All Hail Blast Inc.. This band has been a stumper for a few years now. Originally I thought they were from Columbus, But now I'm leaning towards Franklin. Heck, they could be from Angola or Chandler for all I know. I'm asking for any help here! A name, real or imagined would be a good start. All I'm sure of is that they played at the Tempo department store in Columbus, Indiana in May '66. And I have a date in June '66 playing in Franklin. If they made a record, I don't have it (yet).In February, band member Lee Folger found us and added:
Hey, this is Lee Folger, bassist from Blast Inc. Just found your website and thought I'd try to help fill in some information. We were primarily Southsiders and practiced in the Smith Valley Community Center. We played all around central Indiana and frequently linked up with Bouncin' Bill Baker and Easy Guinn from WIBC. We played such venues as the Whiteland Barn, Center Grove HS, Franklin County Fair Grounds, and many other teen dates.
We were just about to record our first record when our keyboardist, Bobby Kafader, was tragically killed in an auto accident. We disbanded shortly after and I have not heard from any other band members since. I am going to try to see if I can locate any of them and I will keep you posted as to the results.
We all sang backup for Nick Anderson.
The members were;
Bobby Kafader, Keyboards, Southport
Rick Richards, Rhythm, Southport
Ralph Wilson, Lead, Smith Valley
Dave Laughlin, Drums, Smith Valley
Nick Anderson, Vocals, Speedway
Lee Folger, Bass, Indy
Great stuff, this was one band I knew nothing about, other than a trail of dates they played! We welcome you back anytime Lee!
Just found your web site....it's great! Was talking to one of my classmates (from Greenwood, class of 62) and she told me about a web site for the Whiteland Barn, put together by Ron VanLandingham.(whitelandbarn.com). You all might want to visit it.
ReplyDeleteToday, I thought I'd see if I could find anything about our old band, and happened on to your site! Really comprehensive! Lots of information about a lot of the bands of the time.
Blast practiced in the Smith Valley Community Center, and we were primarily south siders. Our lead guitarist, (Dave) Wilson was from Smith Valley. Our drummer, Dave Laughlin, lived on Smith Valley road near 135. Our lead singer, Nick Anderson, lived in Speedway. Our rythm guitarist, Rick Richards, and our Keyboardist, Bob Kafader, lived in Southport. I was the bassist (Lee Folger) and I lived on Indy's south side.
n 1966, the band won the Battle of the Band contest at the Indiana State Fair. Our prize was 5 electro voice "664" mics. Our drummer was hearlded as the best in the state by the Indianapolis Star.
We played all around central Indiana with Bill Baker, Easy Guinn, and many other DJ's.
We had a young man from Franklin who had written some songs for us and we were ready to cut our first record when Bobby Kafader was killed in an unfortunate auto wreck, and we were not able to carry on, and dis-banded.
Keyboard - Bobby Kafader, deceased
Drums - Dave Laughlin
Lead - (Dave) Wilson
Rythm - Rick Richards
Vocal - Nick Anderson
Bass - Lee Folger
Hey, this is Lee Folger, bassist from Blast Inc. Just found your webste and thought I'd try to help fill in some information. We were primarily Southsiders and practiced in the Smit Valley Community Center. We played all around central Indiana and frequently linked up with Bouncin' Bill Baker and Easy Guinn from WIBC. We played such venues as the Whiteland Barn, Center Grove HS, Franklin County Fair Grounds, and many other teen dates.
ReplyDeleteWe were just about to record our first record when our keyboardist, Bobby Kafader, was tragically kikked in an auto accident. We disbanded shortly after and I have not heard from any other bamd members since. I am going to try to see if I can locate any of them and I will keep you posted as to the results.
We all sang backup for Nick Anderson.
The members were;
Bobby Kafader, Keyboards, Southport
Rick Richards, Rythm, Shouthport
(Dave) Wilson, Lead, Smith Valley
Dave Laughlin, Drums, Smith Valley
Nick Anderson, Vocals, Speedway
Lee Folger, Bass, Indy
Thanks so much for checkin' in Lee. I'll keep my eyes open for your band mates also. I found quite a few ads for your band playing, but has always seemed to be a mystery band on the members. Really glad to have rounded it out finally!
