 – The Big T Sound
30 March 1968 – The Vogues
5 April 1968 – The Onyx
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 April 1968 – Wishful Thinking (formerly The Emeralds)
13 April 1968 – The Ebonites (no Friday artist)
15 April 1968 – Locomotive
19 April 1968 – New World
20 April 1968 – John Drevar’s Experience
Photo may be subject to copyright
26 April 1968 – The Shy Limbs (Greg Lake on bass)
27 April 1968 – Delroy Williams & The Sugar Band
3 May 1968 – My Dear Watson
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 May 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span
10 May 1968 – The Late
11 May 1968 – Fanny Flickers Rock ‘N’ Roll Band
17 May 1968 – The Firm
18 May 1968 – The Extreme Sound
20 May 1968 – The Mike Westbrook Band
25 May 1968 – Gerry Temple & The Storm (no Friday artist)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 May 1968 – The Penny Peep Show (Martin Barre joined Jethro Tull)
1 June 1968 – The Epics
3 June 1968 – The Ebonites
8 June 1968 – George Bean & The Runners (no Friday artist) (says they are Lulu’s backing band)
10 June 1968 – Breakthru
14 June 1968 – The Merseys
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 June 1968 – Floribunda Rose (John Kongos was singer)
17 June 1968 – Locomotive
21 June 1968 – Mud
22 June 1968 – Traction
24 June 1968 – Youngblood
25 June 1968 – Marmalade
28 June 1968 – Pepper
29 June 1968 – Cat Road Show starring US Flattop
There may be missing gigs during July as it wasn’t clear if artists played for the entire week
1 July 1968 – The Ebonites
3 July 1968 – The Ebonites
5 July 1968 – The Ebonites
6 July 1968 – The Jasper Stubbs Gloryland Band
8-10 July 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 July 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span
13 July 1968 – Finders Keepers
15 July 1968 – Finders Keepers
17 July 1968 – Finders Keepers
19 July 1968 – Finders Keepers
20 July 1968 – The Shiralee
22-24 July 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co
26 July 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co
27 July 1968 – Spectrum
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 July 1968 – Spectrum
30 July 1968 – Reperata & The Delrons, Clouds and Spectrum
31 July 1968 – Spectrum
3 August 1968 – The Californians
5-9 August 1968 – The Californians
10 August 1968 – The Light Fantastic (formerly The Vogues)
12-16 August 1968 – The Light Fantastic
17 August 1968 – Wishful Thinking
19 August 1968 – The Onyx
20-23 August 1968 – Wishful Thinking
24 August 1968 – Bubblegum
26-27 August 1968 – Bubblegum
30 August 1968 – Bubblegum
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 August 1968 – The Gods
2 September 1968 – The Gods (they may play all week but it is not clear)
6 September 1968 – The Gods
From this point onwards, it looks like gigs only took place on Saturdays
7 September 1968 – Traction
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 September 1968 – The ‘N Betweens
21 September 1968 – Jason Cord and First Chapter
28 September 1968 – Mike Raynor & The Condors
5 October 1968 – The Luddy Sammes Soul Packet
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 October 1968 – Scrugg (formerly Floribunda Rose)
The Kwintels with Paul Revere and the Raiders; Jerry Zubal, standing left
According to guitarist Jerry Zubal, the Kwintels started out as the Quintels, eventually dropping the “Qu” for a “Kw” for the sound-the-same-but-spelled-differently, more “rocking” handle. Jim Baranowsky, who also managed Tom Carson’s the Lazy Eggs, served as their manager.
Ad for the Kwintels, We Who Are, the Thyme and Harmon Street Blues at the Silver Bell Hideout, April 8, 1967
The Kwintels were regulars at the Punch Andrews-managed the Silver Bell Hideout, the Clawson Hideout, and the Birmingham Palladium. Their major gigs were the Southfield Pop Festival in July 1967 alongside SRC, Bob Seger and the Last Heard, the Rationals, and the Mushrooms featuring Glenn Frey. The Kwintels also opened for, and loaned out equipment to, according to Jerry Zubal, Paul Revere and the Raiders during their Detroit stop in 1965. Around that same time, the Kwintels, when Jerry Zubal was only 15, served as Freddie Cannon’s backing band during a Detroit stop in Lake Orion. Impressed with the teens, Cannon offered the Kwintels the slot as his permanent band; they turned him down to concentrate on original tunes. As was the course of bands in those days, they recorded covers of popular songs as singles, but those acetates were never pressed for release.
