The Tasmanians ruled West Palm Beach, Florida in 1966-67. The group’s members came out of Melbourne High, Cocoa High, Satellite High, Merritt Island High and Brevard Junior College. Released on the local Conda label, “Baby” is a garage classic. Despite being a rare 45, it’s found its way onto many garage comps over the years. The flip side is a great pop song, “Love, Love, Love”.
Members were:
Mike (Gypsy) Carns – lead guitar and vocals
Robbin Thompson – lead vocals and acoustic guitar
Craig Davis – keyboards
Woody Pollard – bass and vocals
Greg Brunt – drums
Robbin Thompson’s site also mentions Steve Bland and Ronnie Cable as later members.
Thompson and Carns wrote three of the four songs released, with Woody Pollard’s help on “I Can’t Explain This Feeling”. Robbin’s name is spelled ‘Robin Thompson’ on the Conda labels and Mike Carns last name is spelled ‘Carnes’ on both.
Gypsy Carns wrote to me:
Robbin Thompson had a band called The Fab Gents – I joined that band and from there we formed the Tasmanians. He knew a couple of guys and I knew a couple of guys and we jammed with different people then we settled on this line up.
I’ll have to get with Robbin on how we met Bud Blount, but he was THE MAN without question and ruled the band with an iron hand. He was law enforcement in West Palm Beach Florida and an ex-Green Beret – so he had control of the band. We grew to be very popular in Florida and the south – had out the records and were by all accounts an energetic – rock till you drop – sort of with reckless abandon – type of band. You can hear it on BABY…the first single.
Robbin related this info to Jeff Lemlich:
“Baby” was written by me and Mike Carnes, now known as Gypsy Carns. “Baby” and “Love, Love, Love” were produced by a guy named Bud Blount, who was our manager at the time and also a cop in Boca Raton. I think a guy named Dave Hieronymus [drummer of the R-Dells/American Beetles/Razor’s Edge, later producer, engineer, and studio owner] had something to do with it from the production side also. He was a writer from Nashville who wrote the “b” side of a second 45.
I think all four songs were recorded at the same time at Criteria Studios in Miami. the band was “discovered” by the manager and father of a member of the band “Count Five” the one-hit wonders of the song “Psychotic Reaction”. They introduced Bud to us. Bud was a part-time concert promoter.
Robbin wrote to me recently:
We were introduced to our manager, Bud Blunt by the manager and father of the singer of the Count Five (“Psychotic Reaction”). The interesting part of that story is that when we played with the Count Five we were a whole different band called the Fab Gents. The band broke up for various reasons. We re-formed, called Bud and didn’t tell him we were really not the band that was seen by the manager of Count 5 except for me and Mike Carns. Bud’s younger brother, Glen Blount was also in the mix of all of this.
The Tasmanians broke up after Craig Davis, the keyboard player got busted for smoking pot. He was set up by one of his high school teachers. She convinced him she wanted to try it and he went over to her house with a couple of joints. When he lit one up cops came from out of the woodwork and arrested him. He got off due to entrapment but we were all smokin’ by then and having a cop for a manager was a bit awkward so we parted ways. By that time Bud was a detective for the Boca Raton Police Dept. We kept up with him for a bit but he found another group to work with, the name escapes me but they were a straight laced kind of a pop band.
The Fab Gents and Tasmanians were regulars at the Melbourne Teen town which was at the Civic Center there. Between the two bands we opened for bands such as the Beau Brummels (they practiced in our living room before the gig), the Mind Benders, the Lemon Pipers, the Bitter End (a band with Allman Bros drummer Butch Trucks). We also opened (in other places) for the Turtles, Blue Cheer, Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts, Mamie Van Doren, Wayne Cochran and a group called The Seven of Us which later became NRBQ.
“Baby” and “Love,Love Love” were recorded in one session. “Can’t Explain this Feeling” and “If I Don’t” were recorded in different sessions at Criteria Studios in Miami by then novice engineer Ron Albert. At that time there was only one hit record on the wall there, James Brown’s “Please, Please, Please”, as I recall.
The only members still living in the original band are me and Mike (Gypsy) Carns. Craig Davis died several years ago.
Years went by and I searched Bud out. Gypsy Carns, Bud and I reconnected and have been keeping in touch for many years now.
For their second and last 45, the Tasmanians adopted a much more English feel – “I Can’t Explain This Feeling” is as good as some of the top UK freakbeat of the time. It’s b-side “If I Don’t” is competent if unspectacular Beatles-influenced pop. It’s released on the Power label, or Flower Power if you take the picture into account.
Gypsy Carns:
The manager agreed to cut this track [“If I Don’t”] – written by producer Dave Hieryonmous – ‘to get a better deal on the studio.’ The band hated this song and looked at it like a ‘sell out’. The track turned out great in retrospect but the band never played this song live.
