Sensational: The All Bitchin’ All Stud All Stars and the roots of Country Dick Montana
(Ray Brandes’ exclusive account of a San Diego underground supergroup. Read the full version in Che Underground’s Related Bands section.)
Part impresario, part cheerleader and all entertainer, Beat Farmer, Penetrator and Crawdaddy Dan McLain had such an impact upon the San Diego music scene in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s that it is difficult to imagine how it might have developed without him. Those who knew him well speak of him reverentially — as a forefather, a catalyst and revolutionary. But it was his personality that endeared him to everyone he met.
Joe Piper, guitarist for the Crawdaddys, Decagents and Bogtrotters, remembers McLain fondly: “Easygoing, friendly, funny and personable, he had charisma out the ass. Dan really was one of the most decent, good-natured guys I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. He was an old school kind of guy. He was a gentleman and a scholar, a man’s man. Possibly he’d heard that old saw that a true gentleman will engage in an occupation that risks his life. Would that explain those precarious traverses across beer-slick bar tables like so many ice floes?”
Indeed, McLain had a commanding presence, an almost mythical sense of humor and a powerful charisma that ultimately proved too large to be contained by a provincial town like San Diego. The rest of the world would come to know him as Country Dick Montana, but long before he led the Beat Farmers to international stardom, McLain began developing an onstage persona that would serve as his trademark until his premature passing in 1995 at age 40.
In the late spring of 1980, McLain, who had recently left the Crawdaddys to drum full time for the Penetrators, was restless for yet another outlet for his irrepressible personality. For some time he had been concocting a plan to form a band for a single gig that would consist only of members of current “working” bands in the local punk scene. The band would have a horn section and another drummer so he could sing lead. And he wanted to call it “The Sensational Big M.R. and his All Bitchin’, All Stud, All Stars.” Piper says, “It was pretty much all about promoting a sense of community and camaraderie amongst the guys. Just an excuse to get together and have fun with the boys.”
Penetrators keyboardist and saxophonist Jim Call remembers that the choice of name was not entirely whimsical. “To qualify for membership you had to be in a band — be a ‘star,’ ” says Call. “You had to be relatively studly. And if you were a studly star, you were by definition ‘bitchin.’ This idea was all in place before Dan chose anyone. There was very little evolution to the band. The concept arrived, Minerva like, fully formed from Dan’s active imagination. The realization varied very little from the concept.”
Gary Heffern, Penetrators lead singer and All Stars choir member, recalls a particularly strong influence upon McLain. “Dan was a huge Dean Martin fan, and so he wanted to try his hand at showbiz, in a group with horns.” Joe Piper theorizes that a primary impetus for the formation of the All Stars was to provide McLain with a forum to sing Bob McFadden and Dor’s 1959 novelty jazz record, “The Beat Generation”:
Some people like to rock. Some people like to roll.
But me, I like to sit around to satisfy my soul.
I like my women short. I like my women tall.
And that’s about the only thing I really dig at all.
Piper also reminds us that McLain was first and foremost a showman: “He was the first person I knew who really understood he was an entertainer and that, say what you will, when you get up on stage, you’re in show biz. Dan was the first person I knew who truly understood that and owned it and was absolutely unapologetic about it. He was a genuine, generous, thoughtful, funny guy. I believe he also knew that wasn’t reason enough to expect people to fork over their hard earned cash in order to experience ‘The Wonder of Him’. He knew that he had to reinvent himself into something that people would find entertaining and would ultimately prove popular enough to pay the bills. And so we got Monty Rocker, The Sensational Big M.R, and Country Dick.”
McLain sent word to his friends in local bands, enlisting the services of some of the scene’s most recognizable faces. Guitarists Mark Neill from the Unknowns and David Farage from DFX2 were among the first to join. The Penetrators’ Chris Sullivan (bass) Tim from Private Sector (drums) and a horn section, dubbed the Stax of Sax and consisting of Call and Mark from Private Sector were recruited. A choir, featuring the vocal talents of Heffern, the Unknowns’ Bruce Joyner and DFX2’s Douglas Farage, rounded out the line-up.