Later, Zubal joined the harder-rocking Tea, which was known for a time as Poetic Justice when Joe Aramini (Bob Seger’s later road manager) managed the band. Signed to Punch Andrews’s Palladium Records, which issued Seger’s early albums, Andrews felt “Tea” carried a detrimental “drug image,” so the band became 1776. Those 1971 sessions, overseen by Pampa Studios’ Jim Bruzzese and Greg Miller, who also engineered Bob Seger’s early catalog, resulted in the band’s lone, self-titled album. Featuring the Andrews-chosen singles: covers of Dave Mason’s “Only You Know and I Know” and the Bryds’s rearrangement of the Art Reynolds’ Singers’ “Jesus Is Just Alright,” only the latter charted on Detroit radio: the limited success of 1776 was usurped by the Doobie Brothers’ version, released a year later.
After the Kwintels, and prior to Tea, Jerry Zubal and Glenn Frey, he of the recently disbanded the Mushrooms and a co-writer on Bob Seger’s early songs, formed a creatively unsuccessful band. Frey, of course, relocated to the west coast and joined the Eagles. Jerry Zubal also relocated to Los Angeles.
Upon meeting guitarist Brian Naughton, formerly of Rock Candy (who issued one, Montrose-inspired, heavy-metal progenitor on MCA Records in 1970), the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and the Grass Roots, the duo formed the hard-rock concern Rockits. Renamed by their new management, The Toby Organization (also handled Quiet Riot and Angel), in 1974, Rockicks issued the album, Inside, on RSO Records in 1977. That album, along with later demos and unreleased RSO and MCA-era recordings, were compiled in the 2018 release: Keep on Rockin’: A Retrospective Anthology.
The Kwintel’s core members (who later became Tea): Jerry Zubal Mike Roush Bryan Barnes
Other members: Greg Ballard Bob Hinshaw
Tea of Rochester, Michigan: Left to Right: Bryan Barnes (G, V), Phillip Bliss (G, Steel Guitar), Jerry Zubal (G, V), Eggmahn (B), and Bill Doral (D).
In 2010, members of the Quintels/Kwintels held a reunion show in Detroit. You can enjoy a 12-song playlist of that show on You Tube.
Through the ’90s and 2000s, Jerry Zubal and Johnny Heaton, the latter of the West End, would later form the bands Roxius, Catching Fire, Seize, and Rock Anthem. You can enjoy an 18-song playlist of those bands on You Tube.
the schools ‘vocal director’ Donna Buel … Linda Tyra, Nancy Schunk, Janet Miller, Norma Sumner, Shirley Mangold, all 8th graders, Diane Rodenburg, Diane Schwander, Jill Lampe, Mary Schleue, Diane Spencer, all 7th graders, and Jane Labanz, a first grader … An eleventh member was added … in time for the studio ‘take’ … Melody Stinson now a ninth-grader at Oak Hills High School.
The Percussions backed the Sprites for their recording of “Little Latin Lupe Lu” / “On a Slow Boat to China”. The tape was sent to Wakefield Manufacturing in Phoenix, Arizona to be pressed, and the Wakefield code 7234 dates it to 1965.
Even more obscure is their second record, which probably features a different group of children, as the Wakefield number 14360 dates it to 1969 or 1970. “Consider Yourself” (from Oliver!) is about what you’d expect, and features backing by the Percussions (definitely not a rock group). The flip is the gentle and affecting “Jim’s Ballad” featuring guitar by Jim Wenstrup.
The Electros, April 1967, from left: Jim Wenstrup, Frank Luckey, Gene Yuellig, Rick Clark, and Ed Holloway
This must be the same Jim Wenstrup who played lead guitar with the Electros, a group from nearby Elder High School and Oak Hills High School. The Electros included Frank Luckey on rhythm guitar, Gene Yuellig on drums, Rick Clark on bass and Ed Holloway on vocals. The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a photo of the group on April 8, 1967, and mentioned that the Electros planned to cut a record “Chase Around the World” – but if they did I haven’t seen it.
I would like to know more about how the Sprites came to record what seems to be an original song by Jim Wenstrup.
The Ill Bred Mind were high school students from Sayreville, New Jersey, making their only single in 1969. There are no credits on the label, but I believe “How Can You Be Happy Today?” is an original song. The flip is a fine version of “Walk on By”.
