Let's Get Rockin' ? And The Mysterians

[kenposurf]

Garage bands hold a special place in my heart...in particular those from the 60's and 70's.
So is a garage band a group that stated or has practice in a garage...plays only songs with three chords? Sometimes...more to the story so let's get started with ? And The Mysterians ...The band hit the scene in 1966 with their hit 96 Tears that featured a great cheesy organ riff.
It should be noted that the band was one of the, if not the first all Latino Rock bands to reach a large audience. The song hit # 1 on Billboard.The group named itself after the 1957 Japanese science fiction film The Mysterians, in which aliens from the destroyed planet Mysteroid arrive to conquer Earth. They're still at all these later as can be seen here







And back in the day

[admin]

George: I remember then well, of course, when I heard them for the first time in the fall of 1966. This was their one and only hit to my memory but it was big enough to make its mark. The Beatles had released Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine around the same time. Ok, so why was this such a big hit. Perhaps groups such as the Shadows of Knight, paved the way with simpler edgier songs such as Gloria. I consider that the Garage Bands were fairly easy to emulate and hence some of their appeal.

[kenposurf]

George: I remember then well, of course, when I heard them for the first time in the fall of 1966. This was their one and only hit to my memory but it was big enough to make its mark. The Beatles had released Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine around the same time. Ok, so why was this such a big hit. Perhaps groups such as the Shadows of Knight, paved the way with simpler edgier songs such as Gloria. I consider that the Garage Bands were fairly easy to emulate and hence some of their appeal.

Valid points Peter..much of what we call garage has if nothing else a great hook..many (not all) tunes are pretty basic..
The Ventures while not really garage inspired many kids to pick up a guitar and learn the simple chord progression..many years later, Nirvana did the same thing with Smells Like Teen Spirit inspiring many to learn the simple riff....we will concentrate here though on the "Golden Era" of the genre the 60's and 70's.
Garage music has an extended family such as Frat Rock...there is much to explore

[sowhat]

Can't get enough of you, baybeeee!
Got both of their 60s studio albums. Nice, but a bit repetitive, imho.
UPD: oh, by the way, so what's ?'s real name — Rudy Martinez or Reeto (?) Rodriguez?

[ken_j]

As they are a local band I was suprised to see them playing about 3 or 4 years ago. I was suprised how tight they were. They played rather well. A bit later ?'s home burned down and he lost all of his posesions including a lot of R&R memorabilia. His bigest regret was the loss of his dogs. He was uninsured. Here is some info from the Motor City archives including the variuos members and a discology:

? (QUESTION MARK)
& THE MYSTERIANS
#1 (1962 - 1964)

*? (Rudy Martinez) (V)
*Bobby Balderrama (Ld. G)
*Larry Borjas (B)
*Robert Martinez (D)

Saginaw, MI.


#2 (1964 - MARCH, 1966)

*? (Rudy Martinez) (V)
*Bobby Balderrama (Ld. G)
*"Little" Frank Rodriguez (K)
*Larry Borjas (B)
*Robert Martinez (D)


#3 (1964 - MARCH, 1966)

*? (Rudy Martinez) (V)
*Bobby Balderrama (Ld. G)
*"Little" Frank Rodriguez (K)
*"Big" Frank Lugo (B)
*Eddie Serrato (D)


#4 (MARCH, 1966 - ?, 1968)

*? (Rudy Martinez) (V)
*Bobby Balderrama (Ld. G)
*"Little" Frank Rodriguez (K)
*"Big" Frank Lugo (B)
*Eddie Serrato (D)


#5 (?, 1968 - 1968)

*? (Rudy Martinez) (V)
*Frank Montoya (G) Meatloaf Stew/Popcorn Blizzard
*"Little" Frank Rodriguez (K)
*Mel Schacher (B)
*Eddie Serrato (D)


Singles:
"I'll Be Back' / "Hey Little Girl Are You For Real" 1965?
"96 Tears" / "MIdnight Hour" (Pa-Go-Go) May, 1966
"96 Tears" / "Midnight Hour" (Cameo) August, 1966
"I Need Somebody" / "'8' Teen" (Cameo) November, 1966
"Can't Get Enough Of You Baby" / "Smokes" (Cameo-Parkway) March, 1967
"Girl (You Captivate Me)" / "Go To" (Cameo-Parkway) May, 1967
"Do Something To Me" / "Love Me Baby (Cherry July)" (Cameo-Parkway) August, 1967
"Make You Mine" / "I Love You Baby (Like Nobody's Business)" (Capitol) April, 1968
"Ain't It A Shame" / "Turn Around Baby (Don't Ever Look Back)" (Tangerine) February,
1969
"Talk Is Cheap" / "She Goes To Church On Sunday" (Chicory) 1972
"Hot N Groovin'" / "I Can't Get Enough Of You Baby" (Abkco) 1973

Albums:
"96 Tears" (Cameo-Parkway) Fall 1966
"Action" (Cameo-Parkway) Summer 1967
"96 Tears Forever: The Dallas Reunion Tapes" (ROIR/CASSETTE) 1985
"96 Tears Forever: The Dallas Reunion Tapes" (Danceteria/CD) ???
"? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians" (Collectables/CD) October, 1997
"Do You Feel It Baby?" (Norton/CD/LP) 199?

Another local Dick Wagner followed the Mysterians and really rocked the place doing tunes from the Frost to Cooper.

[peewee]

I've had their 1st Cameo LP in my possession since I was a wee boy -- probably since 1968. No longer has the dust jacket and has been played to death!