How did youth rise above the bad reputations beset on the cities of Akron and Kent in the 70s?   

Ask anyone still around who was part of the burgeoning punk/new wave scene that  found it’s way into Akron and Kent more than a quarter of a century ago and the answer will always be – original music and a place to play it.  

While Kent was still reeling from the Kent State shootings that marred its campus and Akron’s rubber companies were on a one way trip out of town, finding cheaper labor in Mexico, a fledgling music movement began to take hold in these NE Ohio towns which would forever change the lives of its disenchanted adolescents.  

Punk rock followed by new wave was about the only thing taking hold and sticking in these two dying towns. The venues that allowed local musicians and their fans a way out, at least for a time, opened their doors. JB’s Down and Mother’s Junction in Kent and then, The Bank Nite Club in downtown Akron, made it all possible.  

Now three decades later, with The Bank long gone; a mere ghost lingering under Canal Park, JBs Down not being what it once was, and Mothers vanished behind the pre-established name of Rays, only memories remain. 

One who recalls that time, and has since taken up the cause to reignite that scene is Mary Mosher. ““A few of us have been longing for the excitement of the (punk/new wave/alternative) music scene we once shared,” explains Mosher, who marketed and supported local bands in Kent Ohio.”This was a big part of our lives back then, and it was, and still is, part of our culture.” 

 Thanks to the ever-present walks down memory lane by a few starry-eyes dreamers, 17 of the bands who once graced or disgraced these stages will be rekindling the fire of  late night music madness with the announcement of Debacle.  

The name was a tongue-in-cheek, self-depreciative label that defined previous reunion efforts which fell short of the planning stages. This one stuck, and Mosher tells why.  “We have been fortunate to gain the support of several of the bands who were at the center of the scene.

These bands playing are doing it simply because they love playing.”   Debacle is a two-night reunion compilation of bands performing at the venerable Kent Stage in Kent at 1221 High Street. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the shows begin each night at 7:30. 

At a cost of five dollars, it is almost absurd that you can see on September 24, eight bands and for another five, nine bands on September 25.  To not make it a self-aggrandized orgy of bands and fans, the grass roots committee organizing the event is working jointly with the Akron-Canton Food Bank.

Attendees of the show are being asked to bring food donations to the shows. Each person who donates is automatically entered into a raffle to win band memorabilia and certificates from local establishments. Proceeds from the door will go to help the Western Reserve Folk Arts Association and the “Old Punk Rockers’ fund”.   

Augie Teagle’s Tribute To Ignition

 Tribute to Ignition – Onetime Unit 5 keyboard player and longtime area musician Augy Teagle is performing a tribute to the Robert “Iggy” Morningstar, the late guitarist from the local punk band the F-Models who were a fixture of the formative punk years in Akron and Kent. The band was known for its satirical jab at society and media, with songs like, “Lou Grant Breakdown”, “God Save Chrysler” School’s For Fools”. Teagle will be joined on stage by original F-Model drummer Mike Hobart, guitarist Ricky Rhoads and bassist Jeffrey Butash. “Iggy was kind of a genius, even though he was troubled. He didn’t get to achieve the greatness he was capable of reaching.” Morningstar died in 1983 of suicide.    

2 Wide 4 Lipps – The group emerged with a blend of satirical and  socio-political whit in 1987 with the straight ahead punk attitude and sound. Vocalist Jer Herring was joined by Ange (his fellow Kleasmo band mate) Don Brown on bass and Diane Glaub on drums. Bruce Winer who is Herring’s drummer in Herring’s current Ohio Indies band Full Wave Recifier will play with the reunited 2 Wide 4 Lipps. “Playing these songs for the first time in twenty years has made me realize that much of what I’ve written since has its roots in this band,” – recalls Herring, who’s band Dink recorded with Capitol Records and had some national acclaim with their hit “Green Mind” which found its way into the movies Fear and Double Dragon.    

Vinyl Back – Vinyl Back is a high-energy psycho-jazzmatic melting pot, bass player Bill Lundgren says to best describe his Kent quintet formed in 1989. Lundgren rhythm section mate veteran drummer Martin Flunoy (formerly of the Bizarros) melds together a wide range of influences ranging from Ornette Coleman to Black Sabbath. Ian Early (Cherry Poppin Daddies and the Twistoffs) and Chris Strollo provide the jazz sax horn section as guitarist Michael Kaminski (Cop Shoot Cop, Red Ex) provided vocals.    