My copy is autographed by another member, possibly Gary Jensen. Another copy (see below) has other names & spellings: including Greg Evigan (who became a well-known actor), Garry Jenssen, George B (?), Jimmy Smokey (?). I would appreciate help with deciphering the names. Youtube comments lead me to the name of another possible member: Bruce Elacqua.
The Ill Bred Mind recorded at Photo Sonics Laboratories at 236 Walnut St. in nearby South Amboy, releasing it on P.S.L. 20171.
Marty Ruszala owned or operated PhotoSonics Laboratories, also known as Triple A studio, where he engineered the Jerry Rivera “Lovin’ Man” single on Kim, and Brian O’Connor “How Was I To Know” / “Missing You” on Sayne Records 20168.
I can find two notices for live shows from the Home News, on August 1, 1969 at the Emma L. Arleth School, and at the Sayreville VFW Post 4699 on August 20.
Anyone have a photo of the Ill Bred Mind?
can you help decipher George and Jimmy’s surnames on this single?
The Panics started in 1963, formed at Huguenot High School in Richmond, Virginia.
The lineup was
Jimmy Sherwood – lead vocals and rhythm guitar Bill LaRue – lead guitar and vocals Bill Lyell – bass John Herbig – drums
Dwyane Givens was their equipment manager.
Their only single contains two original songs by Bill Lyell and Bill Larue, the mid-tempo “I Pretend” shows some Beatles influence, and the fast-paced “No More” opens with a Lennonesque “Oh!”
It was released on Shoestring Records SHO 107 in 1965, a styrene record from the Columbia Records plant at Terre Haute, Indiana.
Clyde Atkinson of the Wild Ones and Mickey Russell of the Fugitives also went to Huguenot High. The Fugitives had a single on Shoestring.
After the Panics, Bill LaRue would form a three-piece blues band, Blue Alfred. He would have one more record that I know of as Snelson & LaRue “I’m Tired of Getting Put Down” / “Making Your Mind Up it’s Over” with David Snelson and Cynthia LaRue, recorded at Audio Communications in Richmond.
Anyone have a good photo of the group?
A couple of very small photos of the group are in the booklet to Aliens Psychos & Wild Things vol. 2.
Picture sleeve for first single, with original drummer Skip BordenThe Creations came from Milford, Connecticut, releasing two singles “Crash” / “Chickie Darlin” in July 1964, and “Don’t Be Mean” / “Forty One Willis” in April 1965. Members were:
Chuck Delaney – lead guitar and vocals Howie Plant – rhythm guitar and vocals Danny Gomes – bass and vocals Skip Borden – drums, replaced in late 1964 by Jim Burnham – drums
Danny’s surname is spelled Gomes on the records, but Gomez in some news articles and on copyright registrations.
The first notice I can find for the group comes from the Bridgeport Post on July 28, 1964:
Four local boys, members of a combo billed as “The Creations” in its first recording for Top Hat records, will make a personal appearance at Fladd’s music center in Milford on Friday from 7 to 8 p.m.
The members of the combo are Howie Plant, Skip Borden, Dan Gomez and Chuck Delaney.
The group has appeared locally to play for numerous dances and are currently appearing at the Black Cat in Shelton on Wednesday evenings.
“Crash” is a frantic surf instrumental written by Chuck Delaney without a trace of British Invasion influence. Danny Gomes wrote the ballad flip, “Chickie Darlin”.
The band released it through New York label Top Hat Records, TH 1003. Top Hat had Rite Record Productions of Cincinnati press the records, pressing # 12699/12700.
Publishers Palais Royale Music and Marks Tey Music both seem connected to Top Hat Records, as earlier releases on Top Hat included those publishers.
A notice for a show at the Connecticut Post center for the United Fund from October 21, 1964 also includes Skip Borden in the lineup. By December 5, 1964, Jim Burnham had replaced Skip, as the Bridgeport Post ran a photo of the group with new drummer Jim Burnham after a benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy fund.
Creations in the Bridgeport Post, December 5, 1964, Jim Burnham joins the group
For their second record, Danny Gomes and Howie Plant co-wrote the pounding pounding Beatles-inspired “Don’t Be Mean”, while Delaney and Gomes collaborated on “Forty One Willis”, which refers to a ’41 Willys, a coupe popular with hot rodders (tip of the hat to Mike Markesich – I thought Forty One Willis was a street address!)
