|
I was introduced to
Mike DiVivi by my friend Paul Shissias. Paul had
heard that I played guitar, and arranged for an
audition at my house with Mike, who was forming a
new band. I think I passed the audition because the
next day, I was rehearsing with Eddie and Jimmy. We
were originally called "The Wheels Of Hurt", with
bass drum artwork of some souped-up race car. When
we added Gary on keyboards, we changed the name to
The Free Love Blues Band, again with bass drum
psychedelic artwork. I think we came up with the
name because we had to read the New York Times
everyday for our Current Events class. We kept
hearing about the Free Love movement in San
Francisco, and just adopted the name. I'm still not
sure where the 'Blues Band' part came from, since
we didn't play any blues numbers. Also, the nuns at
St. Cecilia's church hated our name, and refused to
let us play at any CYO dances if we used our bass
drum artwork. They would actually check on us,
walking in to see the drum.
|
Personnel:
Bill Neesan - Lead Guitar
Eddie Moschberger - Rhythm Guitar
Jimmy Goll - Bass Guitar
Mike DiVivi - Drums
Gary Boyer - Keyboards
Dave Olsen (RIP) - Vocals
|
|
|
|
|
Influences:
Rascals,
Temptations, Beatles, Stones, The
Ventures, Kinks, Lovin' Spoonful, Zombies,
Doors, Cream, Vanilla Fudge.
|
|
Setlist
Sample:
Lonely Too Long, Mustang Sally (Rascals),
Little Girl, She's Not There, Just Like
Me, Ticket To Ride, Sleepwalk, Walk, Don't
Run, Since I Fell For You, Green Onions,
Good Lovin'.
|
|
Equipment:
Guitars - Fender Stratocaster (lead),
Lafayette 12-string (rhythm), Guild Bass,
Slingerland Drums...not sure of the
keyboard.
|
|
|
|
|
Rehearsal
Space:
Jimmy
Goll's house in the spare
bedroom.
|
|
|
|
|
Band
Vehicles:
Jimmy
Goll's Dad's station wagon, and our
'manager' Stosh's old Buick.
|
|
|
|
|
Fashion
Statement:
All I can
recall is blue iridescent shirts with
puffy sleeves.
|
|
|
|
|
Best
Gig:
At some
Middle Eastern New Year's dance, with a
belly dancer!
|
|
|
|
|
Gig
from
Hell!:
Battle Of
The Bands, St. Cecilia's Church - The
manager of one of the other bands came
behind our set-up and kicked out the plugs
to the amps in the middle of "She's Not
There".
|
|
|
|
|
Last
Gig:
JFK High
School End of Year Dance, 1970.
|
Comments:
Others who passed
through our band were Bob Ingram, and ironically,
Tico Torres, now of Bon Jovi!
|
