On Wednesday January 25 it will be three years since many of us here in north-central Ohio lost a good friend, who also happened to be perhaps the most natural-born talented bass player ever. Michael Ervin Johnson, only 48, passed on thanks to heart failure.

Still pisses me off.
 
Back in the 70′s Michael first picked up a bass and was a natural, instantly. He could listen to a tune once and play the bass lines perfectly. Many musicians back in the day remarked how proficient, how effortlessly, how quick to adapt and learn songs he was. A truly gifted musician. And although he didn’t do it often enough, Michael was one hell of a singer, a talent that he shared with his family.

Michael played in a number of bands in the 70′s in our little region of Ohio. He was also a ready substitute and fill in for various bands and while he shown brightly as a full time member of assorted bands and permutations he probably had the most fun and most recognition as a founding member of Damage, a hard rock band out of Wayne County (primarily Orrville & Wooster musicians) that built a solid and popular reputation during the latter years of the 70′s throughout the Wayne County – Canton – Akron – Mansfield region.

In Damage Michael, a black man, played the heaviest, funkiest, sweatiest, crunchiest rock ‘n roll bass riffs around. He was untouchable, as numerous musicians have stated over the years. Talented, gifted, he could play any style of music proficiently, whether it was rock ‘n roll, R & B, funk, soul, gospel, you name it, if Michael liked it, he could play it. He was the USA answer to Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy.

In Damage Michael was often times ‘the show’. Meaning, if the vibe wasn’t quite right, if the crowd was moody or cranky, Michael would slap the crap out of that bass even more and start working his ‘moves’ on stage that nearly always got the crowd in a more festive, and dancing, mood.  Yes, Michael knew all about ‘the show’ part of show business and the others did their best to emulate him.

                                          DAMAGE taking no prisoners!

Besides Michael, who also contributed back up vocals, Damage consisted of Jerry Kirven and Mark Good on guitars, drummer Tom ‘Bones’ Morrison and singer Rick Thistlethwaite. Rick Gidley joined the band as the light & sound tech (and many other duties).

Beyond the music, just as a person, Michael Johnson was one hell of a good guy. Have so many good and fun memories of him from back in the day, through high school and just beyond a bit. Michael was cool in a variety of ways, chief among his ‘cools’ was he never showed any pressure, anxiety or worry. He was cool, calm & collected.

And funny as hell!

Damn, we had some good times. (And no, I’m not going to share them with you. Unless you were with us at the time! Since the whole band was involved, I may tell the story of the $2,000 bar tab sometime….)

I’ve lost quite a number of friends over the years and it will likely continue, but sitting here tonight planning my week, it just hit me why January 25 was significant. Michael! Too young.

This website owner (far right), Michael & Castle Theatre manager watch Rick Gidley do all the heavy lifting prior to a gig at the Castle Theatre.

I remember going to the services for Michael and the place was absolutely packed, wall to wall people, standing room only! I had to smile. Of course, everyone loved Michael! The hardest part was watching his family, his siblings, send him off. The wonderful Bishop Lottie Smith handled the services with his brother Rev. Jimmy Johnson reading scriptures while his brother Rufus sang. Oh yeah, can Rufus ever sing. Ask around. As good as Michael was on a bass, Rufus is that good with his voice. Another generation of pure talent who performed was Michael’s niece, Tiffany Johnson.

And of course sister Ruth, a friend from high school, was there to comfort their Mother, Mrs. Gertrude Johnson-Howard, a precious, sweet lady who, over the years, never knew a stranger and welcomed any stray (like myself) who wandered into their home with one of her kids. A beautiful lady (and who graciously sent me one of the sweetiest, most cherished letters afterwards).

Michael left behind his wife, Pamela, and children Erica Johnson, Nathan & Nikolas Johnson. And lots and lots of memories that hundreds of people who knew him will not likely forget.

How good was Michael Johnson as a bass player? No less than Kim Simmonds, legendary lead guitarist of the British Blues Band, Savoy Brown, once commented about Michael after watching him perform with Damage: “Why the hell isn’t he in the big time? He’s amazing! That kid can go far, he feels the music. He’s bloody damn well good, he is.”

Yeah, Michael was that good.

Click on image to enlarge!

All Good Vibrations & Positive Energy & Good Things To You Lauren!

Everyone has ‘skeletons’ in their closet…. like old photgraphs from grade school, junior high and high school. As part of the Class of ’76 our 35th reunion was held several months ago and the glancing through a yearbook from back in the day and seeing the same folks 35 years later…. can be alarming, amusing & amazing. (Some people age better than others. I am not part of the former.)

Anyway, here’s a slew of grade school and high school photos of some rock star icons. Recognize any of them? Identifications at bottom of this post.  Click on images to enlarge!

1) Neil Young 2) Janis Joplin 3) Steven Tyler 4) Debbie Harry 5) James Hetfield/Metallica 6) John Lennon  7) Paul McCartney 8)Axl Rose 9) Alice Cooper 10) Jim Morrison 11) Bruce Springsteen 12) Paul Stanley 13) Curt Cobain 14) Eddie Van Halen

40 years ago this month, T.Rex’s ‘Bangagong (Get It On)’, one of my all-time favorite songs (gee, ya think?) hit the USA Billboard Top Ten charts. While it ‘only’ reached as high as #8 in the USA charts, it was a huge million-selling plus mega-hit in Britain. The song, which clocks in at 4:25 has now become an iconic song of the 70’s and of British rock ‘n roll. 

 ‘Bangagong (Get It On)’, which appeared on T.Rex’s Electric Warrior album, was released as single on the Fly label in the IK and Reprise in the USA. Written by Marc Bolan, of course, the track was produced by Tony Visconti and engineered by Roy Thomas Baker.

 Besides Bolan the T.Rex band who recorded this included Mickey Finn, percussionist; Bill Legend, drums and Steve Currie, Bass. Background vocals were by the Turtles’/Flo & Eddie’s Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. Playing saxophone the track is Ian McDonald, who co-founded King Crimson and Foreigner with Rick Wakeman on piano and Burt Collins on flugelhorn. percussionist percussionist percussionist
 
Over the years the song has been used in films, television, commercials and a number of bands and performers have recorded their own versions.

 In 1971, British band Top of the Poppers covered “Get It On” on their Top of the Pops, Volume 18 album. When Blondie’s 1978 classic Parallel Lines was reissued a live recording of the song was included as a bonus song. In 1979 Witch Queen released a disco version while soon after Joe Perry recorded for his Joe Perry Project album Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker. In the past dozen years or so it’s also been recorded by The Boomtang Boys, Los Bunkers, Ministry, Cinema Bizarre, Porno Graffiti and in 2010 Carlos Santana recorded for his Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time with Bush’s Gavin Rossdale on lead vocals.

Fly Records – UK 45 RPM Record Sleeve

The song was featured in many films, including The Stoned Age (1994), Blue Juice (1995), Billy Elliot (2000), The Trip (2002), Meet the Fockers (2004), Flying Boys (2004), Jarhead (2005), The Bank Job (2008) and Barney’s Version (2010) and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2010).

Get it on, indeed!

‘Get It On’ UK Chart History

The previous post featuring the Sunset Strip in 1974 sparked some memories after seeing the Mott The Hoople and David Bowie billboards. I can remember once in the mid-1970′s driving north to Cleveland and being shocked to see a billboard along I-71 advertising KISS’ Destroyer album. I knew they had the coolest rock ‘n roll billbaords in New York, London and L.A. cause magazines like Creem, Circus, Hit Parader and the like would on occasion publish a photo of one. Seeing rock ‘n roll themed billboards promoting new albums and upcoming concerts (World Series of Rock, etc…) would be a bit more frequent over the next couple years around Cleveland and Akron but like all things, they too faded.

