The Chimes Of Freedom
Cheektowaga, New York
1966-1969
 

 Basically, it was just your run of the mill local band. But then we really started sounding pretty good. We all went to Cleaveland Hill (or Hell as I used to call it) and we all lived within a few blocks of each other. We were all friends and decided to "jam" in my basement. At the time it was just Buddy and myself but soon Buddy brought Rick over then came Rick with Dave and finally Steve. We actually has no intentions of putting a band together but all of the sudden there it was. The band had several different incarnations over the years. Milt Schmidt and I got together with Kenny Yoder, Rick and Steve got together with George Litz to form a band...then I got together with George, Paul Benhatzel and Larry Hilberger to form "Red Witch" and Buddy and Dave just sort of faded away. Those were great days. I still play to this day as does George and Paul. Funny thing was we could not seem to get all the best players in the same band at the same time...would of been a kick ass group...oh well ...

There does exist a reel-reel tape of the original band in my basement recorded on my dads old Sony that really sounded great ... trouble is no one knows where it is ... bummer. 

Personnel:
Jim Schwab - Guitar
Ken (Buddy) Ruppert - Guitar
Rick Patterson - Bass
Steve Shilling - Drums
Dave Mortonson - Vocals
Milt Schmidt - Vocals
Tom Dove - Vocals and (sometimes) Guitar

Influences:
Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds, Hendrix, Buffalo Springfield

Setlist Sample:
Fire, House Of The Rising Sun, Satisfaction

Equipment:
Gretch, Kustom, Fender, Hagstrom, Ludwig, EV, Shure

Rehearsal Space:
Schwabs basement

Band Vehicles:
Anything we could get our hands on.

Fashion Statement:
Paisley-mod

Best Gig:
Westbrook block party-outside, everybody was there-lots of girls.

Gig from Hell!:
Battle of the bands-so obviosly fixed.

Last Gig:
Don't remember

Comments:
Those were some great times ... I learned a lot from those guys and am grateful.

 

  
Where are they now?
Winter, 2005

Fortunatly, everyone is still in town except Dave who is in California.
George is probobly doing the best musically.

 

 Information contributed by Jim Schwab jjschwab01@aol.com

 

 

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