Once the band splintered Robbin got some other guys together as the Taz but that was short lived and did not have the charisma the original band had. It was an awesome experience. Robbin and I are very close to this day.
After the Tasmanians broke up, Robbin Thompson joined the Blues People, Transcontinental Mercy Flight, Steel Mill and others.
Check out Gypsy Carns’s website www.gypsycarns.com.
Robbin Thompson’s website is www.robbinthompson.com.
Robbin Thompson wrote “Woody (Callis Woodson Pollard III) died of drug overdose in the early 70’s or earlier.” Gypsy Carnes tells me that Greg Brunt has also passed away.
Special thanks to Gypsy Carns for the photos of the band. News clipping and some info from the Limestone Lounge.
Things are shaping inside my head, I can’t explain this feeling
My mind is warping, my nerves are damp, it keeps me on the ceiling
I see a blur and I hear a shot, I can’t explain this feeling
I think my mind is gone to pot, it keeps me on the ceiling
People start to stop and stare, they can’t explain me sitting there
In a corner dark and damp, staring at a broken lamp
The crowd gets bigger the days go by, they’re wondering when I’m gonna die,
someone grabs me and pulls me down…
I feel an object but it isn’t there, I can’t explain this feeling
They say I’m wrong but it isn’t there, it keeps me on the ceiling
People start to stop and stare, they can’t explain me sitting there
In a corner dark and damp, staring at a broken lamp
The crowd gets bigger the days go by, they’re wondering when I’m gonna die,
someone grabs me and pulls me down…
The Tasmanians “I Can’t Explain this Feeling” by Carns, Pollard and Thompson
Robbin Thompson of the Tasmanians had a solo album in the 70s (and a near-hit with “Boy From Boston”), and went on to play with Springsteen. Playing with the Tasmanians was much more impressive!
if some generous and helpful guy have a copy for sale of the tasmanians “can’t explain this feeling” 45 on power and would like to sell it, please get in touch! thanks, Manuel at virginsleep@yahoo.es
Robbin Thompson of The Tasmanians continues to record, and has his own web site, Robbin Thompson.com, where you can find more information about The Tasmanians. Check under “Discography – 45’s”
“The Tasmanians were: Robbin Thompson, Mike “Gyspsy” Carns, Craig Davis, Greg Brundt, Woody Pollard . . . (and later featured Steve Bland and Ronnie Cable)..”
Manuel: I’m the originator creator, manager, chief booker, promoter and record producer for the Taz. I owned both Conda and Power labels. Did it while in college at FAU. To update your info on the Taz Woody Pollard and Greg Brunt are now deceased. Woody died in LA and Greg in his home town. Woody was a great base player and Greg a great drummer. Love’d them all and still do.
Still in touch with Robbin and Gypsy Carnes. Don’t know the current whereabouts of Craig Davis. Each of the group were special and very talented. It was great time and wonderful adventure. I have a colletion of pic and a few 45s. Contact me if you want to talk email me first.
Bud
Jeff,
Gypsy here – Mike Carns – of The Tasmanians. Great to see some folks still remembering an excellent band.
Woody and Greg have passed on as Bud stated in the post below. Craig Davis, last we heard, is still alive and well and working in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Robbin has had a very lucrative career in music as an artist, songwriter and studio owner. His website is: http://www.robbinthompson.com
I have continued to play and perform since the 60’s. Have had the pleasure to work for both Gibson Guitars in Nashville, TN and Peavey Electronics in Meridian, MS. I currently have 9 CD’s released in the Christian Blues vein.. My website is: http://www.gypsycarns.com all the music is free to download.
If you’re interested I have photos etc of the band.
One last comment for the record – that’s Carns not Carnes. 🙂
Rock On,
G
Hey my dad was Callis Woodson Pollard III and I am his kid Callis IV. My dad did die in 1974 but he died in Cape Canaveral Florida. This is very cool to see pictures of my dad. I wonder what caused the band to never make it big.
My name is Callis POllard IV my dad was Woody Pollard in the band Tasmanians. I did not know my dad he died before I was born so anyone knows him or anything about him I would love to hear it. Thanks CAL 912-604-6443.
the line-up of band members with “the weird beard” is:
steve bland-hammond b-3
mike carns-guitar
wood pollard-bass
greg brunt-drums
ronnie cable-guitar
robbin thompson-vocals
the photo was taken at the winter park teen town outside of orlando florida.
this was a short-lived line-up. steve bland and ronnie cable were former members of a band called “the fantastic group” fronted by bassist/saxplayer kenny cohen. kenny still lives and plays in brevard county florida.
of the ORIGINAL members (thompson, carns, brunt, pollard and davis)robbin thompson and mike(gypsy) carns are the only ones still alive.
good morning Cal,
I was a friend of your Dad’s and knew your mother Chris and her brother Jeff. I graduated from Cocoa Beach High School in 1965 with Woody’s older sister, Randy. I tried in vane to call you but the phone number listed has been disconnected. Please send me an email response and I will share my memories with your dad.
