King
Solomon's
Minds
Baltimore,
Maryland
1967-1969
|
|
|
Jim and Frank met
on a summer job cleaning a local beach in
the summer of 1965. They tried to start a
band in the fall but the lineup didn't
work. In the spring of 1967 Frank bought a
Farfisa and amp and contacted Jim again.
He was starting a group with some buddies
from Kenwood High School in Essex Md. They
were called "The Barbs". With the addition
to an organ in the line-up, they thought
the new sound should have a new name.
Since psychedelic music was taking off at
the time, Frank suggested "King Solomon's
Minds". It was a play on the term "Blow
your mind" and the wisdom of the biblical
king. It made for interesting comments as
the girls in our audience would try to
figure out who was King Solomon. The band
began playing teen center dances. A battle
of the bands led to a contract with
"Premier Attractions", a talent agency
that booked acts for local arenas. The
band played at various schools, bars,
night clubs and arenas.
|
|
Personnel:
Mick
Demarco - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Bill Harris - Rythm Guitar/Vocals
John Novik - Bass/Vocals
Frank Stone - Farfisa Organ/Vocals
Jim Tilton -Drums/Vocals
|
|
|
|
|
Influences:
Stones,
Kinks, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, Deep
Purple, Spirit , Doors, Hendrix, Cream
|
|
Setlist
Sample:
Inna
Godda DeVida - 30 minute version, Light My
Fire, Born To Be Wild, Upset and Excited
(Original), Crossroads, Sunshine of Your
Love, Magic Carpet Ride, Are You Happy,
Unconcious Power
|
|
Equipment:
Vox Guitar/Beatle Amp, Fender
Telecaster/Fender Showman Amp, Hoffman
Bass/Vox Bass Amp/ Farfisa Combo Compact
Organ/Magnatone M15 Amp, Ludwig
Drums/Kustom PA
|
|
Rehearsal
Space:
Jim or
Bill's Basement - We got the cops called
on us if we practiced anywhere
else
|
|
|
|
|
Band
Vehicles:
1964
Falcon, 1963 Plymouth Station Wagon, 1958
Oldsmobile (the tank)
|
|
|
|
|
Fashion
Statement:
Nehru
Suits, Cossack shirts, Desert
Boots
|
|
|
|
|
Best
Gig:
Opening
Act for Canned Heat and B.B. King at the
Baltimore Civic Center March 16, 1969 -
Did an appearance on "The Kirby Scott
Show" on local channel 11 WBAL the day
before to promote the concert.
|
|
|
|
|
Gig
from
Hell!:
Four
nights at the Pier Ballroom. Had to
commute from the day job in Baltimore each
night over 150 miles and back to Baltimore
after the gig.
Brooklyn Park High Battle of the bands - A
few of the guys got jumped after the show
was over
|
|
Last
Gig:
A bar in
West Baltimore. Can't remember the
name.
|
|
Comments:
Since my earlier post I got
a call from Jim who saw the original. So far 4 of us are in
contact and we are trying to find Bill. We plan a reunion in
the near future.
Frank works as a computer programmer for the U.S.
Government. John works for Baltimore City. Jim retired from
the Navy and works as a contractor with a computer firm,
Mick installs sattelite systems. We have been unable to
locate Bill so far.
Information contributed by
Frank Stone ac3p@arrl.net
|
