Noblemen - McCordsville - Prism 45

The Noblemen - direct from McCordsville, Indiana, left us one great 45.
She still thinks I love her B/W
Satisfied on Prism 1930.

The Noblemen played around Indianapolis quite often, but seem to have very little known about them. The 45 shows "Crouch & Wilhelm" and "Spencer" as songwriters. I know a James Spencer had a Prism records connection, but maybe that is a coincidence. Any info is appreciated!

Fire Combo - '68 Whiteland Barn

Good Day '60s Indiana Band team! We have a video of an unknown band. No audio (the overdubbed audio was the Seeds "Pushin' to hard") great tune, but not what we need here. At the very beginning we have a shot of the drumhead showing "Fire Combo". All I know is that it's 1968 at the Whiteland Barn.
Our mission....who are these guys!!!!! Any ideas (real or imagined) welcomed. I've seen it guessed as "Feebe n' the Ragweed Patche", but I have my doubts...............

I made it as small as I could for viewing, without resorting to postage stamp size. Who are you!

Jan. 2011 Update!

Two members, Danny Spencer and Rick Boger have checked in!
Rick writes:
"Fire members were:

Lead Singer - Danny Spencer

Lead Guitar - Don Grover

Guitar - Rex Thomas

Bass Guitar - Rick Boger

Keyboards - Dave Thomas

Drums - Paul Thomas

Drums - Kenny Dwiggins

This was a time when we experimented with two drummers. It actually worked out well. I recall we would start the show with a drum duet. Just the two drummers on stage and they would take turns for about five minutes and work the crowd up into a frenzy. Then the rest of us would come on stage and without missing a beat go into the first song. The crowd seemed to like it.

Most of us went to Howe High School. Don Grover and Kenny Dwiggins went to Tech High School. As you can see there were three Thomas' in the band. Dave and Paul were brothers, Rex was not related.

We finally broke up the band around 1970 after a couple of us got married and started families. Also, Danny Spencer went into the Air Force. "

Wow. Over two years have passed since I posted the video. Great info coming in all the time, I'm sure we'll hear more from the Fire Combo!

The Intakes - Combo Clash '66

The Intakes, another entry in the 1966 Indiana State Fair "Combo Clash".
Members included (left to right):
Ralph Wilson - lead guitar
Jack Moore - Lead singer & tambourine
Mike Rowls - Bass guitar
Ken Noble - rhythm guitar
Mike Graves - Drums

The Intakes acquired the name by leafing through a dictionary of course! The "band" vehicle was a '51 hearse and naturally it was black! Playing the grittier tunes of the Animals, Kinks, and Rolling Stones, the group knew that original material was what made it worthwhile.

Mike Rowls is quoted as:
"Many adults don't care for this type of music because there is so much protest in the lyrics. If you protest in a song, it is against your present life or government and in a sense that is protesting against adults of today."

Wonder if Mike still feels the same way............what a drag it is getting old! Let's find these guys and find out if they left some recorded legacy behind!

Iguanas - Maconaquah - Bunker Hill 1967

The Iguanas, unknown students from Maconaquah High School. All I'm sure of is that they attended 1966 - 1967. Look a little young to have graduated then, heck, I don't know!

Maconaquah H.S. is located in beautiful Bunker Hill, Indiana. Cool pic from the kids, hope I find out who they are. Looks to be a three piece combo, no organ or keyboards.

Bitter End - Indianapolis '66

Earlier I exposed the International Silver String Submarine Banned.

Laura wrote:
"I previously was in a band (and was next-door neighbor) to Jeanne Schuller. That band was called The Bitter End, with Pat and Mike Finnegan and the drummer was Jay (something?). When I went on to join the ISSSB as lead player, Jeanne went on to join The Shy Ones as their lead player. Jeanne! Where are you?"

Well, today I found a pic of the Bitter End playing at a new playground opening late Aug. 1966. Don't know if the playground is still there, but how many pics do you find of bands that featured two ladies playing guitar in the mid '60s?

If anyone knows where Jeanne is, contact me and and I'll make sure Laura knows!
And who is Jay?

The Hurd - '66 - '67 Indianapolis

The Hurd - circa 1967. The Hurd were known for the harder rock and psychedelic sounds. One of the few bands of the day to belt out "Psychotic Reaction", and one of even few still to do it well.
Pictured: (from bottom right to left)
Nick Rudman - kneeling - rhythm guitar - Speedway HS
Kevin Williams - seated - lead guitar - vocals - North Central
*** - organ - sax - Broad Ripple
Jimmy Thomson - drums - vocals - North Central
Bruce White - bass - North Central

No 45s left behind that we know of. Alas, maybe we'll find a rehearsal tape someday. Time to check in and let us know what else the Hurd was involved in!

Fab gear dear readers! Kevin Williams has found us and graciously sent this photo and info.

"Bruce White was tragically killed in the USAC airplane crash in 1978. He was finishing up his residency in Surgery, and was the USAC racing doctor. I have lost touch with Nick Rudman, and Jimmy Thompson. The picture you show was taken before we incorporated Steve Simpson on drums, who attended Ben Davis. At that time, Jimmy became our up front man, and singer. Also have lost touch with Steve. Matter of fact, I haven't seen Nick, Steve, or Jimmy since about 1969 or 1970.

This is the only pic I know of, of us rehearsing, sometime in 1967. From Left to right, Jimmy Thompson with mic, Steve Simpson on Drums, myself on the Fender Jaguar (damn I wish I still had that guitar, and the old blonde bandmaster Amp). Nick Rudman with his back to the camera, he is facing Bruce White, only his face is showing, and on the Farfisa organ in back, is **** .
There was some other memorabilia but it was unfortunately destroyed in a flooded basement many years ago. I don't believe there were any reel to reel tapes, or even cassette tapes of the band, as they were just coming into vogue. There was much discussion about doing something, but we all had other life priorities coming up. We all went our separate ways, due to College frankly. Bruce wasn't interested as he was traveling to europe, and then to Med school. I was going to Florida to school, Steve went into the Marines, and I heard he played in the White house Marine band. Note, I heard that second hand. He most certainly was good enough to pass just about any audition. Again, dunno bout Jimmy and Nick."

Wow, all I can say is thanks Kevin. Tons of good info and we tip our hats to you and the band for stickin' that toe in the water and diving in! I wish you still had that Jaguar too.

Idle Few - update

One of the reasons I do this is to make sure the facts are correct and the right band members are honored. It's getting to be a long time ago and memories are sometimes short, and often the newspaper, and ads are just wrong. I did a little piece with some tunes earlier on the Idle Few. (Click on the Idle Few to check it out).

Known as the Kingsmen until they recorded they were-
From the top, clockwise:

• Bill Compton - Bass
• John Chappelow - Lead & Rhythm
• Rick Webster - Lead & Rhythm
• Ron Bennett - Lead Singer & Sax
• Dan Mclean - Drums
• Ron Knoop - Organ

This second pic shows the group as they recorded "Farmer John" and "Another World". John was killed in a car accident returning from an after prom dance in Cambridge City, and was never replaced. Bill was replaced by Paul Romine on bass and this is the recording lineup.

From top to left:

• Ron Bennett
• Paul Romine
• Rick Webster
• Ron Knoop - nearly kneeling
• Dan McLean - sitting

Pretty cool eh? The Soma 45 came first and then picked up by Dunwich.

Special thanks to Ron for the great pics and info!