Herb just happened to be pledging a fraternity and met Jim "Spank" Kohler (hay, that's me!) who was also pledging. Spank was playing a 5-string banjo at the time. Herb asked if he could play the bass and yes he could and the rest is history.
Here is a great story. The first night I played in the band, we in the band had a tab. To a kid in his very early 20's this was golden! The heck with the beer, lets drink Scotch & coke plus Lets buy drinks for friends!! Well, the end of the night comes and Herb pays Mark, Dave and himself. I ask were is my pay?? He says, "You owe the bar $27.00 bucks!! First time I ever played for the bar as well in the bar!
Here is a another great story. One time we were playing in Buffalo, NY so we were driving from Rochester, NY. We didn't really know we had to put oil in the hearse so it craps out between Rochester and Buffalo. We all get out of the hearse but Mark decides to get on the New York State Thruway and starts jumping around. Just then a New York State Trooper comes by. They ticked Mark for "Dancing on the Thruway". He eventually had to go to court where everyone cracked up at the charge. The judge thought is was so funny, they dropped the charge!! Now, you have to ask, how many people have danced on the New York State Thruway!!
Another funny story....Mark, who was an artist, was great at building things. He took a 6-string guitar and converted it to a 12-string. We then learned "Mister Tambourine Man (by the Byrds). Well the first night (which was probably a Friday night) we start to play it. About half way into the song, we realize this ain't our music and stopped. Mark promptly put the 12-string down and stomped on it. End of that crap. Now, let's do some Rock 'n Roll!
To get some reflection into the history and how the band got going in the 1960's, check out the following articles: Articles
Another old poster from the old Days!