Here’s some billboards from ‘back in the day’, the glory years of rock ‘n roll. Click on images to enlarge!

The Sunset Strip in LA in 1974. Photo taken by the great Larry Jandro. Bet there were some amazing gigs happening in LA the day this was taken.

Click on image to enlarge!

Back in the 60’s & 70’s, decades before the internet and instant access to information, a lot of us didn’t know when bands were putting pout new albums until we heard them on the radio. Some advanced news would filter in a head of time, minimally, in places like Scene, Creem, Circus, Rolling Stone, Rock Scene, Hit Parader, etc…
 
For those of us who bought all the magazines and tabloids (Melody Maker, New Musical Express, Sounds) we’d often get advance word that a new album was being released by the record company advertisements that were placed in the media. They were usually timed to see print just weeks prior to releases so we’d have a heads up on what was coming out.
 
Here are some random samples of various advertisements hyping new album releases from back in the day as seen in various music publications.

Click on images to enlarge!

Back in the 1970’s during the throes of my rock ‘n roll obsession  it was rock ‘n roll 24/7/365. I can remember attending three concerts in a week on occasion. Got all the albums, 8-tracks, posters, concert tickets, wearing apparel, just like you did. For the most part myself and friends, we worshiped at 100.7 on the dial, WMMS in Cleveland. And for most if not all of the 70’s a weekly feature that we always tuned in to (unless we were at a concert) was the Sunday evening broadcast of the King Biscuit Flower Hour, a syndicated radio program that broadcast concerts with the biggest bands in the land.
 
Sometimes we’d record them, I knew someone who damn near had a full library of King Biscuit broadcasts during the 70’s. I can recall recording a few, depending who the band was that night and if I was near a home based stereo. An old pal, Dave Corbett, recorded an Aerosmith King Biscuit concert on 8-track (!) and gave it to me. I wore it out.

 I can remember many a Sunday evening out cruising back roads with a carload of friends getting our minds right and listening, at maximum volume of course, to whatever band(s) were on that particular week.
 
The King Biscuit Flower Hour debuted on February 18, 1973 with Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Bruce Springsteen. Bill Minkin served as the show’s host from the debut into the mid-1990s and he became a familiar voice to us rockers out there. The show eventually was carried over 300 plus radio stations across the country.

 I can remember attending a couple shows at the Cleveland Agora that were recorded for King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcasts (Ian Hunter/Mick Ronson & Rockpile in 1979, for one).
 
The King Biscuit producers would usually show up with a mobile recording truck, record the concert, mix and edit it and then radio stations who participated would receive reel-to-reel tapes of the shows. The producers didn’t switch over to CDs until 1987. New broadcasts lasted until 1993.

 I had no idea the show lasted as long as it did. I figure I probably heard my last King Biscuit broadcast on the radio circa 1980 or so, but it was a nice diversion on a Sunday night, it was also a chance to record some live gigs by favorite bands for the cost of a blank cassette (it had to have been a bootleggers money machine back in the 70’s). I also recall that King Biscuit producers would manufacture albums for radio stations to broadcast that were meant for radio stations only but I recall buying a couple of them at record shops back in the day.
 
In 2006, the King Biscuit tape archives were acquired by Wolfgang’s Vault that began streaming concerts online and has made some available for download.

After all the grief my Old Man gave me way back then, glad to know I wasn’t the only one into comic books ‘back in the day’! Apparently I was in good company. (Click on image to enlarge!)

Back in the 1970’s if you had any interest at all in rock ‘n roll, going to concerts, or just about anything in the popular culture rock-related, then you, at least on a few occasions, picked up a copy of SCENE Magazine, the long published tabloid that covered northeast Ohio rock ‘n roll and popular culture. You could pick up a free copy every week at any record store, mall, head shop, clothing shops, just about anywhere and read interviews with local, regional and national bands and performers, read current album and concert reviews, local, regional & national music news, photos and lots of cool advertisements hyping upcoming concerts, albums, clubs, record shops, clothing stores, head shops, movie theatres, just about anything.

 It was ‘the’ newspaper for its time and covered and recorded Cleveland and northeast Ohio rock ‘n roll and its culture during its glory days. 
 
SCENE was founded by Richard Kabat and was first published, under the moniker Cleveland Scene, on July 1, 1970. They dropped the ‘Cleveland’ from the title a couple months later. One of the first editors was John Richmond and among subsequent editors who had a real impact were Mark Holan and Keith Rathburn. During the 70’s they averaged a 70,000 free circulation.

 Among some of the notable writers were Anastasia Pantsios, Dave Thomas (Pere Ubu), Joyce Halasa, Scott Eyman and many more.
 
A rival publication, Free Times, closed shop in 2008 and merged with SCENE and is now owned by Times-Shamrock Communications.

 After marriage and kids and working I drifted away from picking it up after over a dozen years. From time to time I have picked it up and these days it’s unrecognizable to me. Not that that’s a bad thing, it’s just not the same Scene to me (that nostalgia thing again). But back in the day, SCENE was every rock ‘n roll fan’s bible of sorts, keeping up on rock music locally and nationally, news on upcoming album releases, upcoming concerts, it had it all!
 
Wish I kept them all!

Click on images to enlarge!

Can’t play a note of guitar but wish I owned a couple of these (and a couple in the next installment). Some unique custom designed and custom painted axes out there and here is a very small sampling. One of these sure would like nice hanging on the wall.

Very, very nice young ladies. Just glad my daughter is grown and in her 30′s and I don’t have any Granddaughters!

Wonder how long it’ll take my grandsons to find this website?

 

 

 

Among many others, I’m sure….!

A new recently released CD by north central Ohio band The Visitors has made people stand up and take notice. Titled ‘…Just Visiting’, it’s another first class effort from a band that first began releasing recordings back in 1987. That debut was well received due to the fact that two of the songs placed second and fifth in the Cleveland Songwriters Guild. With ‘….Just Visiting’ the band, a collaborative musical project headed up by two long time seasoned pros Chris Conway and Ed ‘Eddie Mars’ Marthey, the duo and musical partners have served up another hot dish of musical delights.
 
The new recording offers a reworked and updated version of Marthey’s potent Philosophy 101 and a bevy of all new material that includes collaborations with such luminaries as Jon David, Ben Parris, Tony Tristano and Rufus Johnson. The new CD also features covers from jazz legends Jaco Pastorius and Billy Cobham. 
 
The Visitors include, aside from the aforementioned Conway & Marthey, Ben Powers, Chris Edwards, Jon David, Ben Parris, Matt Corey, Rod Reisman, Jim Richley, Dan Murphy and Patrick Wagner.
 
You can’t nail this talented band down by one specific genre, you’d have to classify them as Rock, Pop, Jazz & Funk.
 
“I’m am very satisfied with the musicianship, the writing, production, and overall sound of the album,” commented Conway, who plays Bass (electric & acoustic), Guitar (electric & acoustic), Vocals, Drum Sequencing & Midi. He is also a Producer and Engineer for Hit Machine Studio in Orrville, Ohio. “There are more than 20 very talented artists from Canton, Akron, Cleveland, Youngstown, and Rochester, New York.  Some of them are recording artists and national performers in their own right.  I would especially like to send a shout out to producer, drummer, and keyboardist Ben Parris of Nemesis Records/Maskaraid Group.”

Keyboardist Ed Marthey concurs with Conway’s assessment. “I am actually surprised at how the new CD came out,” offered Marthey. “There are world class performances by musicians more than good enough to be making a living at it. The recording quality is top-flight too. It was recorded in a room the size of a postage stamp, but sounds like we rented Caribou for six months.”
 
Conway was also quick to point out Marthey’s invaluable aid in the project. “Ed has considerable contributions to the album,” stated Conway. “He wrote one of the songs, Philosophy 101, and played keyboards on several other songs.  His contribution was crucial to the finished product.”

