The year: 1969. The place: Storm’s Garage, 9093 Round Top Road, Cincinnati, Ohio. The event:
My first band formed before my eyes.
Rick and Dave Storm lived across the street. They were 13 and 14. I was 11. We were going to be Grand Funk Railroad. We even fancied that perhaps we looked a bit like young versions of Mark, Don and Mel. That’s for history to decide. The important thing was, we were kids with a dream, and we had a BAND!
For now our working name was Storm. We’d talked about it for years. We finally all had instruments and were ready to rock. Rick was on his red Fender guitar, Dave was on bass, (which he played on his BLUE Fender guitar). They both played through the same amp. I played a beautiful set of Ludwig drums. Just like Ringo’s.
All we had was a six chord pattern, and no vocals.
The song was the opening to “I’m Free” by The Who. We jammed out that A, C, D, B, D, E like there was no tomorrow. Forty five minutes later, we decided we’d better learn some more songs.
But during that forty five minutes, something magical happened. We felt a chemistry. We felt in sync with each other. We played off each other. We laughed and smiled a lot. If you’ve ever been in a band, you know exactly what I’m talking about. There’s no bond like your band buddies bond.
Kids from the neighborhood (and some adults!) started coming around to see what all the commotion was about. Many stayed. When we finished, what an adrenaline rush! We were sweaty, hoarse, and exhausted.
I was hooked.
We practiced. I’m sure we stunk. But we eventually got a microphone, learned a bunch of Grand Funk songs, as well as Beatles, Stones, and many more from the classic rock era. We grew up together, got in and out of trouble, went through name changes, joined other bands, got back together, and finally closed shop with some friends as The Clam from 1979, until 1981 when I moved south.
I’ve been in many bands in the decades since, and even in my semi-retired status as a member of The Tuxedo Cats, (best band I’ve ever been in!) there’s still a rush that goes through me when I hear one of those early Grand Funk songs that makes me want to get up and play air guitar like nobody’s watching.
I know. Embarrassing. But I’m in my 60’s, and
I don’t think that’s ever going to go away.
I remember after one of those insane gigs in the early 70s, still out of breath from another crazed rock-a-thon, Dave Storm took me aside and said, “Imagine one day when we’re old and gray, and we get together one more time, and crank out one last Grand Funk “We’re an American Band”.
It’s so special to play it now with The Tuxedo Cats, and I’m forever grateful.
But Rick and Dave Storm, if you’re ever in Texas…