Rehearsals were held at McLain and Heffern’s infamous punk rock house in Chollas View, near 54th and Redwood Streets, and were well-lubricated to say the least. Jim Call remembers that the band members took the All Stud moniker quite seriously. “There was lots of beer, and plenty of bourbon drinkers too. It was understood that the drinking should be manly. As such, there were no wine coolers, or Mai Tais, or flavored anything. Whiskey and beer were de rigeur.”
The term “rehearsal” is perhaps a bit too precise for what Call describes as “lurching approximations of songs.” Call says, “We were all from DIY punk and new wave San Diego bands. Some of us had very limited skills on our instruments. Many of us, really. There were some who had been in bands predating that era and were a little more accomplished. Those guys were the ones who first picked out the chords and beat — and the rest just tried to keep up as best we could. Arranging consisted of trying really hard to make it sound ‘right.’ ”
The project was clearly McLain’s baby from conception onwards. Call says, “There was nothing democratic about it. We all deferred to Dan. We all knew he was on to something special.”
McLain chose the songs, which dealt largely with “manly themes,” and which often had to be adjusted to fit his basso profundo. These tunes included Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons,” and “Mondo,” a perverse reworking of Lorne Greene’s 1964 novelty record “Ringo,” with new lyrics about a masturbation contest. There were a couple of times, however, when McLain allowed some of the Studs to make song suggestions. According to Penetrators bassist Chris Sullivan, “I do remember saying that we had to do Elvis’s ‘Burnin’ Love,’ or I wouldn’t play. Dan said something like, ‘Fine Mr. Loverboy, we will do Burnin’ Love — just keep all your Surf Bunnies at high tide!’”
The band, officially named The Sensational Big M.R. and his All Bitchin’ All Stud All Stars, made its debut performance on Saturday, June 7, 1980, at the Zebra Club with Canadian punk band the Subhumans. The All Stars muscled through the aforementioned songs, plus exuberant versions of Gene Vincent’s “Cruisin’ ” and Conway Twitty’s “Lonely Blue Boy.” The packed club jeered, shouted and sang along. Heffern remembers, “Dan told all the girls to start screaming — so they did! I think everyone either liked it or was confused by it, but it was a definitely a defining moment of the making of Country Dick.”
Call adds, “The band, 13 unwieldy punk-rock musicians, was anything but tight. But we played with pretend booze-fueled gusto and punk rock enthusiasm and it was obvious to all that we were having a grand time — most of all the Big M.R. himself.”
Read the full story of The Sensational Big M.R. and his All Bitchin’ All Stud All Stars!
— Ray Brandes
Photos and flyers used courtesy of Mark Zadarnowski and Joe Piper. ABASAS photo at the North Park Lions Club by Harold Gee.
Also by Ray Brandes:
- The Penetrators: Walking the Beat
- Dream Sequence: The history of the Unknowns
- Let the Good Times Roll: The untold history of the Crawdaddys
- The Zeros: I Don’t Wanna Be a Hero, I Just Wanna Be a Zero
- Lend Me Your Comb: A short history of the Hedgehogs
Tags: Bruce Joyner, Country Dick Montana, Dan McLain, David Farage, DFX2, Douglas Farage, Gary Heffern, Harold Gee, Jim Call, Joe Piper, Kearny Mesa, Lou Skum, Mark Neill, Mark Williams, Mark Zadarnowski, Private Sector, Randy Landis, San Diego punk, the Beat Farmers, the Crawdaddys, the Decagents, the Penetrators, the Sensational Big M.R. and his All Bitchin’ All Stud All Stars, the Spirit, the Subhumans, the Unknowns, Western Audio, Zebra Club
October 18th, 2009 at 12:42 am
It’s unfortunate that I can’t verify my comment as it came from my dad who passed away a few years back. The story he told me is that Country Dick was a student of his at Grossmont College, and that Country Dick had on more than one occassion streaked through the campus, a popular sport at the time. But the better story was that Country Dick was the first student body VP to be impeached at Grossmont High. Don’t know the truth of any of it, but it sounded both plausible as well as admirable to me.