  

UnReal McCoys - Although not the first group to come out of Tuscarawas County with a punk or new wave sound, the McCoys left an indelible mark on the rural area with an infectious cow-punk sound. The band which started in 1983, consists of keyboardist Don Whittingham, lead singer Mark Incarnato, guitarist Richard Gibbs, bassist Vic Heffner and drummer Steve Sicurella. Jamie Aldergate also kept the beat for a spell. The band found some local success with its EP Party Time. The New Philly quintet opened for the likes of The Del Lords and the DBs. While keeping the alternative fires burning at home, the McCoys were regulars at JBS and Mothers Junction.    

  

Germ Free Adolescents – The band which formed in 1986 got its name from the X –Ray specs punk hit by the same name. It was heavily influenced by the British post-punk movment of Joy Division, The Cure and Gang of Four. GFA initially included guitarist-vocalist Dave Chavez, keyboardist Daryl Ulm, drummer James Pravda, and at different times, bass players Raynard Packard and Mike Crooker (Indian Rope Burn). After a fateful trip to CBGBs the band returned to NE Ohio and added Mark Ire who replaced Packard. Pravda and Ire will be joined in the reformed GFA with Mark K (Morticia’s Chair and Babylon A Go Go) on vocals and guitar. The band’s sound morphed frequently from neo-romanticism to nihilism to sonic explosion.  

  

The Bizarros  –  One of the most enduring bands from the NE Ohio punk/new wave scene, The Bizarros arrived before punk and still play together to this day. The band has persevered with lead singer Nick Nicholis, veteran guitarist/keyboardist Terry Walker, accomplished drummer Martin Flunoy, bassist Don Parkins and lead guitarist Jerry Parkins. The band was part of no less than seven punk compilations of local and national records. Its self-titled debut album was recorded by Mercury Records in 1979. Can’t fight Your Way Uptown from Here was the band’s newest full-length release in 2003. Mick Jones of The Clash commented on the band, saying, “This must be some kind of psychedelic revival.”

The Attitude –  Was a modern rock band from Cleveland which played from 1985 to 1988. The group consisted of lead guitarist Jon Wyville, bass player Greg Peterson, guitarist John Lyon and power pop drummer George Shiner. The Attitude toured extensively in the Midwest and East opening for the likes of The Ramones, The Feelies, Guadalcanal Diary and Faith No More. Its debut EP was entitled “Time Stands Still” on Herb Jackson Records. The Debacle Reunion show will be the group’s first live performance in 22 years.     

The Pets/ The Sidewalks – These two power-pop garage bands formed in the early 1980, had a few band members throughout its tenure. The band reuniting includes lead sing-guitarist Don Schroedel who was the primary song writer of such original tunes as “Jet Car” “Zanzibar” and “Identity Crisis.”The other three-fourth of the two groups consisted of veteran North Canton band members, guitarist Scott Loutzenheiser, bass player Jim Phillips and drummer Craig Wallick. The quartet played its tight new pop sound at all the familiar haunts like JB’s Down, The Bank, The Phantasy Night Club, Mother’s Junction and many others. The bands opened for popular local groups such as The Action, Hammer Damage, Trudee & The Trendsetters, Unit 5, Chi Pig and The Somatics.      

Two Worlds Collide – Formed in 1981, TWC was the joining together of area musicians familiar to the burgeoning alternative music scene. Lead singer and guitarist Michael Evon formerly of  the band John Bassette, – much travelled keyboardist Terry Walker also of The Bizarros, were joined at different times by Mark Price of Tin Huey, Garry Elliot of Teacher’s Pet, Vince Scafitti  of John Bassette.  By the end of 1983, Evon and Walker were joined by Dave Materna on drums from The Clinic, Subterraneans and bass player Gina Jacocks on bass. The lineup playing at the Debacle show will be: Evon, Walker and bass player Art Baranoff of Tin Huey.     