Marthey also gave Conway high marks. The two have known each other nearly their whole lives and have played together at various times over the course of four decades. “Chris is an amazing talent, and we work together well,” Marthey flatly stated. “We started recording together in 1985. Our process involves a lot of back-and-forth interaction, and by that I mean arguing. I think it’s because our tastes differ so much that we write such good music.”
 
The Visitors’ new CD, ‘…Just Visiting’ are available at Contax, by calling 330-682-1156, Facebook messaging, or emailing Conway (chrisconway@orrvilletax.com)      .  Also digital downloads are available on Amazon, iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster and several others.
 
On another front, The Visitors will be playing an annual gig in November that Conway has been instrumental in for 15 years, the annual Concert & Jam Session in Orrville, OH featuring The Visitors along with The Usual Suspects & the Josh Snyder Band in concert with an all-out jam session.  For many people this one of the most anticipated music events each year in the north central Ohio region.

“I can’t even describe how excited I am about the concert on the (November) 23rd,” proclaimed Conway. “I’ll have the same basic band that appeared at the Rib Fest plus guest artists, ‘The Unusual Suspects’.  This show has the potential of being one of the best concerts Orrville has ever seen.”
 
“Anyone who has been to one of our Party/Jams will say that it’s something they look forward to all year- it’s the perfect mix of carry-in dinner, wild party, and live, local, kickass music, both prepared & otherwise,” enthused Marthey. “Linda & Lohn Kraft and Chris & Theresa Conway have been organizing these for about 15 years, and they’ve been held at the Sportsmans’ Club, the Orrville VFW and at private residences. We even threw one at the Apple Creek legion, at Jamie’s & my wedding reception.”
 
So what can those attending expect that night? “Expect a powerhouse 11-piece band playing some of the greatest music from the 70’s, 80’s, and select favorites off of the new CD,” responded Conway. “There will be dancing and amazing musical talent for those who just like to listen.  And let’s not forget the talents of the Josh Snyder Band.”

“People attending the party/jam can expect excellent food, a crowd of their friends, two bands that will cause damage to the bedrock beneath the VFW, and bunches of special guests,” revealed Marthey. “The Visitors will rock almost the same lineup we had for the Orrville Rib & Music Fest, but with a song list almost twice as big & funky. Too, anyone who hasn’t heard the new Josh Snyder Band CD will be pleasantly surprised by the development of this truly great band. I think they have big things in their future.”

“One other person who should be mentioned as a tireless contributor to all the Party/Jams so far is sound engineer Jim Snyder- he also ran sound for the 35 OHS reunion,” stated Marthey. “The boy good.”
 
Marthey also had an invitation to extend. “Musicians, bring your axes!” stated Marthey. “After the sets by us & JSB, we will be opening up the stage to players. Bring your ‘A’ game y’all!”
 
The Visitors/Josh Snyder Band concert will be held on Wednesday November 23 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars located at 430 W. Market Street in Orrville, OH. Tickets are only $10.00 each and available by contacting Contax (www.orrvilletax.com), or on-site at Gary’s Drive Thru, Mrs. J’s and Crown Investments.

For more info visit:

CHRIS CONWAY

ED (EDDIE MARS) MARTHEY

JOSH SNYDER BAND

____________________________________________________________________________

UPCOMING ‘EDDIE MARS’ GIGS

OUTLAWS I & I

(c)2011 Doc Lehman

Lost in Space was a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968 (the unaired pilot “No Place To Hide” and the 1998 reunion “Lost In Space Forever” bring the total number of episodes to 85). Their first TV season was filmed in black and white, but the rest were filmed in color. In 1998, a Lost in Space movie, based on the TV series, was released.

The cast members: Angela Cartwright, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bob May (Robot), Jonathan Harris, June Lockhart, Guy Williams & Billy Mumy.

I vividly recall when this show first aired. I was an instant fan! Bought all the model kits, comic books and other merchandise, gazed with lust & awe at Marta Kristen every episode and even when the show went ‘camp’ and I knew back then it had turned to crap, I still watched because it was science fiction, had that cool Robot and, oh yeah, Marta Kristen!

The bottom photo was taken earlier this year at the 2011 Hollywood Show in California wth the remaining cast members.

OK, I’m as big a fan of T.Rex and Marc Bolan as the next person, as the header of this website will verify. Well, maybe not. I’ve been a fan of T.Rex since 1971 and since then bought all the albums, imports, 8-Tracks, Cassettes, CDs and DVDs. Over the years bought the occasional pin back, poster and T Shirts (tough to find T.Rex merchandise in the states back then). Just bought a new The Slider T-Shirt two weeks ago.

But am I a ‘hardcore’ fan? Well, some people who know me may be inclined to think that way, but do you want to know who some real, legitimate ‘hardcore’ fans are? Take a look at the images (click to enlarge). These are ‘hardcore’ T.Rex fans! That’s commitment!

Have nothing against tattoos (I got my prerequisite Paul Stanley ‘rose’ tattoo in 1974 and my oldest son is probably 70% covered in ‘em – youngest son has none) but at my age, at this stage? I don’t think so.
 
But it’s pretty cool that other people go for it. I’ve seen lots of Rolling Stones ‘tongue’ logos on people for 30 years or more but it’s amazing how many people have Marc Bolan/T.Rex tats these days, and these images, I am sure, only represent a tiny drop in the bucket.

Like I said, these people are the true ‘hardcore’ fans.

Especially for a musician who’s been gone for 34 years.
 
To reiterate: That’s commitment!

Finally! Start Productions recently announced The Ballad of Mott The Hoople, the long awaited documentary on one of the 70’s more influential bands, was released on DVD in the United Kingdom on October 10 and will be available here in the States on November 14, 2011. Last week (October 11) the film was part of the New York Film Festival at the Walter Reade Theater in New York City.

Mott The Hoople Then

The DVD contains a 12-page booklet with sleeve notes by Morrissey and a limited edition 5-set of postcards. Also, a very limited set of cinema posters is available from Start Productions website. You can also order the DVD from them, too as well as from the usual sources like Amazon, etc…
 
Besides tracing the band’s career in comprehensive detail the DVD also has a full slate of extras:
 
The 2009 Hammersmith Reunion features unseen live footage from the triumphant 40th anniversary at Hammersmith Apollo in 2009: Rock ‘n’ Roll Queen, The Moon Upstairs and I Wish I was Your Mother.

Mott The Hoople Now

All the way to Memphis/The Legendary Graceland visit. Leee Black Childers talks about the epic journey to get the band to Memphis for the gig at the Ellis Auditorium three days before Christmas. Ian Hunter talks about the time he and Verden made an impromptu visit to Elvis’s home, Gracelands.

Seadivers (the Mott The Hoople Fan Club) Chairman, Kris Needs talks about his early years watching Mott The Hoople & David Bowie playing his hometown of Aylesbury.

Mott The Hoople Then

The Clash’s guitarist Mick Jones talks about his experiences working with Guy Stevens.

Mott organist Verden Allen takes us around the bands old London haunts.
 
Ariel Bender, Morgan Fisher & Buffin talk about the bands opening night on Broadway and their run in with Led Zeppelin.
 
A look through their Mott The Hoople photo album as Mott Roadies Phil John & Richie Anderson narrate through Phil’s old Mott photo album.

Mott The Hoople Now

As you most likely recall in October 2009 the five original members of Mott The Hoople reunited for the first time since their breakup for five shows at London’s Hammersmith Apollo Theatre.   After tickets for the two original dates sold out, and a third date at the same venue was added for 3 October 2009. After that one sold out as well another two dates were added on 5 and 6 October. The special limited 3 CD-set recorded during the first show at Hammersmith Apollo was sold directly after those concerts.