October 18th, 2009 at 12:42 am
It’s unfortunate that I can’t verify my comment as it came from my dad who passed away a few years back. The story he told me is that Country Dick was a student of his at Grossmont College, and that Country Dick had on more than one occassion streaked through the campus, a popular sport at the time. But the better story was that Country Dick was the first student body VP to be impeached at Grossmont High. Don’t know the truth of any of it, but it sounded both plausible as well as admirable to me.
October 18th, 2009 at 2:53 am
This is,er,WONDERFUL,and the sound quality is really good.Can we hear the whole thing?I would love to hear the whole show.must be something wrong with me!
October 18th, 2009 at 2:53 am
This is,er,WONDERFUL,and the sound quality is really good.Can we hear the whole thing?I would love to hear the whole show.must be something wrong with me!
October 18th, 2009 at 2:54 am
DON’T LOOK ETHEL!
October 18th, 2009 at 2:54 am
DON’T LOOK ETHEL!
October 18th, 2009 at 10:24 am
All the participants in this project who spoke to Ray described how rag-tag the process was, but these tracks are great! They sound really tight to me.
This is another occasion when I wish I’d had a driver’s license and a little more of a clue in 1980. I only got to shows sporadically that year, at the mercy of older friends with wheels, and there were as many losers as winners. These ABASAS gigs would’ve been total winners.
October 18th, 2009 at 10:24 am
All the participants in this project who spoke to Ray described how rag-tag the process was, but these tracks are great! They sound really tight to me.
This is another occasion when I wish I’d had a driver’s license and a little more of a clue in 1980. I only got to shows sporadically that year, at the mercy of older friends with wheels, and there were as many losers as winners. These ABASAS gigs would’ve been total winners.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Man, I’m so glad that you got to talk to Joe Piper…He nailed Dan in a nutshell…Joe, I forgot you were in the Crawdaddys! Now if someone in San Diego could only get that gold jacket of mine back!!! Great job, again Ray.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Man, I’m so glad that you got to talk to Joe Piper…He nailed Dan in a nutshell…Joe, I forgot you were in the Crawdaddys! Now if someone in San Diego could only get that gold jacket of mine back!!! Great job, again Ray.
October 18th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
It was a gas, cavorting with other manly men! Ray, you keep hitting ‘em outta the park! The article made me go through my cassette collection, and I found the very first All Bitchin’ All Stud show. It’s on a cheesy, cheep, cassette. I don’t have anything to play it on, or to convert it to CD. I’m leary of the tape falling apart, but if anyone could convert it without it falling apart-LETS DO IT. Ray, let me know if you have any ideas. I also have a cool old B&W 8 x 10 of us onstage, after a show, preening and strutting our rich manly plumage. It looks like we were at the Spirit?
October 18th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Another thought from the Zebra show to the other band members. Who remembers this?…we had done a soundcheck, and decided to go eat or have a drink (yeah we might have tipped one or two) anyway as we are walking back to the club, (I think it was Mark) says “hey my car is gone- it was parked right here-somebody stole my car”. As we are standing outside the club, trying to make sure that Mark is sure about where he parked, we see some guy driving by-IN HIS CAR! We start chasing his car down the street (looked like the mob sceen from Frankenstein) and luckily it was downtown, so he couldn’t drive very fast. I’m the first one to reach the guy, (he has the window rolled down) and I pull him out of the car by his head! It must have been like recreating childbirth for him! As I’m banging his head on the ground, until I get a shape I like, We realize that Mark’s car is still driving down the street by itself! There goes the mob from Frankenstein again! Anyway, they stop the car, the cops come, scrape the creep up (he kept telling the cops that he was just moving the car to a better location, out of concern that it may be stolen in that neighborhood), and the show went on…fueled by adrenalin! So, if we were playing a little fast, thats the reason why!
