The
Cloud
Lansing,
Michigan
1968-1969
|
(Clockwise from the top)
The Cloud:
Phil Ralya, Mike Rothermel, Don Hess, Rick Morris,
Randy Miller (1968)
|
Editor's
Note:
Dennis Preston, former bass player from the
Lansing, MI based band BEAST
(1969-1971),
sent in the following info. While not an official
member of The Cloud, he occasionally performed with
them as a guitarist, and if you check out the page
for BEAST,
note that most of the rehearsal photos were taken
by The Cloud's Don Hess! These are mainly Dennis'
recollections of the band.
|
Personnel:
Rick Morris - Vocals, Percussion
Don Hess - Bass, Background Vocals
Phil Ralya - Guitar, Background Vocals
Mike Rothermel - Guitar, Background
Vocals
Randy Miller - Drums
Dennis Preston - (occasional)
Guitar
|
|
|
|
Influences:
The
Rolling Stones, The Animals, Cream, The
Grateful Dead, Jefferson
Airplane
|
|
Setlist
Sample:
Paint It Black, Jumping Jack Flash,
SWLABR, Tales of Brave Ulysses, House of
the Rising Sun, Morning Dew
|
|
Equipment:
Ludwig drums. Vox bass amp and
guitar.
|
|
|
|
|
Rehearsal
Space:
Sharon
Davis' (who married Don)
basement.
|
|
|
|
|
Band
Vehicles:
Sharon's
Dad's van and band members'
cars.
|
|
|
|
|
Fashion
Statement:
Fashion
statement.... hmmm.... Don looked a lot
like a short John Lennon... especially in
his round glasses. I think he wore bell
bottoms, vests and moccasins. Rick...
denim jacket and jeans. The rest of the
guys.... a mixture of things.
|
|
|
|
|
Best
Gig:
Actually
for me there were two gigs I thought were
pretty cool. One was at a dance in a
church basement. What was unique (and cool
in an odd way) was that a majority of the
dancers were handicapped. There we were
playing Stones tunes and these folks were
out there on crutches and wheeling (and
balancing) in wheel chairs!!! I was
totally amazed. Another gig I remember was
a Battle of the Bands. I didn't play at
this one... my involvement was painting
the white van psychedelically and putting
the band's name on it with that Filmore
touch and also caricatures of the band
members with paint that could be washed
off later. They were the only band to play
Jumping Jack Flash... and they did a great
job doing so.
|
|
|
|
|
Gig
from
Hell!:
None
listed.
|
|
|
|
|
Last
Gig:
None
listed.
|
Comments:
Dennis: I also
painted the name on the drum head and designed the
band's promo poster. I sure hope that Phil and Mike
add more to this info.
|
|
|
|
In concert May 1, 1968
|
|
Randy, May 1,
1968 (from same concert)
|
|
|
|
(L-R) Phil, Mike and
Randy
|
|
|
Mike - Photo by Don
McManamey
|
Don and Phil.
Drum Head by Dennis Preston
|
|
|
|
"Hey Rocky, watch me
pull a rabbit out of this bath"
"Again?"
|
Rick and Don with
caricatures of the band.
|
|
Above - Don Hess -
yearbook photo (1968)
Left - Sharon and Don, Feb. 16, 1969
|
|
|
Rick Morris' senior (1969)
photo from the Lansing Eastern High School
yearbook.
|
|
Dennis Preston
(1969)
|
|
All photos courtesy of Sharon (Davis)
Hess
|
Where
are they now?
|
|
Rick last I knew was in
Lansing. Don later got into photographing at
concerts. Don and Randy died within the same week
in the early 70's (I don't remember the exact
date). Phil & Mike I don't know
about.
|
|
|
|
Dennis Preston and
Rick Morris 5-27-2005
|
Information contributed by
Dennis Preston ArtByDenPreston@AOL.com
|