Mott The Hoople also held a warmup gig prior to their five-night stand at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo in October. The show was held at the Blake Theatre in Monmouth, Wales on 26 September 2009.
 
The reunion made headlines all across the United Kingdom and was an unqualified success. Will there be another reunion set of gigs? Maybe in the USA? Not likely according to Ian Hunter on his website’s Horse’s Mouth column.
 
Tons of Mott The Hoople media coverage and videos out there on the internet. Hit up your favorite search engine and enjoy!
 

If you’re over 50 you most likely had, back in the late 60’s and 70’s, a tape case sitting in the back seat of your car filled with 8 Track Tapes. You remember those, the boxy looking, cheaply made, cheaply produced (but at album prices or higher) cartridges that were almost required to have. Even car companies spent a number of years of installing them from the factory.

The concept, originally known as Stereo 8, is a magnetic tape sound recording technology. The 8 Track was created by a consortium of Lear Jet, Ampex, Ford, General Motors and RCA. Ford started made them factory-installed starting in 1965 on three of their car models, Mustang, Lincoln, Thunderbird) and that same year RCA jumpstarted 8 Track production by releasing 175 8 Tracks from it’s RCA Victor catalogue.

After I started driving I of course bought an 8 Track player for every car I owned. The last, and best one, was made by Craig. I bought at Far East Audio in Wooster, OH. I can also remember installing 8 Track players in many, many cars owned by friends & acquaintances.

In short, even though I had probably amassed a collection of over 200 of them, they sucked. The production/audio quality was rank, the cartridges themselves were cheap and easily broken and how many of us drove around shoving matchbooks under the tape to make it play correctly? The movable head design was flawed as it was unable to maintain head alignment.

How many 8 Track tapes did you buy, unwrapped, put in your player, and it either wouldn’t play or squealed like a stuck pig? That many, huh? Me, too!

With cassettes taking over during the latter 70’s and then finally CDs appearing circa 1982, the 8 Track cartridge as a concept came to an end. Thankfully. Of course, millions of people had millions of 8 Tracks collecting dust as the conversion to cassettes and then CDs made them obsolete.

The last mainstream 8 Track cartridges were produced in 1988, in limited quantities, with Fleetwood Mac’s Greatest Hits considered the last. However, in 2009 Cheap Trick released a limited edition version of their The Latest album.

And yes, I still have an 8 Track home player (at the end of the 70’s I had three of them) and a handful of 8 Track tapes stashed away.

Why? I have no idea!

This is really going to piss some people off that I know but it has to be said. I’m a rock ‘n roller. Also like Motown, soul and blues. And, at times, when I’m in the mood (once every decade maybe) I like to listen to country music.
 
That’s c-o-u-n-t-r-y music!

See, today, younger people, people my age (baby boomers) and even older folks, listen to stuff from (I don’t even know the names, let me ask someone….) Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, you get the drift. To my friends who love this stuff, stop preaching! I ain’t buying it!

I grew up hearing country music. My Mom listened to it and a couple of my aunts and uncles listened to it. I know what real country is, the way it originated a century ago, and that stuff they play now, it ain’t real country, it’s a bubble gum version of it, some of it disco-ized over-slick production and there are so many who sound the same!

They’re making Fritos.

You want to listen to it and love it? Great! More power to you! Just don’t act dismayed when I say I’d rather not hear it or don’t listen to it or avoid it. Don’t mean to hurt your feelings. But to me, and blame it on my upbringing and personal musicial prejudices, but real country music isn’t today’s bubble gum wanna-be stuff, real, R-E-A-L country music (to me) is Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, George Jones and Charley Pride.

Not Sherrie Austin or Sugarland.

This Sunday (October 16) will be four years since I lost my mother. So naturally when this time of year rolls around it’s only natural to think of her. She came to mind the other day when I was talking with someone and we got on the subject of music back in the 60’s & 70’s and how our parents used to holler ‘n bitch to ‘turn that damn noise down!!!’
 
My friend was astonished, amazed, when I told him that my Mom had bought me some pretty good records back then, a couple even became iconic.

Whenever Christmas or my birthday will come Mom would invariably ask me what I wanted. I always said, ‘Nuthin’!’ It would drive her crazy so usually, like for Christmas, I would end up with two or three albums, a couple shirts, pair of jeans, maybe a watch or wallet, a bottle of Hai Karate aftershave, or was it cologne? And a carton of Winstons.
 
Life was good.

It’s amazing the albums she came up with. I never specifically told her what to get but she always came through. I would imagine she consulted with someone to find out what bands I liked. I can honestly say I was impressed with every one she bought me.
 
But Mom, she always was pretty hip and had taste and always kept up with the latest fashions for us. Looking back that was pretty sweet of her to be like that, especially since all through school I usually was the one who had the oldest parents.

Now, Dad? Forget it! He’s still stuck in 1930! My grandparents were more hip than him and they were born in the 1800’s!
 
Shown here are the albums my sweet Mom bought me way back in the day.

In the three years the Bangagong! website has been in existence the absolute most popular or frequented post on the website is one entitled: 1970’s Outdoor Rock Concerts/Festivals: How Did I Survive? That entry gets more hits and views than any other. So I spent a little time on it and did some minor editing and added a number of new images of posters, handbills, ticket stubs and photos.  To check out the updated version visit 1970’s Outdoor Rock Concerts/Festivals: How Did I Survive?

Yesterday

Girls used to always like to play dress up and I imagine they still do (no granddaughters, all of my grandchildren have outdoor plumbing) but these two photos, from ‘yesterday’ & ‘today’, sure tell the story of how times have changed since my ‘back in the day’. I’m guessing the ‘yesterday’ Batgirl & Supergirl is from the mid-1960′s. Yes, times have changed!

Today

Coming out in the next several weeks will be a new book entitled Gene Simmons: A Rock ‘N Roll Journey in the Shadow of the Holocaust which is basically an in-depth look at the very early years of Gene Simmons as a ‘Child of the Holocaust’. Researched and written by Ross Berg, the new book delves into the life of Simmons’ mother, Flora Klein and how she miraculously survived the brutal Nazi holocaust as a young girl and how she then raised her son on her own.
 
Flora Klein’s life story is simply amazing and in her youth, horrific. After surviving the concentration camps and war, a number of years later her husband walked out on her and their young son, born Chaim Weitz, who later became Gene Simmons, leaving them penniless.
 
Berg, who is Jewish, and an ardent fan of KISS and Gene Simmons since the 1970’s, had relatives who also had terrifying experiences at the hands of the Nazi’s much like Flora and her family dealt with (Flora as the sole survivor of her family). Berg has also experienced prejudice for his heritage that made the details of Flora Klein’s astonishing life and that of her son’s more intriguing to the author.

 We asked Ross Berg to share his thoughts and motivations that inspired the book, as well as his many activities related to KISS and Gene Simmons, particularly the Flora Army, a Facebook page devoted to Simmons’ Mother. Which in turn led to the book.
 
Flora Klein’s story is memorable to say the least.  As Berg once wrote:
 
“The beautiful Flora Klein was born in Jund, Hungary in 1927. When she was fourteen years old, Adolf Hitler came to power and close to 6 million European Jews were incinerated in the ovens of the concentration camps. Young Flora Klein watched as her mother walked with her own mother into the gas chamber. She later explained to her son, KISS Star Gene Simmons, that her mother didn’t want her own mother to face death alone.

Flora Klein survived the death camps because she had gone to beauty school and had some hairstyling and make-up skills. The commandant’s wife took a liking to her, and because Flora provided the wife with beauty tips, Flora was able to survive the Holocaust. ‘Survival’ continues to be a key theme in the amazing and courageous life of Flora Klein. Flora Klein continues to be her son’s greatest inspiration.

