The Mojo Hands Warren & E. Providence, Rhode Island 1964-1967 The Mojo Hands began in the family garage in 1964 shortly after the Beatles appeared on US television. They rose through the club ranks to become regional headliners and the opening act for a number of big league acts, such as The Lovin' Spoonful, Peter & Gordon, & the Young Rascals. The draft dealt the band several major blows just as they were beginning to knock at the door of Big Time Rock 'n Roll in late 1966. The spirit of the band, if not the original members, continued forward until May of 1967 by which time they had been banned from numerous clubs and entire towns because of the riots which seemed to follow them everywhere they played in their final months. The complete story of The Mojo Hands and The Golden Age of Garage Bands is told in the book "We Gotta Go Now" (Windholme Press, 271 pgs.) by Dennis A. Blackledge - www.wegottagonow.com Personnel: Brian Azevedo - Lead Guitar Dennis Casino - Rhythm Guitar Peter Cappuccilli -Lead Vocal Charles "Bubby" Duquette - Keyboard & Vocal Robert "Smitty" Smith - Drums • founding members Tommy Fisher - Bass Guitar & Paul Fisher -LeadGuitar left after 1964 • Steve Jablecki - Guitar, Keyboards & Vocal, John Sousa - Bass, & Billy Prisco Drums joined the band during the last few months as the draft disrupted its most successful line-up. Influences: The Blues, British Invasion - in particular the Rolling Stones, Animals & Pretty Things, Other influences - Stax/Volt Artists and fifties rock 'n roll. Equipment: too varied & ever changing to list. Band Vehicles: Varied, but included a 1939 muscle car and at times a hearse from Smith's Funeral Palor. Fashion Statement: None. The first area band to appear in whatever they happened to be wearing at the time. No uniforms. Best Gig: Toss up: 1.) Opening Act for The Young Rascals - played before 2,400 people at the Albee Theatre in Providence, RI - May - 1966. 2.) As headliners at Sugarberry's night club in Riverside, RI - drew over 2,000 as only act on the bill. Gig from Hell!: Boston, MA - late 1965 - gig ends before it begins when lead singer Peter Cappuccilli gets into a shouting match with headliners the Paul Butterfield Blues Band - in particular Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield. Last Gig: Late May, 1967 - Bristol, RI - Played to appx 800 at the Mt. Carmel Auditorium. Gig ends in a full scale riot stopped by the RI State Police. Comments: The Mojo Hands performed a series of reunion concerts in 1987 and in the mid-1990s participated in telling their tale to author Dennis A. Blackledge. These band stories became part of the recently published book - "We Gotta Go Now" - the Golden Age of Garge Rock 'n Roll. The book is available nationally through Amazon.com - www.wegottagonow.com & through the Arf Arf Record label at www.arfarfrecords.com. There has also been recent interest in a screenplay based in the stories in the book.      Where are they now? Everyone is alive and well and living in Southern New England, except for Robert Smith who now lives in the Pacific Northwest. Smitty remains the only active player - Reverend Smith plays drums in the Christian rock group - As Is - a long, long way from his 'animal' past. Peter Cappuccilli has recorded some demos recently and has made several attempts to recapture the fire of the past, but nothing has caught on yet.   To Order Your Copy of WE GOTTA GO NOW Send $19.95 for each Copy + $5.00 Shipping & Handling (or $24.95 total for each book). Send Check or Money Order to: Windholme Press P.O. Box 2892 Wheaton, MD 20915-2892 They also accept Visa/MC! Call toll-free 1-888-549-3909 Please include your printed name, address and telephone number (in case They need to discuss your order with you). Orders Will Be Shipped Priority Mail also available at amazon.com E-mail: WeGottaGoNow@aol.com   Information contributed by Holly Adair Blackledge

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