3 replies to this topic

[Oldallamerican]

I agree, the Shonells were great. My older brother and I got to meet them back in 1966 at an auto show they were playing in St Louis, Mo.  I remember the original Batmobile was one of the exhibits, along with the Munstermobile and Ed "Big Daddy" Roths (showing your age if you remember him) "Mysterion" car.

 

Anyway, the thing was being held at the old Kiel Auditorium and the Shondells were set up on a stage in the middle of the thing playing ten or fifteen minute sets - they were pretty big at the time. During an intermission my older brother (who was fifteen, as I was about ten) went up to the stage to see if he could talk to some of the band members. Ol' Tommy James himself and one of the guys bent down to talk with him/us.  I remember the drummer was there, too; he was wearing an American Revolutionary tricorn hat. At that time the tricorn was the trademark of Paul Revere and the Raiders.

 

I remember the guys listening to my brother talk about our backyard garage band, some of my brothers friends and me (who as the runt, played bass) we'd done a couple parties and a couple freebies. They were very patient and encouraging. I looked over at the drummer wearing the tricorn and asked him where he got his hat from.  He looked at me and grinned, "From a dead Raider."

 

I still smile at that one. I also have a warm place in my heart for Tommy James and the Shondells for taking their time to encourage a couple of kids.