Through his mother, Simmons has said that he has learned to believe that all glasses are half full and not half empty and that although mankind was capable of unimaginable inhumanity, there was still good in the world. Flora instilled in her son Gene a fearless backbone, which he has used to become one of the most successful musicians in rock history.”

Mother & Son

So here’s Ross Berg’s story about the genesis of the book and how Flora Klein’s story touched him.
 
TOUCHED BY THE HOLOCAUST
 
“My mother’s parents fled Germany just in time. Though they were lucky not to have ended up in the Camps, the rest of my mother’s family on her father’s side did, and all but one perished. The sole surviving uncle came to live in my mother’s house when she was a child. She ran her fingers along the numbers on his arm, and felt the loss of his presence when he often withdrew in silence at the dinner table. He had once had a wife and children at his own dinner table.”
 
“While my maternal father’s side of the family was being annihilated, my maternal mother’s side endured completely different experiences. Though my mother’s mother had converted to Judaism, her family was not Jewish. They were wonderful, decent people who found themselves caught up in something they did not believe in, nor want to participate in. Nevertheless, one of my mother’s uncles was put into the Hitler Youth, and two of her cousins fought for Germany against the Allied Forces. The remainder of the relatives, often starving, endured the bombings on Berlin.

Flora & Gene

The complexity of my family living on two sides of the Holocaust has contributed to my struggle with this dark chapter of history. The impact of the Holocaust on individuals at that time continues down through the next generations.”
 
THE CHILD OF A CHILD OF THE HOLOCAUST
 
“My mother, like Gene Simmons, is a ‘Child of the Holocaust’. Offspring of a Holocaust victim and a survivor of a survivor. There are many shared traits amongst Children of the Holocaust. Gene’s mother survived the Holocaust but the rest of her family perished in the camps.”
 
“As the Child of a Holocaust survivor, Gene was anxious to understand what his mother had experienced in the Concentration Camps but those events were too painful for her to talk about. As such, a young Gene was forced to collect bits and pieces and fragments of information on his own about the Holocaust and the Nazis that killed his mother’s entire family. But the events still remained cloaked in mystery as nothing was ever directly discussed with the young boy.”

”Gene came to America from Israel as a young boy unable to speak English and he was taunted by the other children for his language difficulties and for wearing his yarmulke to school. He was an outcast based on how different he was from the other children and soon become a loner consumed with escaping his unhappiness through his own imagination. Gene withdrew into his mind – into a world of fantasy where he could transform himself from an unpopular boy from Israel to an exciting comic book hero or menacing horror movie monster.”

FAN OF ‘THE DEMON’
 
“People look at me strange when they find out how much my life has been affected by Gene Simmons. They can’t believe the ‘museum’ of band merchandise I’ve collected since the 1970’s. They are amazed at the vast number of rare Fanzines I have amassed all created by Gene in his mother’s home as a teenager.
 
“As a college student, I played in bands and performed KISS tunes. As an adult, husband, and father I worked as a Moderator for KISSOnline, started several Gene Simmons websites, self-published a book about KISS’ Elder album, and celebrated my 40th birthday with a ‘Gene Simmons Party’ – proof that the more things change the more they stay the same.”

 THE FLORA ARMY

”The genesis and odyssey of ‘The Flora Army’ goes back to Gene’s first book; an autobiography called ‘KISS And Make-Up’. I had read things about Gene’s mother here and there in interviews over the years but this was the first time I had an opportunity to fully digest her harrowing and courageous story as a Holocaust survivor. The pictures contained in the book revealed Gene’s mother Flora to be an extremely beautiful woman. I wanted to know more. I was inspired.”
 
“Perhaps Flora’s story of survival could educate a whole segment of the population who had never known or cared about the Holocaust before. Six million is a hard number to comprehend. Putting a face to the Shoah – an Anne Frank or a Flora Klein – can often better convey the realness of the tragedy to the next generation.”

”I felt I had stumbled upon a unique thesis of sorts: in what ways had the Holocaust affected the life and art of Gene Simmons?”

”Flora, of course, would be a prominent figure within such a study. In certain ways, Flora’s strength and fortitude reminded me of my German Grandmother. My Grandmother who had gotten us out of Germany just before Hitler put his deadly plans into action. The Grandmother I loved and missed so dearly since her death in the 1990’s. I wanted to tell this story for her as well.”

”After working as a Moderator under the wise leadership of Michael Brandvold for KISS’ official website ‘KISSOnline’, I spent some time helping the amazingly knowledgeable Julian Gill moderate his site – ‘The KISS Faq’. Julian’s computer smarts and essential ‘KISS Album Focus’ book series inspired me to strike out on my own as both a Webmaster and an author. With the help of my dear friend Leanne St. Germaine – creator of the much respected ‘Paul Stanley’s Paradise’ webpage — I was soon running my own website devoted to Gene, his childhood, his mother, his Fanzine creations from the 60’s, the Holocaust, the history of Jews and the comic book industry, personality traits in Children of the Holocaust, and more.”
 
“That webpage, called ‘Almost Human’, came to serve as the basic outline for this book. As my research into Gene’s childhood and Flora’s life intensified, I decided to create ‘The Flora Army’; a fond tip of the hat to ‘The KISS Army’ Fan Club founded by Bill Starkey in the 70’s. Initially little more than a logo, ‘The Flora Army’ was something I began to take public on several KISS-related Discussion Forums. I would start topics concerning the teenage life of Gene Simmons and post rare photos of Flora in Israel from the 1940’s. The response I got to the majority of these topics was anemic and I soon added the catchphrase ‘An Army of One’ to the logo as a good-natured, self-deprecating poke at myself. But I refused to give up. I believed in the power and the importance of what I was doing.”

THE BOOK

”Around this time, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Gene at a book signing. As I was trying to explain to him all that he had meant to me in my life, and that my mother had also been a child of survivors, my two-month old daughter began to cry. Gene immediately and lovingly turned his attentions to my daughter and entwined his pinky finger with hers. As my daughter stopped crying, Gene took me aside and gently explained to me that his mother Flora often used this same trick to get him to stop crying when he was a baby. This was obviously just one of the many special coping methods and survival techniques that Flora had passed on to Gene and his eyes lit up as he spoke of her. I felt so privileged to have Gene reveal to me one of Flora’s parenting secrets. I took it as a bit of a sign. I had to keep moving forward. I had to write this book.”
 
“One morning, it came to my attention that Nick Simmons was going to be signing his new comic book at ‘Meltdown Comics’ on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. I printed out a working copy of my book cover – listed my contact information on the reverse side, grabbed my camera, and headed out. Nick was shy but friendly and graciously signed his comic book with a shiny silver pen and posed with a picture of my two young children and myself. ‘Well, thank you for coming out’, his manager said. I mustered up my courage and clutched the printout I had brought with me.”

 
“I leaned in to speak a little more personally with Nick. The ‘Gene Simmons Family Jewels’ film crew had a camera pointed directly in our faces. ‘Nick, I am writing a book about your father’s childhood, and…….’ Before I could get the rest of my sentence out, Nick excitedly took the copy of the book cover from me and examined it with great interest. I finally broke in: ‘Well, because the book deals with your father’s childhood – I was hoping that I could interview Florence for the book. Is there anything you could do to help me to make that interview happen? All of my contact information is on the reverse side.’”
 
“Nick pondered my request for a moment and then said, smiling, ‘Wait…..you wanna talk to my Grandmother? Gosh, I don’t know if I can help you with that one.’ Nick again studied the paper I had given him. ‘I’ll tell you what. Can I take this home with me?’  ‘Absolutely’, I answered. ‘I’ll take this home with me. But I’m not promising anything…..’ We shook hands and I went on my way.