October 18th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Another thought from the Zebra show to the other band members. Who remembers this?…we had done a soundcheck, and decided to go eat or have a drink (yeah we might have tipped one or two) anyway as we are walking back to the club, (I think it was Mark) says “hey my car is gone- it was parked right here-somebody stole my car”. As we are standing outside the club, trying to make sure that Mark is sure about where he parked, we see some guy driving by-IN HIS CAR! We start chasing his car down the street (looked like the mob sceen from Frankenstein) and luckily it was downtown, so he couldn’t drive very fast. I’m the first one to reach the guy, (he has the window rolled down) and I pull him out of the car by his head! It must have been like recreating childbirth for him! As I’m banging his head on the ground, until I get a shape I like, We realize that Mark’s car is still driving down the street by itself! There goes the mob from Frankenstein again! Anyway, they stop the car, the cops come, scrape the creep up (he kept telling the cops that he was just moving the car to a better location, out of concern that it may be stolen in that neighborhood), and the show went on…fueled by adrenalin! So, if we were playing a little fast, thats the reason why!
October 18th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Wow, Ray,… amazing! I’m now thinking about following your advice and posting my singular post-college experience through your most able editorial filter. Or, just having you write it. Your prior statement, at the outset of this blog, would be a spoiler, tho’, please delete it and we’ll talk. Can’t wait to hear the mash-up of Richard Hell and M.R.’s “Blank Generation”!
October 18th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Wow, Ray,… amazing! I’m now thinking about following your advice and posting my singular post-college experience through your most able editorial filter. Or, just having you write it. Your prior statement, at the outset of this blog, would be a spoiler, tho’, please delete it and we’ll talk. Can’t wait to hear the mash-up of Richard Hell and M.R.’s “Blank Generation”!
October 18th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Chris,
That’s a great story! Joe Piper was in the audience at the Zebra, taped the show with a little portable cassette player, and then converted it all to mp3 for me! I can burn you a CD easily if you like.
I’m in awe of those of you who had the presence of mind to save everything from those days. (Chris has a large and impressive collection of photos, flyers, articles, etc.) and so does Joe Piper. I saved NOTHING from my younger days!
Matt,
I’d be honored to help out in any way I can, but I tell you--that story deserves a book.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Chris,
That’s a great story! Joe Piper was in the audience at the Zebra, taped the show with a little portable cassette player, and then converted it all to mp3 for me! I can burn you a CD easily if you like.
I’m in awe of those of you who had the presence of mind to save everything from those days. (Chris has a large and impressive collection of photos, flyers, articles, etc.) and so does Joe Piper. I saved NOTHING from my younger days!
Matt,
I’d be honored to help out in any way I can, but I tell you--that story deserves a book.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
This stuff is frickin awesome! Keep it all comin. Chris, I can help you with digitizing that tape if you want. It’s a piece of history and it should be preserved before it does fall apart. Also one question. Was wondering if the Snugglebunnies ever made any records and if they did, where those tapes might be. Lemme know, you guys are all doing some great work here, thanks…
October 18th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
This stuff is frickin awesome! Keep it all comin. Chris, I can help you with digitizing that tape if you want. It’s a piece of history and it should be preserved before it does fall apart. Also one question. Was wondering if the Snugglebunnies ever made any records and if they did, where those tapes might be. Lemme know, you guys are all doing some great work here, thanks…
October 18th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Yes, I was in the audience at the Zebra Club, but my cheesy, cheep cassete recording of the show was given to me by Dan.
My vague memory is that it’s a copy of a soundboard recording made by (even vaguer memory) Mark Neil.
Chris, you’re right to worry about potential disaster during the conversion process. After I’d already transferred the Zebra Club tape once, I decided to tweak a couple of settings and take another pass at it. Of course that was when the rubber tape transport dinguses in my ancient cassette deck decided to disintegrate and take out about a foot of the tape with them.
Gary,
High praise, indeed. Thank you.
Ray,
Thank you.
October 18th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Yes, I was in the audience at the Zebra Club, but my cheesy, cheep cassete recording of the show was given to me by Dan.
My vague memory is that it’s a copy of a soundboard recording made by (even vaguer memory) Mark Neil.
Chris, you’re right to worry about potential disaster during the conversion process. After I’d already transferred the Zebra Club tape once, I decided to tweak a couple of settings and take another pass at it. Of course that was when the rubber tape transport dinguses in my ancient cassette deck decided to disintegrate and take out about a foot of the tape with them.
