Hang Five Glen Ellyn & Lombard, Illinois 1964-1968   The Hang Five: David Redmond, Dave Schwerdtfeger, Tim Shelly (top row l-r) Tony Choc (center) Tom Wilcox (bottom) -1967 Photo Location: The empty field next to Dave Redmond's house, in his old tree-fort. Q: How did we get the keyboard up in the tree? A: We took it up in sections and assembled it on the old treehouse platform. The whole thing was precariously balanced, but no one fell during the shoot.  Dave Redmond: We called him 'Red Man Chew' like the chewing tobacco, but I don't think he chewed. Dave was multi-talented, a perfectionist, and tough to work with, but a likeable guy. He had an remarkable ability to jam. He turned us onto soul music. It was unfortunate that he passed on in the early 70's. No one has ever told me exactly what happened. There was no doubt about it, Dave had a greatness to him and if he had survived, he would be a household name today. Dave Schwerdtfeger: We called him 'Schwartzy'. He was the real leader of the band, although we all shared input. He taught me how to play guitar when I was 8 years old. Dave was the one who always came up with transportation for the band before the vegetable truck was available. Tim Shelly: We called him 'The Ripper' because of gas & sax! There was a time he drank 40 beers in one night because we got paid in beer at a gig at 'Pig Alley' in Paris. (This inspired a John Belushi movie scene also.) We carried him home, because he was pint-sized and put him on the hotel bed with his face over a garbage can puking all night. The French maid screamed when she opened the door the next morning. We were kicked out of a few hotels on our European tour! Tom Wilcox: was a heck of a drummer, he really was...always the sober one, the intellectual with spiritual pursuits, a bit conservative at the time, and I'd say he was very tolerant of our collective craziness. Tony Choc: They called me 'Thick', because when girls would make a 'hint' at me I wouldn't notice it. I like things to be direct. My Hang Five experience changed my life. Music continues to be my first love. Personnel: Dave Redmond - Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Sax, Drums David Schwerdtfeger - Vocals & Guitar Tim (Dane) Shelly - Sax Tony Choc - Guitar, Vocals, Bass Tom Wilcox - Drums Ken Slauf - Drums (replaced Wilcox 1967) Influences: Spencer Davis, Rolling Stones, Beatles Setlist Sample: Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, Midnight Hour, Soul Finger Equipment: Vox, Ampeg, Gibson, Farfisa Minicompact, Selmer Sax, Rodgers Drums, Fender, Eko, Baldwin, Epiphone Rehearsal Space: Dave's parent's basement. Band Vehicles: 10 ton truck, Jim's dad's truck 'Junta's Fruits & Vegetables'. Fashion Statement: long hair, bell-bottoms, suits. Best Gig: 3 Week European Tour in 1966, Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, England (Hang Five won their European tour in the 1966 Talented Teen USA Pagent held in McCormack Place, Chicago. Gig from Hell!: It was a long time ago and I forget the name of the dive in Southern Illionois where we played in a stage-sized cage with the audience throwing stuff at us. This was the gig that inspired John Belushi's bar scene in 'The Blues Brothers' movie. We met John while he was auditioning for Hang Five, when Tom Wilcox (the orginal drummer) left for college in 1967. John B.'s drumming was too 'Louie, Louie' for our musical taste and we found another drummer, Ken Slauf. I remained friends with John B. until he left to perform for Second City in downtown Chicago. Our Hang Five & Saturday Review adventures inspired a few of the scenes in his movie. ('Hang Five' became 'Saturday Review' when we decided to break away from our 'surf music' reputation.) Hang Five placed huge megaphones on top of a Model A Ford and drove around the Cedar Lake area announcing our gig in 1967. The crazy girlfriend from hell was based on my own dear love. Just like in the movie, John was always saying to us, "You gotta get the band back together!" after 'Saturday Review' had broken up. I'd like to mention that John Belushi was a real good friend and a gentleman, and very unlike his 'Animal House' character. He was always pumping us for more band adventures. He had always said that he was going to make a movie about us someday, and he did! Last Gig: VFW Hall in the western suburbs of Chicago. Comments: Our name 'Hang Five' was inspired by 'taking a small chance', the first step to 'hanging ten' on a skateboard. We all had to ride a skateboard to be in the band. I think we were the first skateboard band to make it big at that time.      Where are they now? Summer, 2004 Dave Redmond: passed on - Dave Schwerdtfeger: I think he is a paper broker. Tim Shelly: optometrist - Tom Wilcox: I think he became a priest - Tony Choc: musician - Ken Slauf: last I heard he was an insurance salesman.    Information contributed by Tony Choc

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