”Months passed and I heard nothing from Gene’s camp about the book. I was disappointed but continued to work on my project day and night. During this period, I discovered Facebook and decided to bring ‘The Flora Army’ to this new social networking juggernaut. Once again, I filled my page with information about Gene, his childhood, his mother, his Fanzine creations from the 60’s, the Holocaust, the history of Jews and the comic book industry, and personality traits in Children of the Holocaust. I posted sample chapter ‘vignettes’ from my book-in-progress and continued to try to educate others about the Holocaust and the heroic life of Flora Klein.”

 “When I logged on to Facebook one day, there was a mysterious message from a user named Adam Freeman announcing the following on my page: ‘The ‘Flora Army’ is going to be featured on Gene’s TV show next Sunday night.’ I thought for sure this individual was pulling my leg and I didn’t even respond to the post. A week went by and I kept seeing Adam Freeman’s message on my page. Highly skeptical, I finally responded with: ‘Do you mean Flora herself is going to appear on Gene’s TV show or the program is literally going to spotlight my ‘Flora Army’ Facebook page?’ ‘Yes, Gene’s TV show is going to showcase your ‘Flora Army’ site exclusively’. ‘How do you know this?’ ‘Because I’m the Executive Producer of Gene’s television show.’

 “At the conclusion of an extremely touching episode where Gene visited the Anne Frank home and spoke with a local family who had been touched by the Holocaust – photos and content from my ‘Flora Army’ site began to fill the screen as Gene’s family commented:

 
Nick: ‘Apparently there’s a Facebook fan page for Grandma called THE FLORA ARMY.’ 
 
Sophie: ‘It’s a group of dad’s fans who are now Grandma’s fans who have a Facebook page just for Grandma and everything Grandma does.’ 
 
Shannon: ‘I love the pictures.’ 
 
Nick: ‘And I guess they read Dad’s book, it tells about her and they say it’s honoring this courageous woman – and I was like…..really….I didn’t expect that, but ummm……..it’s cool!’

”Within hours, membership on ‘The Flora Army’ Facebook page shot up to 25,000 members. The next day Gene posted on his ‘Twitter’ account: ‘A kind thank you to all of you who are saying nice things about my Mother on ‘The Flora Army.’”

”Recently Gene Simmons was in the midst of visiting Israel; to the hospital where he was born, the Café where Flora once worked, to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. In recent press conferences – Gene has declared Israel, definitively, as his true home. After 61 years, it appears the little boy from Haifa has come full circle in his return to the Holy Land.”

”Events have come full circle in my life as well. It is my hope that both of my children grow to see their religion as something glorious and beautiful; to learn of the Holocaust without allowing it to define their entire notion of Judaism. It is my dream to educate and alert the next generation to the horrors of the Shoah so that such an atrocity is never permitted to occur again, to educate the next generation.”

“This book is about a mother and a son. Let their story of strength and survival inspire and their darkest tragedies move you to educate your children.”

LINKS:

FLORA ARMY

Gene Simmons: 60’s Fanzine Publisher

So last weekend I took four of my five grandsons to see the new Captain America: The First Avenger movie and they loved it, especially oldest grandson Hunter. Although the whole concept of superheroes never clicked with my kids, my grandkids sure love them, especially Hunter. When he was two years old I took him to his first movie theatre and we saw the first Spiderman movie. I expected to only be there for 15 or 20 minutes, after all, a two-year-old sitting in a darkened theatre for two hours quietly and patiently? No way.

Was I wrong.

He sat transfixed to the screen and Spiderman and for weeks and months afterwards he would crawl around the couch and other furniture like a spider, stopping occassionally to shoot his webs. Of course he got all the action figures and other toys and gear to enchance his fun. As he got older he got more into superheroes and when I told him that Captain America was one of my favorites when I was a kid back in the early 60′s he decided that Captain America would be his favorite, too. Especially after seeing him on the internet, getting some of his comic books, toys, coloring books, Avengers DVDs and everything else.

Hunter as Captain America - 2004

Oh yeah, the costume!

Hunter has about 20 superhero costumes and among the first was Captain America when he was around three years old. You could hardly get him to take it off. In fact, the first three or four nights he had the costume he wore it to bed!

Hunter as Captain America - 2004

So over the past few years he kept asking, ‘When are they making a Captain America movie?’ He’s seen all the others, al the Spidermans, Batmans, Superman, the two Hulk flicks, all three X-Men, both Ironman movies, Watchmen, you name it, he’s seen it (and owns the DVD). (This year alone we’ve went and seen Green Hornet (a let down for me), Green Lantern, Thor, Transformers, and that’s just the superhero movies). So a couple years ago when they announced production on a new Captain America movie Hunter was ecstatic!

But it was a two-year wait! An eternity for a then eight year old.

So a few months ago word comes that Captain America would be released in July and I promised him we would, of course, go see it. He made me promise it would be opening weekend (‘C’mon, Grandpa, I’ve waited my whole life to see this movie!’) and I kept that promise. It was worth the wait, Hunter loved it and so did his brother, Beau. Cousins Brenden & Kaden loved it, but their opinion may have been based on it being their first movie theatre experience and that huge screen, the sound, the images and action, it definitely caught their undivided attention.

Having read about all of Captain America’s appearances in the comic books in the 1960′s and very early 1970′s, plus scads of reprints from his original issues starting in 1941, I was glad they stuck close to the (Captain America originators) Jack Kirby & Joe Simon concepts starting with World War II before bringing the character to the present. If you’re going to do a Captain America movie, you got to have him kicking some Nazi butt.

Beau takes up the cause - 2004

Of course, having seen all the ‘Marvel’ superhero movies, Hunter knew there would be a clip of the next Marvel movie shown after the credits rolled through so yes, he made me promise to wait and sit through that never-ending credits so we could catch the clip that we knew would be next year’s Avengers movie. It was, and Hunter is beside himself having to wait until May 2012 to see it after catching glimpses of Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Ironman and Nick Fury.

Oh yeah, and Hunter wants a new Captain America costume. And this time he wants a shield, too!

It’s going to be a long year!

By DOC LEHMAN

NOTE: Click on thumbnails to enlarge!

So here’s the scenario. You grow up in the rock ‘n roll era of the 1960′s & 1970′s with ‘the gift’, a gift of musical talent and you utilize that gift, that passion to become a professional musician, a dream that many had during that time period when everyone wanted to be a rock star. And now, today, all these years later, 35 years later to be exact, not only are you still a working professional but after immersing yourself in all the musical programs offered during your high school years of the 70′s, you are about to return to play for your former classmates. Such is the case of keyboardist Ed ‘Eddie Mars’ Marthey of the small town of Orrville, OH, known far and wide for Smucker’s jelly and (in)famous basketball coach Bobby Knight.

Marthey, a seasoned pro who’s pretty much seen and done it all, is going to do what more than one has thought about over the years, bring his band, Liquid Sky, to play for his former classmates for the 35th class reunion, in this case the Orrville High School (OHS) Class of 1976′s 35th reunion that will be held September 16-17 this year.

Ed Marthey hammering the keys in high school.

“I am totally psyched about playing our reunion,” stated Ed Marthey recently, one of Orrville’s successful and highly talented musical sons. “Playing gigs are about the only thing in this world that don’t make me anxious. I don’t get stage fright. The scariest parts of any club show for me are A) the restroom, and B) getting paid at the end of the night. This is not just another gig, but I have so much confidence in these guys’ ability to rock a place inside-out, playing the gig is the least of my worries.”

Having attended high school with Marthey and watching him perform, especially back in the days of the 70′s and 80′s, it’s always been clear that he has the knowledge, talent and aptitude for all things musicial. His tastes in music, even back then, were varied. He has a true appreciation and vast knowledge for the art. Even back in the 60′s and 70′s I knew that Orrville had produced a lot of many talented musicians, several who went on to become professionals like Ron Jarvis, Jack Schantz, Randy Coole, Marthey and others. Must be something in the water, or maybe in the jelly!