Gary,
High praise, indeed. Thank you.
Ray,
Thank you.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
it’s weird that dan and i quit the stage the same year.
perhaps weirder is the fact neither of us even noticed the other
hanging it up for calmer climes.
we certainly had our differences…..i think we represented opposite extremes within the scene…my always pretending music can move forward and be fresh, new, intelligent, innovative, and inspire the very best in us….
and dan being okay being “the happy boy” wanting to be dean martin or something.
but no matter our differences, he was always a decent guy…at least from what i could see — and from the evidence presented here…i’m seeing with dan mclain, what you saw was what you got.
and whatever that may have been to you…..man, it was a lot.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
it’s weird that dan and i quit the stage the same year.
perhaps weirder is the fact neither of us even noticed the other
hanging it up for calmer climes.
we certainly had our differences…..i think we represented opposite extremes within the scene…my always pretending music can move forward and be fresh, new, intelligent, innovative, and inspire the very best in us….
and dan being okay being “the happy boy” wanting to be dean martin or something.
but no matter our differences, he was always a decent guy…at least from what i could see — and from the evidence presented here…i’m seeing with dan mclain, what you saw was what you got.
and whatever that may have been to you…..man, it was a lot.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Personally, I think this project qualified as conceptual art — except, like, enjoyable.*
*N.b.: Some fancy-ass conceptual art is enjoyable, too. But some of it is a well-known drag. This looks like huge fun, really clever, it sounds great, and Dan had a beautiful idea getting all these different musicians together. Two thumbs up!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Personally, I think this project qualified as conceptual art — except, like, enjoyable.*
*N.b.: Some fancy-ass conceptual art is enjoyable, too. But some of it is a well-known drag. This looks like huge fun, really clever, it sounds great, and Dan had a beautiful idea getting all these different musicians together. Two thumbs up!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Another fascinating piece, Ray! I vaguely remember that NPLC show. Wish I could recall more, but the photo and audio clips are amazing! Is that Dave Rinck looking off to the left (his right) in the audience at NPLC?
Thanks Ray, Mark, and Joe!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Another fascinating piece, Ray! I vaguely remember that NPLC show. Wish I could recall more, but the photo and audio clips are amazing! Is that Dave Rinck looking off to the left (his right) in the audience at NPLC?
Thanks Ray, Mark, and Joe!
October 19th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Who is holding the acoustic guitar off stage on right???
October 19th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Who is holding the acoustic guitar off stage on right???
October 19th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
>>Who is holding the acoustic guitar off stage on right???
It’s the ghost of Phil Ochs!!
October 19th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
>>Who is holding the acoustic guitar off stage on right???
It’s the ghost of Phil Ochs!!
October 19th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Qu’est-ce que???
October 19th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Qu’est-ce que???
October 19th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Ramblin’ Lou Skumington!
October 19th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Ramblin’ Lou Skumington!
October 19th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Can’t be!!
If anyone has the power of inserting themselves into others performances it is Lou.
I wish I could tell all the stories!! Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, The Decline, even Dion…he was onstage!!
October 19th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Can’t be!!
If anyone has the power of inserting themselves into others performances it is Lou.
I wish I could tell all the stories!! Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, The Decline, even Dion…he was onstage!!
October 19th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Yeah I see it…”you talking to me”??
Matt you are a media master.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Yeah I see it…”you talking to me”??
Matt you are a media master.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Oh god, I remember Lou walking away from the Mod house, cracked stringless guitar in hand. “Where you going Lou?” “I’m gonna play with the MR Allstars.” “Yeah, sure…”
Then I get to the show. Sure as shit, there he was. I distinctly remember one song when a solo was coming and Dan belts out “Hit it Skum!” and Lou played air guitar while someone else played the solo! When great minds collide…
By the way, my brother Tim took that Lions Club photo. He’s got a lot of classic photos (including a great portrait of the aforementioned Mr Skum) that I will scan and send to Matt (at some point!).