Bill
Went to Satellite High School with Mike (Gypsy). You intro indicates the band was popular at Cocoa Beach High School. There is no High School in Cocoa Beach. There was Cocoa High (on the main land) – but the only high school between Cape Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet is Satellite High. We graduated in 1967.
You are sadly mistaken . The IS a high school in Cocoa Beach . Cocoa Beach Junior Senior High School . That’s what is was named when it was built and when we went there . I’m surprised you said there was no high school in Cocoa Beach . What are you high on ?
Jimmy Rudolph here… I was the drummer for Cocoa Beach’s
superlative rock group “The Group “. Our line up was Kenny Cohen, bass, sax, vocals. Steve Bland, keyboards, trumpet, vocals. Ronnie Jay Cable, guitar, vocals. Myself drums and vocals. All four of us graduated from Cocoa Beach High School in 1965, 66 and 67… just for a correction.
I’m still an active musician but playing guitar and lead vocals. Live in southern calufornia. Keep on rockin.
jimrudolp60@gmail.com
I’ll check on that and correct it, thanks for the info.
Cocoa Beach High School opened in Sept 1964. I was in the first graduatig class in 1965.
I was the drummer for Cocoa Beach, Florida’s “THE GROUP” from 1965-1968.
Featuring: Kenny Cohen, Base, Sax, Vocals. Jimmy Rudolph, Drums, Vocals.
Jimmy Nielsen, Lead Guitar. Steve Bland, Farfisa Organ, Trumpet, Vocals.
Ronnie Cable, Rhythem Guitar, Vocals
In you final picture, of this site with the ‘Wierd Beard’ Steve Bland is on the far left and Ronnie Cable is on the far right.
Steve has passed away arounf 1991 but Ronnie is still living in Titusville Fl, last I new.
Jimmy Rudolph
Orange CA
Does anyone know what the jacket that Gypsy is wearing, on the second and third picture, is called?
I’d love to get photos and 45’s from this great Florida band!
Thanks,
Ken
i have a few. contact me through me e-mail address.
Hello to everyone out there that knows about The Tasmanians. I am Casey Brunt, Greg Brunts son. If anyone has more pics or a great story to share about my dad i would love to here it!! I still have one of his old kits and is still being played!Feel free to call or email. 925.570.3590 caseybrunt@gmail.com
They were called Nehru jackets.
I am Woody Pollard’s younger brother. I just found out about this site, and it brings back so many memories it is incredible. I remember everybody in the band, and Woody let me travel with them a couple of times. Unfortunately, he died in 1974 (at the age of 25), and never got to see his son. I have been living in Iowa for almost 40 years, but bought a condo in Cocoa Beach, and am planning to return to the best place on earth! All I can say is thanks for keeping the legacy of 1960’s garage rock bands alive. I wish Craig Davis was still around. I would love to see him.
Thanks again.
Kevin Pollard
563-340-2002
Hey Kevin,
I was friend of Woody’s when he and Don Morton ordered their first guitars from Lafeyete Electronic store catalog than followed up purchasing the silver tone amp. We use to practice in the garage and at Don’s house. I graduated with your sister in 65. I live in Rockledge, Fl
Hi Kevin, I lived across the street from you guys on Nassau Road in Cocoa Beach. I don’t know if it was Taz playing but my dad hated it when they practiced with the windows open. I don’t remember when you moved but another musical family moved in and they were much worse!
This is Callis Woodson Pollard iv here the son of Woody Pollard other wise known as Callis Woodson Pollard iii. Would love to here from Gypsy or robbin or anyone else anything about my dad as he died a few months before my birth. My uncles related to my dad and mom (Chris Sanderlin) are/were Jeff Sanderlin and Kevin Pollard, my aunt is Randy Pollard. Killer website, love seeing these old pictures of the tasmanians and seeing how close they were to the “big time”. Cal Pollard 706-745-3727. ciapollard@yahoo.com
RIP
http://m.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/article_e1885ec5-47ba-5f01-bc46-a3a7ebb4e772.html?mode=jqm
Callis woodson Pollard IV here son of “Woody” pollard. New phone number is 706-487-0678. I know a few people tried to contact me about taz and my Woody. This number is here to stay. Give me a ring.
Correction my dad Woody…. that last comment did not sound right. Ha. But really my dad was Woody Pollard from the Tasmanians. Thanks Callis “cal” Woodson Pollard iv.
Dude, this is amazing!! Love finding true-blue 60’s garage bands from my neck of the woods. These photos are incredible.