When the 35th Orrville High School Class of 1976 Reunion committee starting planning the reunion for later on this year it was decided that instead of pre-programmed music the reunion should feature what we all grew up with, namely live music. Attending rock concerts and buying albums and 8-Track tapes was the norm back then. Live music flourished then whether it meant attending concerts in Akron, Canton andClevelandto the high school gym to local watering holes and other rented venues. I remember attending more than one concert in farmer’s fields!

Ed "Alice Bowie' Marthey

So it was decided that a live band would be appropriate. After all, we grew up with live music so, at this stage of our lives we might as well rock it one more time before all the rocking we do is in rocking chairs!

And if you’re going to hire a band to play, why not hire a professional one that features a member of your own graduating class? Hence, Liquid Sky, Marthey’s current band based in Akron will be spotlighted at the reunion in September. It seems appropriate.

Liquid Sky is a group of five very talented men who have crafted a show which has something for everyone, particularly those who want to rock. The band specializes in music that most other rock-n-roll bands don’t usually play while keeping it highly danceable. In short, they are rock without apology.

“It feels good!” exclaimed keyboardist Ed Marthey of Liquid Sky, of the prospect of playing in front of his former classmates. “I really think our class will have the funnest reunion ever. We’re the rock ‘n roll generation, the kids today are still listening to music from our time! And we’re playing it and not just the songs every cover band plays, but because of the combined talents of these musicians we can perform songs that will totally rock the joint to smithereens.”

Ed Marthey during his CONTRABAND days

Liquid Sky consists of Marthey, Ben Powers, Brad Johnson, Bruce Lindamood and Chip Maggio.

“This is the most talented bunch of guys I’ve ever worked with,” continued Marthey. “Our bass player is Ben Powers, who is the current drummer for the P-Funk All Stars (formerly Funkadelic) and our singer, Brad Johnson, amazed everyone at the most recent party/jam at the Sportsmen’s Cabin last November by belting out ‘Over the Hills & Far Away’ and ‘The Ocean’ by Led Zeppelin. This band started out as a Dream Theater tribute band, then began to learn big nasty rock songs from the ’70s & ’80s. We do some Yes, some Journey, a bunch of Zeppelin, some Genesis,Styx, Floyd, Rush, Foreigner, Golden Earring, Living Colour.”

“Regarding live music versus someone’s ipod loaded with bubblegum and country, there will be no comparison. I’ve missed some reunions because I knew there would be taped music and probably music that I hate. I’m hoping everyone in our class still alive will show up and groove with us, because I truly believe that this will be our best reunion ever!”

During high school Marthey played and participated in all the musicial entities offered by the school, learning musical technique, theory and exploring the musical worlds of not only rock ‘n roll but classical music, jazz, the list goes on. His tastes are wide and varied and he knows what he likes. And doesn’t. And he has never been afraid to express his opinions.

He may not remember but I can recall once telling him about the virtues of one of my all time favorite bands, Mott The Hoople back then, and Ian Hunter when he went solo after Mott split. Marthey would have none of that as I recall him stating they were average at best. I was shocked and dismayed! Marthey liked bands like Yes, I liked Mott The Hoople. But even though they still remain one of my all time favorites, one couldn’t help but respect what Marthey had to say because he had the training, knowledge and gift of being able to play music. Any type of music.

Ed Marthey (far left) & Roger 'Mouse' Greegor laying it down

Other than fiddling around with a bass guitar and being in a short-lived rock band called the Poorboys (with a tip of the hat to John Fogerty) in junior high at John R.Lea Intermediate School, the only musical talent I have ever had was playing a jukebox. And try finding one of those these days!

“Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendricks,” were the names Marthey offered when asked who had inspired him outside of high school. He was also quick to point out the fellow musicians, his peers, who inspired him in high school.  “Jack Schantz, Chris Conway, Mouse Greegor, Randy Coole.”

Marthey also retains many special memories of the OHS music programs he was involved in.

“Every year on the last day of summer marching band pracitice, one team of us would grab band director Don Carpenter, walk him up to the pool and throw him in,” recalled Marthey. “While another crack team of commandos would break into his VW van and push it somewhere several blocks away and hide it. One time they wedged it between two trees.”

.
“My favorite teacher: the late Perry Hosmer, our jazz band director and teacher of music history and music theory. He inspired generations of OHS musicians with his knowledge, humor & stories. He once played in the Kay Kaiser band in the ’40s.”

Contraband

As was pretty much the case at every high school around the country during the 70′s Marthey was in his share of bands with fellow Orrville and Wayne County musicians, of which there was an enormous talent pool at the time.

“In 1973 I joined Magwich Applebee, a band that practiced on (Bob) Shiflett’s front porch on Crown Hill Road in Orrville,” remembered Marthey. “Bob Shiflett on rhythm guitar, Marty Wilson on drums, Steve Hanna on bass, and Jerry Kirven and a drifter/hippie from out of town named Detroit Buchanan on dual lead guitars, and Johnny Kirvin singing. Oh yeah, Bob Weygant ran around in a sparkly shirt and played tamborine. We played Orr Park after the fireworks in ’73 until about 1:00 AM on the main diamond to a huge crowd.”

“Magwich Applebee was around for a couple years. We played several times at that crazy bar inMassillon, and of course a bunch of parties. I think it broke up when lead guitarist Detroit Buchanan took off drifting again. He had ass-length hair, one pair of holy jeans, and a psychedelically painted Gibson SG with strings so old they were rusty. He was very charismatic and fun to hang out with.”

Contraband

“We also played a few times at Kimpean’s Cafe inMassillon. By that time Billy Hendricks was on drums. I think Billy and I were 16 and they let us drink there. Billy would order about nine kinds of booze in the same glass and one night mid-song he turned around and puked a torrent of red stuff all over our cases. That place was a trip, complete with real prostitutes.”

“I think the next band that actually played gigs was The Winged Spaniel Threat. Later on it became Contraband which that was ’78 – ’79. It was a horn band that did lots of weird stuff like ‘Frankenstein’, ‘Time’ by Floyd, Brian Auger, ‘Earache My Eye’ by Cheech and Chong, ‘I’m The Slime’ by Zappa. We played Columb’s, the Red Baron, Sportsmen’s Cabin, a bunch of parties. Mike Sommers on guitar, Henry Bevins on bass,  Mouse Greegor on drums, Dean Lambert on trumpet, Danny Sauers & Steve Barkey on saxes.”

From then on Marthey was in a succession of bands, nearly everyone remembered to this day by those who appreciated live music.

CONTRABAND in action!

“The next band I was in started in ’79, Transit, with Billy on drums, Phil Dalessandro on guitar, Vinnie Carpenter on bass and the late Dean Lambert on lead vocals,” revealed Marthey. “We played at Columb’s, Wilmot Tavern, bunches of parties. We did Floyd, Hendrix, Tull, Jeff Beck, and a lot of obscure songs by Free, Spooky Tooth, Nils Lofgren. This band actually played Caskey’s for your brother’s birthday party, a B.O.T. production!”

Caskey’s Family Campground & RecreationCenteris where the OHS Class of ’76 35th reunion will take place.

“In ’80 I joined up with Rick Ciconnetti, Matt Chastain, Henry Bevins and a female lead singer whose name i can almost remember, we were called Crossfire,” Marthey continued. “We did Genesis, Yes, Tubes, Police, Lover Boy, Men At Work, and even ‘Blinded By Science’ by Thomas Dolby. We played the Theatrical inWoostera few times, some roadhouse down by Loudonville called something like the Wagon Wheel, parties of course, and some clubs I can’t quite remember!”