Joy Circuit – If there was one local band that exemplified the growing popularity of synthesizer dance music that characterized new wave, it was Joy Circuit. Inspired by Gary Numan and Ultravox, the Joy boys, as they were later called, were frequent performers at Mothers and JBS. The band self-produced its first single “Time Held the Night” with crowd favorite “Deceleration Fix” on the flipside. Reuniting for the first time in years, the band consist of keyboard player Tim Prentice, bass player Ed Morra, guitarist Mike Render, drummer Gary Boss and vocalist Stephen Taylor. The band also was part of two local area compilations, called Exhibit A and Exhibit C.     

The Nelsons – An original band playing surf punk in land-locked Akron Ohio the quartet performed from 1979 to 1980. It was best known for its song ‘No Blondes’. During their brief two-year stint The Nelsons twice opened for The Dead Boys at The Bank. They were given the moniker ‘The Bad Boys of Akron’ by avant garde singer Klaus Nomi after they stole his magic wand. The band consisted of bass player Mickey Nelson, better known as Mick Hurray, guitarist Alan Nelson sax player Ronny Nelson and drummer Sonny Nelson. The Nelsons, along with The Bizarros are the two bands on the bill originating in the 1970′s.

The Clinic -This Akron-based punk band patterned itself after the raw, brash sound and attitude of such early day punks as The Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks and The Ramones.  The band was a fixture at JBs and Mothers, but also became familiar to the local Akron scene at The Fountain Lounge. The band consisted of Ritch Quik (Smith)on vocals, Gina (Jacocks) on bass, Mike Render on guitar, Dave O-Rama (Knauer) on guitar and Dave Cymbal (Materna) on drums. All of the Clinic’s members wrote original songs for the band, with the majority of the tunes coming from Render. Original songs included “Man with the Cross,” “Why Are All My Heroes Dead?” “Cynical” and “U.S. Boys.”    

Bongo’s Jungle Party - Bongo’s Jungle Party was a three-piece original rock band from Akron which formed in the summer of 1983.  The band consisted of guitarist Dave McLean, bassist Mick Hurray and drummer Bongo Hurray. 

Their name is derived from their drummers “jungle beat” style. Dave and Bongo were previosly bandmates in Athens, OH. band The Boss Guitars. Mick had been a fixture in Akron with The Nelsons. Their best known songs are, “My Friend Doug” dedicated to Cleveland’s Doug Enkler (Offbeats and Prisonshake) and “Radio Nairobi“.

The Somatics – The Somatics were one of the original new wave bands of the late 70s and early 80s to front its band with a female vocalist in the vein of Blondie, Missing Persons and Berlin. The band which had a local hit “All Along the Way”, consisted of vocalist Claudia Galloway, bass player Dave Cooper, keyboardist John Wanchick, guitarist Stymie Richards, drummer Kent Edmonds, and later, guitarist Jim Demain. All will be back except for Demain and Galloway.   

In Fear of Roses – Despite making a name as one of the most recognized bands in the local scene, this Kent punk, folk rock ensemble made as much a name for itself by playing out of state gigs. IFOR played at the legendary CBGBs, at the Austin, Texas festival SXSW and the CMJ festival, gaining maximum exposure. The groups’ sole full-length effort was Beat the Drum on Herb Jackson Records. The band opened for a Who’s Who of national names, such as the Gin Blossoms, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 10,000 Maniacs, Concrete Blond and the Goo Goo Dolls. IFOR began with several different members coming through, but eventually settled on guitarist and lead vocalist Ernie Smith, bass player Gerard Dominick, drummer Bob Szeles and lead guitarist Tracy Ramer.    

 

ODFX - Pronounced Zero Defects, this rambunctious quartet was formed in Akron in late 1981 by , Mick Hurray of the neo-surf group The Nelsons,Tommy “Strange” Seiler of local punk group The Bursting Brains and  Jimi Imij Ohms  of V-Nervz, another local punk rock group. Bass player Brad Warner was added on The New Hope on the nationally released P.E.A.C.E./War compilation in 1983. Zero Defex now features guitarist Jeffro Smull (aka Jeff Hardy) from Akron’s renowned punk band CD Truth. 

DEBACLE COMMUNITY NOTES: As a way of giving back to the community at large, the Debacle staff will be accepting food donations at the door, to go to the seven-county area-wide Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. The items most in demand, include: boxed cereal, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned vegetables, canned beef stew and canned soup. Each show attendee who donates will be entered into a raffle to win valauble prizes, such as band memorabilia and more. Select bands will also be selling merchandise before, during and after performances.    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

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