Released as Top Hat Records 1004, this was again a Rite pressing, using account number 1151 and Rite pressing code 13891/13892.
Like the first single, this came with a picture sleeve, very rare now. The photo on the front can be seen in the video below.
The Bridgeport Post ran a feature on the group on April 11, 1965, written by Barbara Verespey:
Members of the four-man group include Chuck Delaney, 20, who plays lead guitar and organized the original Creations and the present band, Danny Gomes, 18, bass guitarist and his father, Joseph Gomes, the group’s manager. Both boys are graduates of Milford high. Also, Howie Plant, rhythm guitarist, and Jim Burnham, drummer, are seniors at MHS, and aged 17 and 18 respectively. Jim joined the group in October when Skip Borden of Jonathan Law [High School] moved to Indiana, and feels it was his “biggest break.”
All of them sing except for Jim who “occasionally yells.”
Richard Coderre, their personal agent … “the most colorful agent in show business,” said “we’re shooting for the moon” …
Yesterday, The Creations made a return appearance on the Brad Davis show, Hartford. Their first telecast on the show was Feb. 13. Next stop, if plans work out, is a two-week engagement in Bermuda.
“41 Willys” [sic] and “Don’t Be Mean,” which Chuck and Danny collaborated on, were released March 12. The following week, the group cut “And She Lied,” “Wait For Me.” and “Someone New.” Danny and Howie wrote all three.
The four boys, whose hair is styled in the “fad,” released “Crash” and “Chickie Darlin'” last July. The former was written by Chuck, and the latter by Danny, who, incidentally, hasn’t seen a barber in six months.
Since last January, the group has appeared at Milford high dances and records hops at Enfield, Holyoke, Mass., and New Britain. They have played at the University of Bridgeport, University of Connecticut, Yale, Holy Cross, Bay Path and Central Connecticut colleges. The group has also … appeared at the Actors Colony in Derby, the Ambassador in Hamden, the Statler Hilton hotel, Hartford, the Roadside Inn, Fairfield, and the Etcetera Lounge and Golden Slipper in Long Island.
The Creations have just completed a booking at the Villa Rosa in Milford …
Chuck likes … sleeping, and dislikes snobby girls and liver. Danny also is against snobs, and his favorite interest is dating. Howie has no pet peeves and has expressed an interest in medical science. Jim enjoys playing billiards and dislikes liquor.
Head of the group’s fan club at MHS is Mary Gannett, but the Creations have a bigger following at Jonathan Law. Their officers are Barbara Emmons, president; Donna Skinner, vice president; and Gale Anderson, official correspondent.
Announcing the Creations appearance on the Brad Davis TV show, from left: Howie Plant, Chuck Delaney, Jim Burnham and Danny Gomes, Bridgeport Post, April 11, 1965
Three days later the Post ran a notice that the Creations would appear on The Brad Davis Show on Saturday, April 17, 1965, with Gene Pitney. I have seen a photo of the group with Brad Davis, but only have a poor-quality xerox of it.
That’s the last notice I can find for the Creations.
On April 16, 1965, Danny and Howie registered “Don’t Be Mean” and “Wait For Me” with the Library of Congress’s Copyright Office, and Chuck Delaney belatedly registered “Crash”.
On May 27, 1965, Daniel Gomez and Howard Plant registered two of the songs mentioned in the Bridgeport Post feature, “And You Lied” and “Wait for Me”. I have to think the Creations recorded these songs, but if so, no trace of them has turned up so far. Perhaps “Someone New” also exists on a demo acetate.
Paul E. Bezanker’s Connecticut Rocks! has some more info on the band that I need confirmation on: Howie Plant replaced by Howie West of the Realms (“Baby Let’s Wait” / “All I Want” on Melody ME 105). Bobby Sheehan replaced Howie West. Delaney replaced by Frank Woodman, also of the Realms. Fred O’Brien of the Long Island Sounds comes in on bass, and Danny Gomes becomes lead vocalist.
The group changed into the New Creations with Danny Gomes, Fred O’Brien, Bobby Sheehan and Rick Simpson, which became Bone in late 1967. After more lineup changes, Bone had one single “It’s an Easy Thing” / “Everybody’s Gone Into April” on Poison Ring 712 in 1969.