October 19th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Oh god, I remember Lou walking away from the Mod house, cracked stringless guitar in hand. “Where you going Lou?” “I’m gonna play with the MR Allstars.” “Yeah, sure…”
Then I get to the show. Sure as shit, there he was. I distinctly remember one song when a solo was coming and Dan belts out “Hit it Skum!” and Lou played air guitar while someone else played the solo! When great minds collide…
By the way, my brother Tim took that Lions Club photo. He’s got a lot of classic photos (including a great portrait of the aforementioned Mr Skum) that I will scan and send to Matt (at some point!).
October 19th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Tom--that’s hilarious.
Glad to find the original source of the photo. I got it from Mark, who got it from Lydia. Harold Gee thought it might have been his.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Tom--that’s hilarious.
Glad to find the original source of the photo. I got it from Mark, who got it from Lydia. Harold Gee thought it might have been his.
October 19th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Thanks again for the great photo and memory Tom!
October 19th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Thanks again for the great photo and memory Tom!
October 20th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
>>“Hit it Skum!”
… Is my favorite phrase of the week.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
>>“Hit it Skum!”
… Is my favorite phrase of the week.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I’d love some more Monty Rockers lore, y’know … And I’d like to know where the cool kids like Dan bought their records in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Were there earlier local spots that would’ve inspired Monty Rockers, Blue Meanies and other contemporaneous record stores?
PS: Here’s an older thread full of chewy record-store goodness …
October 20th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I’d love some more Monty Rockers lore, y’know … And I’d like to know where the cool kids like Dan bought their records in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Were there earlier local spots that would’ve inspired Monty Rockers, Blue Meanies and other contemporaneous record stores?
PS: Here’s an older thread full of chewy record-store goodness …
October 20th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
OK … I went searching for “Monty Rockers” and found this variant — perhaps apropos at our advanced age.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
OK … I went searching for “Monty Rockers” and found this variant — perhaps apropos at our advanced age.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Matt,
Here’s a thing I posted on my blog about Monty Rockers and Dan (forgive me if I’ve already posted it in another comment):
http://ladimensiondetrastos.blogspot.com/search/label/dan%20mclain
And here’s another about Frank Gutch who ran “Scratching the Surface” in Hillcrest about 77-78:
http://ladimensiondetrastos.blogspot.com/search/label/frank%20gutch
October 21st, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Matt,
Here’s a thing I posted on my blog about Monty Rockers and Dan (forgive me if I’ve already posted it in another comment):
http://ladimensiondetrastos.blogspot.com/search/label/dan%20mclain
And here’s another about Frank Gutch who ran “Scratching the Surface” in Hillcrest about 77-78:
http://ladimensiondetrastos.blogspot.com/search/label/frank%20gutch
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Heh!
I don’t know if that’s Rinck in the picture -- but I’m sure it’s Klowden/G.I., staring straight at the camera, from the thick of the crowd…
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Heh!
I don’t know if that’s Rinck in the picture -- but I’m sure it’s Klowden/G.I., staring straight at the camera, from the thick of the crowd…
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
I’m guessing that is Bart Cheever (from the band 7A and aka DJ Blackstone) on the right of the stage (stage left?), playing what looks like maraca, vocals and cigarette.
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
I’m guessing that is Bart Cheever (from the band 7A and aka DJ Blackstone) on the right of the stage (stage left?), playing what looks like maraca, vocals and cigarette.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Dave,
That’s Mark Z!!! And he’s the one who gave me the photo!
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Dave,
That’s Mark Z!!! And he’s the one who gave me the photo!
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 pm
So the drummer was Tim Hurley, right? Wonder whatever happened to him.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 pm
So the drummer was Tim Hurley, right? Wonder whatever happened to him.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:10 am
woops…! …I stand corrected.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:10 am
woops…! …I stand corrected.
October 24th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Oh, Harold says that this is his photo? Could be, I found an 8X10 in a box of my brother’s early punk scene 8X10s. I’ll defer to Harold since I can’t ask my brother (and I don’t want to go through all of his negatives/proofs!).
October 24th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Oh, Harold says that this is his photo? Could be, I found an 8X10 in a box of my brother’s early punk scene 8X10s. I’ll defer to Harold since I can’t ask my brother (and I don’t want to go through all of his negatives/proofs!).
