Rythmlads Staten Island, New York 1965-1967   Tommy and I were nieghborhood friends who had dreams of growing up to be a Beatle. Before we even had our first guitars, we had a name...The Chantones. We changed our name from the Chantones to the Rythymlads when a friend from anther group said the "Chantones" was too '50's and recommended the Rythymlads as a name. Bobby was younger, still in junior high, and Tomie and I attended McKee Vocational High. Tomie and Bobby, brothers, were born natural musicians and singers. I had to struggle along. We spent a lot of time listening and learning from other local groups who already had gigs. Fianlly, we got our Danelectro's and Bobby got his drums. Tomie was originally a bass player, but found lead guitar easy. I kept up my formal lessons and 'street lessons' from a guy named Gary (Nokie) Edwards. We never made it to the 'big gigs', but got to play in front of audiences. As we grew, so did our tastes, thus we grew apart.   Personnel: Tomie Cabrera - Lead Guitar Bobby Cabrera - Drums Tom-e Carmelengo - Rythym Guitar Influences: Beatles, Ventures, Johnny Rivers Setlist Sample: Pipeline, Wipe Out, Penetration, Apache, I Feel Fine, This Boy, Twist and Shout, Secret Agant Man, Seventh Son, And I Love Her, Boys, La La Lu, Perfidia, Outer Limits, Walk Don't Run Equipment: I laugh at the guitars we had. We traded in our Danelectros for cheap Japanese models because they 'looked cooler'. I had a big Silvertone twin 12 piggyback amp and two dynamic mikes. Always wanted that Rickenbacker, but could never afford one. Rehearsal Space: We rehearsed in the basement of my parents house. I don't know how the nieghbors tolerated it. Band Vehicles: Usually we'd have someone's father or Uncle carry us around. Fashion Statement: Mostly Mod, but tried these funny 'cow print' shirts. Best Gig: The best gig was St. Michaels Home for Children. It was full of teenage girls and they loved to dance, A rival band, "The Mustangs" showed up and it became a battle of the bands, With only about 15 songs to our set, the girls loved us even when we played the same songs twice. Gig from Hell!: We were playing at a local church bazaar, Mt Carmel, where they would feature local groups in 45 minute sets. We were new, and didn't have great equipment. Bobby had just gotten his drums, but had no seat. He folded up a chair and leaned it against the stage lighting post. About 15 seconds into the beginning of Wipe Out, we had no drums...Bobby had fallen off the stage! Last Gig: McKee High School was our last gig. It was a Christmas Gala in the auditorium. by that time we were playing with other musicians and began moving in seperate directions. Comments: Tomie and Tom-e spelled their name that way just to be different.     Tom-e Carmelengo 1967      Where are they now? Winter, 2003 Tomie is retired in Florida, but had continued playing as an organist for various groups and had a contract with Warner Bros, but lost a bandmember. We still are in contact. Bobby played for a while, settled down, and I lost touch. I, Tom-e am retired from NYC Transit and the National Guard. I moved to NJ an am playing again non-professionally with a group of other 60's garage band guys on the beach. I finally, after 30 years, got my Rickenbackers..12 string and 6 string! No, they don't go to the beach, I bring the cheap acoustic 12 string. Funny, now that I'm all 'growed' up and not looking to be a Beatle, I have 13 guitars, a Fender Bassman 135 & Marshall 80watt amp, wa-wa pedal, mikes...effects box..now, If I could only play like Alvin Lee! Thank goodness for a tolerant wife!!   Tom Carmelengo today Tom with his buddy Joe: "who was in a garage band that played in Palasades Park NJ as warm-up for the Young Rascals. How cool that must have been! I'll have to tell him to submit his story and pics!"    Information contributed by Tom Carmelengo

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