Pierce Jr. High School Halloween dance, Oct. 29, 1965, left to right: Bob Pelmear, Dale Kath, John Neff, Chris Chappell, and Frank Giglio. Photo courtesy of John Neff.
The Ascots hailed from the northern Detroit suburb of Pontiac and lasted from 1964 to 1967. The members were between 14 to 16 years old at the time of recording their only single. Frat Records/Watkins Music is the band’s own label-publishing arm. The 45-rpm/7” has no catalog number; the numbers noted on the label are the matrix codes noted in the run-outs and pressed at Columbia’s Detroit plant. Columbia pressed records for smaller labels, such as fellow Detroit imprint, Hideout. The single was recorded in August 1965, but released in April of 1966. Both sides of the single received airplay on Detroit’s WXYZ-FM and Ontario’s CKLW-AM. The band was managed by Jim Baranowsky, who also managed fellow Detroit teen-rockers, the Kwintels.
Chris Chappell — vocals John Neff — lead guitar Dale Kath — rhythm guitars Bob Pelmear — bass Frank Giglio —drums Jim Stiel — bass (replaced Pelmear; doesn’t appear on the single)
1966: left to right: John Neff, Dale Kath, Frank Giglio, Chris Chappell, and Bob Pelmear. Photo courtesy of John Neff.
John Neff and Bob Pelmear from the Ascots would later regroup, along with the brothers Joe and Paul Felice, to form the Tribe. Signed to Punch Andrews’s Hideout Productions (who oversaw Bob Seger’s career, as well as the early Detroit bands of the Eagles’ Glenn Frey), the Tribe issued Neff’s second-composed single, “Maple Street Park,” recorded at Ralph Terrana and Al Sherman’s Tera Shirma Studios. The Tribe soon changed their name to Pavement, prior to their 1968 break up.
Dale Kath formed the harder-edged Electric Blues Band while John Neff formed the Toad and the Mushroom; the latter recorded but never released an album with Elektra Records; acetates of those sessions aired on local Detroit radio. While EBB opened shows for the MC5 and Bob Seger, T & M opened the Detroit stops of Fleetwood Mac and the Spencer Davis Group.
John Neff’s later career featured award-winning partnerships with Walter Becker of Steely Dan and filmmaker David Lynch, as well as producing the Arnel Pineda-era catalog of Journey. In addition to appearing on 200-plus R&B and soul singles cut at Detroit’s United Sound in the early ’70s, he toured as a guitarist for country cross-over artist Hoyt Axton, proto-metalers Steppenwolf, and ’70s one-hit-wonder country rockers, Redeye.
White Heat 1972: left to right, back row: Ron Course, Charlie Verno, Dave Anderson. Front row: Johnny Heaton, Mike Sneed, and Dale Kath. Photo courtesy of Ron Course.
Dale Kath worked steadily on the Detroit scene into the early ’70s with the house bands Danny and the Zeltones and White Heat. White Heat’s Johnny Heaton was formerly with the West End. You can learn more about Danny and the Zeltones as part of our exploration of the career of the Coronados.
Pontiac Music and Sound’s Grand Opening, April 1973: “I did a lot of business at this store that started with Frank Merwin at the old Pontiac Percussion Center. My band, Toad and the Mushroom, recorded an album at the studio, then known as Pontiac Music and Sound, and mixed it at United Sound in Detroit.” — John Neff of the Ascots. Photo courtesy of Johhny Heaton.
There are no images or online audio available for the releases by the Tribe and the Toad and the Mushroom. The Pontiac Ascots are not be confused with the 29 other Ascots that released local and national singles in U.S. during the mid-to-late 1960s.
Sadly, we lost John Neff in December 2022. You can learn more about his successful, post-Detroit career with an extensive, January 2023 obituary by Clive Young at Mixonline.com. You can also learn more about his BlueBOB project with David Lynch at Wikipedia, and his film career in composition and sound at the IMDb.
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
Eddy and the Upsets had a number of singles beginning in 1966, sometimes as Eddie Dimas & the Upsets. Most of their singles are Mexican guitar instrumentals or ballads, but “I Got News” sounds very garage. Recorded at Audio Recorders in Phoenix, it was released on Dektr ARA-41668 in 1966 with the ballad “Cry Cry Cry” on the flip.
Jesus Escoto is on bass in the black & white photo and wrote “So Long”.
