The Phase V came from Fort Worth, TX, and cut a rare single, “Opaque Illusions” / “The Promise I Keep” on Title Records S-101.
Members of the band were:
Steve Lamb – bass, vocals
Mike Kersh – rhythm guitar, lead vocals on “The Promise I Keep”
Monte Kersh – lead guitar, vocals
Rick Eubanks – keyboards, lead vocals on “Opaque Illusions”
Jim Cardwell – drums, vocals
Rick Eubanks wrote “Opaque Illusions”. Kendall Publ Co. is on the label but I can’t find any registration of copyright. I haven’t heard “The Promise I Keep” yet.
First mention I can find of the band is a notice of the group playing a back to school fashion show on August 12, 1967, sponsored by Penneys.
On Labor Day, September 4, 1967, the Phase V opened for the Doors at the KFJZ Teen Mardi Gras Pop Music Festival at the Round Up Inn in the Will Rogers Complex. The festival lasted for nine days and featured a different headliner each day and many local groups. Headliners included the Seeds, Box Tops, Standells, Electric Prunes, McCoys and Grass Roots.
Also in September the Phase V played the new Soul City Club for teens at 2918 East Belknap.
On October 31, 1967 they played Panther Hall’s Halloween Scene with the Jades, the Restless Set and the Sundown Collection, emceed by KFJZ DJ Stan Wilson.
Half an hour of footage from Panther Hall exists, I believe from this Halloween show. Unfortunately there’s only about 30 seconds of the Phase V tearing through Love’s “Seven and Seven Is”. I can recognize the white Gibson SG guitar from their band photo. However, in this clip, the bassist is singing lead vocals, and there is a second guitarist, so the lineup above may need some correction.
The group played Irving Teen-a-Go-Go on April 12 with the Tyme of Day, and appeared at a teen narcotics seminar the very next day.
July and November 1968 saw the Phase V playing at the White Settlement Youth Club and Jolly Time Skating Rink Teen Scene.
I’ve seen the band’s name rendered online as Phase Five or Phaze V, but it is Phase V in the photo and in all newspaper notices I’ve found.
I’d like to know more about the Phase V and this rare record.
This is my father and uncles band. They have since gone country but Opaque Illusions is one of my favorite tunes. I used to listen to it on vinyl until it was taken away from me by my dad, I feel like they were ahead of their time and didnt realize it. Thank you for finding them and putting them here. I love what you do.
I’m Jim Cardwell, Drummer/BG Vocals for Phase V.
I wanted to give credit to Phase V’s Manager and Booking Agent, Mr Norman Greenwald, who was responsible for a great deal of the band’s local success. Norman also handled the Dance Troupe, The Glenda Harris Dancers, who he often booked together with Phase V in the larger venues and which was perhaps catalytic in the perfect winning formula for an Exciting Act which helped propel us on the Local Circuit.
I’ve played a lot of Rock-N-Roll throughout the years but never had more fun than with Phase V. The 60’s were a highpoint for Garage Bands and Phase V was bright and shining among them. What a phenomenal time!
Remember Phase V from Leonard Middle School in 1970. Also remember that 1970 Dodge Daytona! Garage bands forever!
I agree with Jim. I’m Rick Eubanks, keyboardist, vocals and composer of the songs on our record. We were and still are great friends, still playing music and crossing paths occasionally, A few years back we got together and jammed for fun. Those days in the 60s were some of the best.