October 24th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
>> I’ll defer to Harold
Tom G: Awwww! I think in the manly spirit of ABASAS, y’all should WRESTLE for it!
October 24th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
>> I’ll defer to Harold
Tom G: Awwww! I think in the manly spirit of ABASAS, y’all should WRESTLE for it!
October 24th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
PS, Tom G: Thank you for the great links … This is crucial stuff!
October 24th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
PS, Tom G: Thank you for the great links … This is crucial stuff!
October 24th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Frank Gutch was also an unspoken hero of the scene…I till have fond memories of his going away party with maybe 4 of us in attendance, and putting a siv (sp?)on my head with shaving cream on it and chasing everyone around the house calling myself Siv Bators…well you had to be there. Ah Griz, I miss you old buddy.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Frank Gutch was also an unspoken hero of the scene…I till have fond memories of his going away party with maybe 4 of us in attendance, and putting a siv (sp?)on my head with shaving cream on it and chasing everyone around the house calling myself Siv Bators…well you had to be there. Ah Griz, I miss you old buddy.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
>>fond memories of his going away party
Heff: Where’d Frank Gutch go? And can we bring him back (online, anyway)?
October 24th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
>>fond memories of his going away party
Heff: Where’d Frank Gutch go? And can we bring him back (online, anyway)?
October 24th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
He moved up to Seattle, and I visited him there a couple of times, and passed away…he was working at Peaches records there and i went in to visit him, and thats when I found out.
October 24th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
He moved up to Seattle, and I visited him there a couple of times, and passed away…he was working at Peaches records there and i went in to visit him, and thats when I found out.
October 24th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
>>He moved up to Seattle, and I visited him there a couple of times, and passed away
Heff: That’s a shame! I was hoping it was this “Frank G” who says he’s a friend of Chris Sullivan and was in a recent online conversation about Ray’s initial Penetrators piece.
October 24th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
>>He moved up to Seattle, and I visited him there a couple of times, and passed away
Heff: That’s a shame! I was hoping it was this “Frank G” who says he’s a friend of Chris Sullivan and was in a recent online conversation about Ray’s initial Penetrators piece.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Maybe frank Glaser from the X-Offenders?
October 24th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Maybe frank Glaser from the X-Offenders?
February 13th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
It must be Frank Gutch, because he worked at the Licorice Pizza in PB before opening Scratching the Surface. Matt, I have his email address if you want it.
Gary, I remember I totaled my car after leaving Frank’s going away party. I was worried about the law, because it was unregistered, uninsured, and I was under the influence. The other driver got out of his car, and much to my relief said “whoa, bummer…want a lude?” To which I suggested that we just put our cars by the side of the road and forget the whole thing. It was a $300 ’61 Falcon, so to total it only required $301 of damage.
February 13th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
It must be Frank Gutch, because he worked at the Licorice Pizza in PB before opening Scratching the Surface. Matt, I have his email address if you want it.
Gary, I remember I totaled my car after leaving Frank’s going away party. I was worried about the law, because it was unregistered, uninsured, and I was under the influence. The other driver got out of his car, and much to my relief said “whoa, bummer…want a lude?” To which I suggested that we just put our cars by the side of the road and forget the whole thing. It was a $300 ’61 Falcon, so to total it only required $301 of damage.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I just the night before leaving found out that it was the Big MR show that I broke my caucsus (tailbone) at that i had to go to the hospital and had to sit on a cushion for 3 months afterward for.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I just the night before leaving found out that it was the Big MR show that I broke my caucsus (tailbone) at that i had to go to the hospital and had to sit on a cushion for 3 months afterward for.
February 16th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
You broke your ass for that band
February 16th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
You broke your ass for that band
February 25th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
February 25th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
February 25th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
The man, the myth, the legend…
February 25th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
The man, the myth, the legend…
March 6th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
I am here to say that it was Tim Griswold who shot the Lions club photo. Sorry Harold. I remember that it was packed and Tim raised his camera blindly over the heads of the crowd and aimed toward the stage. The fact that it came out nicely framed is amazing. I see a grinning idiot in the audience on the left side.