The Penetrators, founded by guitarist Scott Harrington and drummer Joel Kmak, turned up frequently in the late 1970s at SD punk venues like downtown's Skeleton Club.
The Pens got a big break in 1978 by opening for the Ramones at SDSU's Montezuma Hall, even though original guitarist Scott Harrington quit over the gig, feeling the band wasn't ready. Music writer Steve Esmedina at the Reader teamed up with KGB-FM DJ Jim McInnes to increase public awareness of the band.
When their first EP was released, Chris Davies had replaced guitarist Scott Harrington, having learned the songs by sneaking a tape recorder into Penetrators' concerts. Gary Heffern (Monotone & the Nucleoids) joined up, as did keyboardist-turned-drummer Dan McLain, who operated Monty Rockers Records on El Cajon Boulevard and replaced original drummer Joel Kmak, who had joined the Hitmakers (and would later be a Beat Farmer). McLain would later found The Snuggle Bunnies and become known as Country Dick Montana, leader of The Beat Farmers.
In 1980, while recording at Western Adio Studios in Kearny Mesa and selling out local venues as large as Golden Hall, The Penetrators were Gary Heffern, Chris Sullivan, Jim Call, Chris Davies, and Dan McLain (aka Country Dick Montana). At the time, only Chris Davies made his living solely as a musician. Heffern worked for the phone company, Sullivan worked at a radio station, and Call managed a Pacific Beath theater, where McLain was a snack bar clerk.
The band split in 1984, with its members going on to play in The Beat Farmers, The Jacks, and others. Most of the members still live in San Diego, other than Heffern, who lives in Finland; McLain died in 1995. Former PenetratorChris Sullivan joined latterday Beat Farmer Buddy Blue in The Jacks -as of 2009, both he and Penetrator Joel Kmak play in the re-formed Beat Farmers, now known as the Farmers. Jim Call plays keyboards with Zirk Ubu Circus, while Chris Davies ran the music shop Cow Records in Ocean Beach. Scott Harrington produced the first record by Manual Scan (who later evolved into The Shambles). [SOURCE: SAM DIEGO READER]
Founded by keyboard player Eric Denton and bass player Bob "Monroe" Davis, the San Diego quintet The Monroes mildly flirted with success as the result of the infectious single "What Do All the People Know." With a lineup that was rounded out by singer Jesus Ortiz, guitarist Rusty Jones, and drummer Jonnie Gilstrap, The Monroes record, a five-song EP, was released in 1982 through Japanese label Alfa. When Alfa folded, "What Do All the People Know," which had been gaining momentum, stalled at number 59 on the pop charts. Little more would be heard from the band, although Denton and Davis soldiered on for the remainder of the decade and "What Do All the People Know" began appearing on new wave compilations during the '90s. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]
Not to be confused with Minnie Ripperton's Gems who also recorded during the 70's, these Gems were a powerpop trio from Kansas City and had a pub rock sound that somehow crosses Elvis Costello with Steve Miller. 'Save Your Money' (Titan!, 1978) would be this band's only single, produced by C.M. Allen and featuring Gary Charlson on the guitar solo. Under the name J.P. McClain & The Intruders they contributed 3 tracks to Titan's 'Just Another Pop Album' 1980 compilation.
