The Wild Ones - Ft. Wayne

Another entry from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The Wild Ones were skilled enough to be selected to the Indiana Bandstand tour.

From Left:
Mike Babcock - Lead Vocal
Mike Heime - Bass
Joe Long - Drums
Rick Babcock - Lead Guitar
Larry Miller - Rhythm

The Wild Ones, students from Northside High School, recorded this 45 in June '66.

Hear "Tale of a City" now!

What was Indiana Bandstand you ask?
The bandstand consists of 10 bands from throughout Indiana, who were selected in a contest held at Kokomo. This summer (1966) the bands tour Indiana, playing two and three-night stands at various teen clubs and dance halls.

By February 1967, the Wild Ones had written 13 original songs. Rick, being the prolific songwriter, was looking forward to entertaining offers from Indianapolis bands for his material.

Where are they now?

Our Generation - 1966 -

"They've got to be great - or crazy". That's the reaction from the interviewer, circa 1966, Teen Tempo magazine. Obviously named after the Who's "My Generation", these guys were regulars at the Le Scene nightclub / teen hotspot.

Back row:
Michael Stack - Singer - Broad Ripple High
Doug Kennerly - Drums - Broad Ripple High
Front Row:
Al Smith -Lead Guitar - Arlington High
Dave Fitch - Keyboards - Broad Ripple High
Mike Rea - Bass - Broad Ripple High

Al gets bonus cool points for playing a Vox guitar. Time to check in guys and give us the skinny on what was the haps in '66!

The Young Set - 1967

From Indianapolis, 1967, the Young Set are in the mix of local bands making the rounds.

From left:
Sherie Marie
JoAnn McCubbins
Tom Tyner
Shari Robinson
Suzanne Simpson

The second photo (courtesy of Larry Goshen's "Let the Good times Roll") shows 5 ladies and no gent. Later, earlier, I don't know yet.


As the poster shows, the Young Set made it so far as Olney, IL in '67. Any recordings or 45's are surely rumors. I'm told they were Top 40 tunes only.

What Four - Indianapolis 1966

Presenting the What Four. From Indianapolis, the band is unknown, other than they played some dates in late 1966.

Could these be the What Four that recorded on BOX ( a Dayton, Ohio imprint). Hoerr - Johnson is the only writer credits I can come up with. Any info at all appreciated!

Shades - Etna Green - Girl group

Yes, there were more girl groups in Indiana! For your consideration we present the Shades. The band hailed from Etna Green (tiny little town between South Bend & Ft. Wayne).

From left:

Janice Gard - Bass
Suzannah Blodgette - drums
Cinda Stouder - Guitar

The girls managed to make three 45's, from 1964 to '66.

Denny
I Won't Cry
Prancer's got some red spots
Santa Claus is coming to town
Send Him Back to Me
Tell Me Not To Cry




The Shades won a contest and ended up in Amsterdam for a show! How would you like to play in front of 5000! Pretty heady stuff for the girls I'm sure.
As usual, all comments welcome. Let's fill in the blanks here!

1966 band video - Ft. Wayne - Silly Putty

Good news Indiana '60s Band Szene people. Great video from a '66 Indiana band. I just can't remember what band it was/became. Could be the End (from Indianapolis, not LaPorte), or perhaps the Knightsmen. Anyone know, please enlighten me!! I lost most of my notes (and this video , on a really wet hard drive) in June '08s flood. Thanks to the recovery gods, you are now seeing it!

I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the North Central Alumni reunion a couple of years back. Featured were the Joys of Life, Knightsmen, Sounds Unlimited, the End, and another I can't remember. If anyone has that web-page saved, could you please pass it on to me.

Enjoy the video!!!!!

Bushmen - Columbus - 1966

Another local band, The Bushmen, from Columbus, 1966. This is from an ad for a show at the Lincoln Center - December 1966. The Bushmen were the "intermission" band, as the Mystics were the featured band.

Give a hand to (left to right)
Front Row:
Jeff Wilhite
Dennis Huntington
Back Row:
Rick Thompson
Mike Fox
Rick Spencer

No recorded music, real or imagined. I need to cross-check what other bands the boys were in, as always, I'll find out and spread the news!