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled in here by Googling Easy Guinn and Bouncing Bill Baker.
ReplyDeleteI moved to Indy at 15 and finished the last 3 years at Broad Ripple, and played in the dance band every year. I loved the music scene in Indy, and we played, ourselves, a number of proms and events at the Butler Student Center.
Guinn and Baker brought back a lot of good memories.
After some time, I remembered our lead guitarist first name. I didn't think I had it right, but it was just one of those "senior moments." He was the incredible Ralph Wilson. A very gifted guitarist and also bassist. I still haven't been able to find any band members, but someone did contact me to say that they had known Dave in school and they thought he had passed away several years ago.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why anyone would have moved in 50 years, but since they have (and so have I) I guess I'll just go on hunting!
Ron Van Landingham is contemplating another "reunion concert" this summer at "The Suds" in Greenwood, so practice up on your moves!
See you soon!
Lee Folger
OneMountainGrown@comcast.net
Just ran across this article on September 4, 2016. We (Blast Inc.) had a great time together in the 60's. Our band was shattered when Bobby Kafader, our organist and vocalist died in a car accident in the spring. I am Nick Anderson and I was the lead singer. Dave Laughlin died many years ago when we were still young from complications of which I am not sure about. I have talked to Ralph Wilson in the past 5 years and he was an incredible lead guitarist and taught guitar as well at one of the music stores. Dave Heidenrich, pictured on bass was with us for a short time and Lee Folger was not in the photo. I talked to Dave also about 5 years ago. Dave and Ralph both live in the Greenwood area and I moved to Georgia in 1986. Would love to hear from any of you.
ReplyDeleteNick Anderson
Nick3071@aol.com
Nick,
DeleteI just came across this post from a couple of years ago. I've been trying unsuccessfully to find any of the band for several years. I'm happy to have finally found you and Dave Heidenreich, too!, I hope that this email address is still good and perhaps we'll be able to get together sometime! I started playing out again last May and I've been having a "Blast", if you know what I mean! LOL
Best regards,
Lee Folger
Tried to post comment on Sept. 4, 2016. Nick Anderson here of Blast Inc. We played in the 60's in and around Greenwood Indiana. Lee Folger gave a great run down on the band in the original post. I would love to hear from anyone in the band.
ReplyDeleteNick Anderson
Nick3071@aol.com
This is Dave Heidenreich, original bassist for Blast Inc (in the photo). A great band and lot of good memories. I got to have a reunion today with Nick Anderson and we relived a lot of the memories from the band. I did not know Lee Folger but I had heard that the band went on to do a lot of good things. Nick is correct about the members- Ralph Wilson was an excellent guitar player who went on to play in several bands in the midwest area, Bob Kafader was excellent at keyboards and vocals, Dave Loflin was a premier drummer in the area. The loss of Bob and later, Dave Loflin would have brought any band to its knees. Too bad this band never got to rise to their full potential.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave,
DeleteI just found your post as well as Nick's and I'm really glad to finally find some of the group! I was honored to step in as bassist after your departure and the band was a wonderful experience! As you mentioned, Bobby's sudden passing was traumatic for everyone and keeping things together afterwards proved to be more than we could handle. Thank you for your service and hopefully we'll be able to get together sometime and chat about old times.
Best regards,
Lee Folger
Blast played for at least one dance at Southport Fieldhouse. Bob Kafader was a good friend, and actually convinced my parents to let me purchase my first keyboard by generously, and amazingly (eat your hearts out, keyboard fans!) loaning me his VOX Continental Organ for a couple of days! Bob was a high school classmate at Southport.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to his musical talent, he also was hilarious, and could have been a stand-up comedian! Loved him, as did everyone at Southport, and he has never been forgotten. His assistance aided in the development of our band, The Premiers, also from Southport, and including Roger Cummings, Gary Wells, Don Gary, Jim Krug and myself. Best regards to all, Gary M. Davis, Plainfield IN. garydavis500@hotmail.com.
Gary- you are so right about Bob Kafader. Great guy. He died after I left the band to go to the Air Force.
ReplyDeleteNever a day goes by that I don't think of Bobby Kafader. What a great guy and a great family. We all miss Bobby.
ReplyDelete