Richard X. Heyman is one of the sadly overlooked pop craftsmen of the '90s, but his albums are widely regarded in power pop circles as instant classics. Heyman began recording in the late '80s in the tradition of the studio nerd/one-man band, playing all instruments himself in his upper west side Manhattan apartment living room, named Brontasaurus, presumably after the classic song by The Move. He released the independent 'Actual Size' EP in 1987 and followed with the full-length 'Living Room!!' in 1988. Considerable word-of-mouth exposure led to the album being reissued by Cypress Records in 1990 in slightly modified form. He signed to Sire in 1990 and released one album for the label, the Andy Paley-produced 'Hey Man!' in 1991. Poor sales led to him being dropped by the label, but he has continued recording (several albums' worth by his estimations) while shopping for the elusive new deal. 'Cornerstone' was completed by 1996, but it wasn't released nationally until early 1998 by Permanent Press Records. In late 2000 Heyman issued 'Heyman, Hoosier & Herman', an EP featuring former Herman's Hermit Peter Noone on vocals for the title track and six outtakes from the 'Cornerstone' sessions. 'Basic Glee' arrived in 2002, followed by the 'Rightovers' compilation a year later. Heyman reissued the 'Actual Size' EP in 2007 with 14 previously unreleased tracks. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]
Raised by his adoptive parents in southern New Jersey, D.L. Byron (born David Leigh Byron) became enamored with The Beatles, The Byrds, and Bob Dylan at an early age. When he wasn't busy getting thrown out of a string of exclusive prep schools, Byron formed several teenage garage bands and won a number of poetry competitions. Deciding to pursue his music career in earnest, Byron moved to New York City in February of 1971. After working briefly at the Colony Record shop (located on the ground floor of the Brill Building) and living in a $45 per week fleabag hotel, Byron managed to catch the tail-end of Tin pan alley, procuring a $75-a-week job as a staff writer for E.H. Morris. While there, he met and was influenced by greats like Harold Arlen, and began to perform at open mike nights around New York. In 1979, Clive Davis and Arista discovered Byron and signed him, hoping to find success with an American version of Elvis Costello or Graham Parker. In 1980, Byron released 'This Day and Age', which became an instant power pop classic. [SOURCE: DL BYRON]
From Buffalo, New York, The Jumpers released two 7" singles, adding a sixties garage feel to its pop punk core. Another band ripe for rediscovery. The band featured Terry Sullivan (vocals), Scott Michaels (guitar), Craig Meylan (bass), Roger Nicol (drums) and Bob Kozak (guitar). They also contributed a song, "Hello Girl", to BOMP's 'Waves - An Anthology Of New Music Vol. 2 - Spring 1980' compilation.
Los Angeles’ Code Blue may be best remembered for the fact that its first album was released encased in a blue plastic bag; the group, which actually had talent, fell victim to the post-Knack backlash against Angelino power pop. The brainchild of original Motels guitarist Dean Chamberlain, Code Blue came together after the first version of the Motels disbanded in 1977, with drummer Randall Marsh and bassist Gary Tibbs (Vibrators, Roxy Music) completing the lineup. Despite three good musicians, some decent material and lofty artistic aspirations, the combination of the Knack-lash and the lack of any really killer tracks doomed their LPs to prompt oblivion. [SOURCE: TROUSER PRESS]
Pop / soul is the mix from Boston's David Finnerty And The Jackals. The "Hold On" 7'' single (Deli Platters, DP-2, 1980), their only record, comes across well, with a nice Rascals flavor to the title track. The band featured the aforementioned Mr. Finnerty on guitar and vocals, as well as Tony Gilroy (guitar), Wally Jay (keyboards), Michael Walsh (bass) and Jean-Do Sifantus (drums). Produced by Michael Golub at Triton Studios, Boston, although the Deli Platters label is from New York. David later placed songs on Peter Frampton's 'Breaking All The Rules' album amongst others.
The Speedies were a late 1970's New York Based Power Pop band. Four of the members hailed from Brooklyn, the bass player John Carlucci was from Queens.
They were a favorite band at the legendary NY Punk Club, Max's Kansas City, where they were so popular they broke the house attendance records.
The Speedies were local media darlings, appearing in features in the SoHo Weekly News, Village Voice, NY Post, Life Magazine, The New Yorker, Hit Parader, New York Rocker and Crazy magazine. They won the NY Rocker's readers poll as the best unsigned band in America in 1979.
The often supported international touring acts, having appeared with The Jam, The Undertones, The Gang Of Four, Ultravox, The Members or The David Johanson Group, among others.
In 2005 The Speedies song "Let Me Take Your Photo" was featured in a nationwide TV commercial for Hewlett Packard. Jay Leno also uses the song as part of a re-curring skit called "The Photo Booth"
. [SOURCE: LAST.FM]
Four Eyes was a power pop/new wave quartet from San Diego, California, which was led by vocalist, bassist and songwriter Mark Decerbo. Active from 1977 to 1988, the group garnered some local success-even appearing on NBC’s ‘The Gong Show’ to cover Little Richard- but never managed to parley major label attention into a full album.
