The Outter Four Overland Park, Kansas 1962-1967 The Outter Four was formed by two schoolmates, Dave Bruns and Mike Zink in 1962 - Dave on guitar and Mike on drums. Realizing that made a pretty small band, they shortly thereafter found Gary Lowe to play bass and not too long after that Rob Sullinger joined on guitar. The group came together very quickly and became very popular around the Kansas City area, playing virtually every weekend, often both Friday and Saturday nights. Dave gave the group it's name and Outer was purposely misspelled as Outter, sort of a Beatles kind of spelling trick and to indicate that we were that far out! The band started playing mostly instrumental music, surf type instrumentals like the Pyramids, Dick Dale, and the Ventures. Inevitably, music with lyrics was needed, so Dave became the lead singer. He really preferred to concentrate on guitar, though, and in the fall of 1964, Dave met Steve Bryant at high school because they were assigned as locker partners. Steve had just moved to the area and had been singing with a band before he came to Overland Park. Dave asked Steve to come sing with The Outter Four. We thought the band was a bit too far out to be The Outter Four and have five members, so for a time we became Steve and The Outter Four. In 1966, Mike decided to leave the band, but fortunately Steve had been studying drums and had a set, so he took over for Mike and The Outter Four was once again a quartet. We continued to play through our high school years and drifted to different colleges and the Navy in the fall of 1967. After many years of not having seen or spoken to each other, Steve began to find the other guys in 1995. It was a task as we were scattered around, but eventually everyone was located and we got together in November of 1996 for a reunion. We had a ball and played all the old songs. We found that we all still loved playing together, so we have continued our periodic reunions. We met back in the Kansas City area for that reunion in 1996, again in 1998, and we are set to do it again in May of this year (2000). While we all went on to play in other bands, several of us for many years, The Outter Four remains very special to us all and we remember those days fondly.   Personnel: Dave Bruns - lead guitar Rob Sullinger - rhythm guitar Gary Lowe - bass guitar Mike Zink - drums Steve Bryant - lead vocals and later drums Influences: In the early years - The Ventures, The Pyramids, Dick Dale. Later On - The Beatles, Byrds, Rolling Stones, Dylan, The Who, The Animals, The Rascals, The Yardbirds Equipment: Dave Bruns - Harmony guitar, Gibson SG, Silvertone Amp. Rob Sullinger - Gibson Firebird, Kustom Amp. Gary Lowe - no name bass, Gibson EBO bass, Fender Bassman Amp. Mike Zink - Slingerland Drums. Steve Bryant - Ludwig Drums Rehearsal Space: Everyone's home at one time or another. Band Vehicles: Our own cars, although we started off with Dave's mother's Chevy Wagon Fashion Statement: Collarless (Beatle style) jackets. As Steve and The Outter Four, Steve wore a gray one with black trim and the rest of the guys wore black with gray trim. Best Gig: There were many. We played every weekend for 4 years. Some highlights were jobs at Belton (Mo.) High School, Hillcrest Jr. High School - At break time, Rob would go behind Mike and pretend to wind him up with a big key. Mike then slowly began a drum solo like one of those wind up toy monkeys. This built into a 15 to 20 minute drum solo while the rest of us took our break, University of Kansas dormitory dances. Gig from Hell!: A woodsie (party in the woods) outside Overland Park. We played on a flatbed trailer with a huge gasoline generator providing power. Everyone was drunk and rowdy and after they were all loaded, they attempted to get on the trailer with us and sing, play, etc... We wanted to escape before our equipment got destroyed, so we sabotaged the generator so we couldn't play anymore. We left, but heard the police came and arrested many and put a stop to the party. Last Gig: Unfortunately, no one can remember   An early shot of The Outter Four Comments: The Outter Four hopes that all of you who grew up with the music in you will take the time to try to find your old bandmates. If you can't get together to play, just talk over your old times. When we get together, we always leave at least one night to shoot the bull about all our exploits. Then, we spend a couple of days playing music. We always have a great time. We hope you do to.       Where Are They Now?     Dave Bruns made his living on the road in bands and as a solo performer for many years and still plays, but he is now a high school teacher in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Rob Sullinger was a television newsman for quite some time in Joplin, MO and Springfield, IL and now owns an advertising and marketing firm. Until this year, Rob played in a very successful regional band, Just For Kicks. Rob lives in Cantrall, IL. Gary Lowe left us for the Navy and so ended up near the ocean in Florida. Gary now works in hospital administration in Mobile, AL and lives in Cantonment, FL. Mike Zink wanted to be a medical man, and became an Emergency Medical Technician. We found Mike in Phoenix, AZ, working for a rescue service, but he relocated not long ago and is now an EMT in Laredo, TX. Steve Bryant had the dreams that brought us all back together. Steve now owns a bar coding systems company and lives in Plano, TX.   Information contributed by Steve Bryant steveb@dynascan.com

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