“From ’81 – ’83 I managed Groucho’s in Orrville and wasn’t in any bands. In ’84 Ron Jarvis came by the bar one night and mentioned that the reggae band he was in needed a keyboard player. I auditioned a few days later and got the gig. We rehearsed in Bob the Conga Player’s basement in Shaker. I often stayed for days with two of the guys just off Coventry. We decided to call the band First Light, and for the next 14 years it was a full-time job.”

“Carlos Jones, now of the PLUS Band, sang lead and wrote most of the songs, probably upwards of 100 in all. Chopper played guitar & bass; Gino Long played bass & guitar; Bob Caruso on congas & percussion; and Rod Reisman (now with the Prayer Warriors & Outlaws I&I) on drums. At first we had a trumpet player named Steve Maurer, when he left we hired Rob Williams, now of the Afro-Cleveland Orchestra & Ernie Krivda Trio, on saxes & flute.”

With First Light Marthey was living the dream as a musician, playing gigs at high profile establishments all over northeastOhio, going on the road and making recordings.

“We played an average of 250 dates a year, mostly on the road,” explained Marthey. “We played from Michigan down toSouth Carolina and over to the East Coast from the Carolinas up toMaine. In Cleveland our home base was Peabody’s in Cleveland Heights and we held the attendance record at Peabody’s DownUnder in the Flats for years. Until we broke it again. We did Tommy’s inRocky River, Quinn’s Live on the extreme east side, Cheers, Hank’s and The Phantasy inLakewood.”

“In the Flats we played Biggie’s The Basement, Fagan’s, Downunder, Splash, the Nautica, Shooters and a lot of colleges. We were big in Bowling Green, Athens, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Kalamazoo and so many other places I can’t remember.”

The band also played gigs with some national and internationally known bands and performers. The list is impressive to say the least.

“We opened for The Clash, The Wailers, Eek-A-Mouse, Augustus Pablo, Steel Pulse, Taylor Dayne, Meatloaf, Ziggy Marley, Yellowman,Third World, Aswad, Al Stewart, Donovan, Toots & The Maytals, Burning Spear and others,” said Marthey.

Ed 'Eddie Mars' Marthey

The band also spent considerable time in the studio.

“We did five recordings,” stated Marthey. “A vinyl EP called ‘Musical Uprising’ in ’85, a CD titled ‘Meltdown!’ in ’87. We also recorded and released two cassette albums, ‘The Official Bootleg’ and ‘Live At The Empire. In ’94 we released ‘Groove Telepathy’, which had two songs of mine on it and I designed the cover.”

“We broke up in ’98. During this time I was also writing and performing songs with Chris Conway in the Visitors. We played OrrPark on July 4 a few times, Rehm Pavilion and some other places and parties.”

One of Marthey’s fondest memories of that time was when the band opened for The Clash at Cleveland Public Hall.

Marthey then pursued a solo career as well.

“I began to play solo after that,” said Marthey. “I’d been playing weddings since high school.”

In fact, he played at  my brother’s first wedding.

“I had a regular Saturday night gig at the Clarion River Lodge inCook Forest,Pennsylvaniafor over a year,” continued Marthey. “I also played Woogel’s in Woosterand the Starboard Side in Orrville.”

“I moved to Boulder with my then-wife for six years starting in 2000, right after I recorded my first solo CD, ‘Springtime On Mars’. I played solo, worked in three different bands, and had a job at Kinko’s out there.”

“We moved back here in ’06, and I was immediately beseiged with offers to join bands. I got my solo sets up and running and began playing at the Montavino in Wooster regularly.”

Lost Highway

“Soon after that I joined Lost Highwaywith Chris Conway on bass, Mojo Edwards on guitar, Ben Powers on drums and George Bersch on lead vocals, harp & acoustic. We didn’t play very often because we were all so busy. The last time that band played out was last August (2010) at the Orrville Rib Cookoff.

“When Mojo left the band, Ben said he was in a great prog band that needed keyboards. I joined (Liquid Sky) after one rehearsal. Ben Powers on bass, Bruce Lindamood on guitar, Chip Maggio on drums, and Brad Johnson on lead vocals. We’ve rehearsed for a year and a half, and the crowd at the Tap House loves us. We’re talking with an agent now, with the intent to break into Cleveland & beyond.”

For the past year or two, Marthey has been a busy man on a mission.

“Last winter i got a call from Gino Long, from First Light, with an offer to play with him and Chopper in a reggae/rock band called Outlaws I & I  featuring Butch Buchanan on lead vocals and Spanky Carter on drums,” explained Marthey. “We’ve played clubs all over Cleveland. Recently Spanky left and we put in Rod Reisman of First Light on drums. Recently we did our first show with Rod, and it was so slammin’ I thought the Maple Grove would implode. Our next gig is May 28 at some club inMadisonand May 30 at WhiskeyIsland, the club, not the island!”

Recently Marthey made a musical connection with yet another Orrville talent, a generation younger, but an exceptional talent.

“About three months ago I got a call from Gretchen Pleuss to play in her band,” commented Marthey. “I jumped at the opportunity. She writes her own songs and has a strikingly beautiful voice. We’ve rehearsed twice a week since then , and recorded a demo. We had some bookings, but yesterday Gretchen called a meeting and put the band on hiatus while she figures out what she wants to do in life. She’s 20 and just finished school. Hopefully before too long we’ll take up again. Until then she’s playing solo, with me doing duets with her occasionally.”

“Which brings us right up to today. The Visitors are getting back together, we’ll play the Orr Rib-off an August 12. Chris is releasing a new Visitors recording soon. The first since the cassette album we recorded in ’87. I’m doing the CD cover for that and there is a host of unbelievably good players contributing their talents on it.”

So in addition to the busy schedule of gigs with current band Liquid Sky, Marthey has a full plate of gigs that will keep him busy this year. He joined Liquid Sky a year and a half ago and hasn’t looked back. “Like I said, this is the most talented bunch of guys I’ve ever worked with.”

The Orrville High School Class of 1976 will be holding their 35th Class of ’76 Reunion on September 16-17, 2011. The activities will kick off on Friday evening September 16 at Orrville High School prior to the annual Homecoming Football game for a tailgate party and will continue on Saturday September 17 with an all day and evening gathering at Caskey’s Campground & Recreation Center located northeast of Orrville where OHS Class of ’76 alum Ed Marthey & Liquid Sky will be performing.

For more information on Liquid Sky visit their Facebook page at: LIQUID SKY

For more information on the OHS Class of ’76 35th Reunion visit the reunion website at: OHS Class of ’76 Reunion

NOTE: LIQUID SKY will be performing at Ripper Owens’ The Tap House in Akron on June 11, 2011!

(c) 2011 Bangagong/Doc Lehman

Note: Click on thumbnails to enlarge!

When my paternal grandparents, W. Bert & Mable (Berg) Lehman were married in 1913, one of the first things Grandpa Lehman did was buy a 1912 Ford T Roadster from the newly opened C.S. Snyder Ford dealership in Orrville, OH. The salesman was Wilbert Geiger. It was among the first several cars the dealership sold. Bert was a school teacher when they got married but his love of all things mechanical got the best of him and within a year he took a job at the Ford dealership in Massillon.

During the ensuing years Bert’s love of automobiles grew and he became particularly interested in Chevrolets and soon made contact with the Chevrolet Motor Company in Flint, MI. In 1915 he became the first Chevrolet dealer in Wayne County, OH and opened a dealership and garage in Mt. Eaton, OH. His first customer was an uncle, John Lehman.

While the rest of the family celebrated Labor Day with picnics & reunions, Grandpa went racing!

To which we can only say: “‘Bout damn time!”  Enough with putting the disco slugs in there…. keep it rockin’!