Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

My Rutles tribute band OUCH!, was mentioned on WFMU's blog(kind of a big deal) and I thought I'd pass along the link.

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/03/f ... es--2.html

Excellent!

I feel good
I feel bad
I feel happy
I feel sad

You must be in love.

I see that it was kinda silly to start this thread(judging by the number of replies[1]), but it's a cool deal for the band, and our myspace is getting swamped. Just wanted to share the good news.

Good luck, Ronn! I hope to get down to see the bands when I get fully ensconced in Dallas.

Every time I read about the Eggmen I tell myself I have to start a Beatles cover band. I'd love to be able to afford to get the actual instruments and amps, but I'm sure we could assemble people who could accurately create the music, sort of like the Fab Faux. I did take the preliminary step of buying a Hofner Icon bass yesterday. If I had less debt, I'd have sprung for a "real" Beatle bass and a Rick. I know three singer/guitarists who would be perfect and a couple of great drummers. All we'd need is a keyboard player to handle to the horn and string parts of the later LPs. Might be time to get off the dime. Ronn, I envy and admire you.

When we started The Eggmen(in 1992) we didn't have the "correct" gear, I guess I was kinda in the ballpark; lefty 4003FG and Vox Essex Bass amp, but the guitarists both played Strats and the drummer had a complete "POS" drumkit. But, we had the love of the music and really good vocals. We went along like that for a couple years, playing in black suits and ties, doing nothing later than Paperback Writer, then one day the rythym guitarist bought a Ric 320 and a Vox Buckingham amp, and the wheels started turning. I got an Epiphone Viola bass, then the lead guitarist bought a Gibson 330(sister to an Epi Casino), and the drummer bought a nice 60s Ludwig kit(blue sparkle but it sounded right).
OK, I guess this is turning into a history of Eggmen instruments, so be it.
We carried on like that for a few more years, getting a few gigs a month. Then the lead guitarist left and his replacement played a Strat at first but quickly sprung for a 60s Gretsch Country Gent and Ric 12. A few more gigs a month now and things are starting to build.
I had always loved the later period Beatles more than the early stuff we were playing, but, with four guys it would be tuff to pull off. Enter David Fore, drummer for 60s band Bubble Puppy. He was coming to a lot of shows and we got to talking and I asked him if he'd join the band, this would allow our drummer to switch back to his real instrument, keyboards. With Davy in place, on our keyboardist's blue Ludwig kit, and our original drummer on keys, a whole new world opened up. We started playing tunes from the complete Beatles career, with costume changes, etc.(but NO WIGS).
Both guitarists got Casinos and I got a lefty 4001S which quickly received a MMT paintjob(after a 6-pack of Shiner), and a Roland Bass combo dressed up like a Vox(it's quite convincing. I wish Vox mad a real bass amp).
OK, now the gigs started rolling in right? Nope. People were hesitant to book a band that only played Beatles all night long. So, we added a set of 60s tunes(Stones,Zombies,Animals,Yardbirds,etc.) and THEN things got busy. A 60s Ludwig kit in proper oyster finish was soon added. For the 60s set instruments are usually Danelectro for lead, Phantom Teadrop for rythym, and for bass, anything from Epiphone Rivoli to Phantom Teardrop Bass.
Many years went by, we won the Austin Music Award for Best Cover Band 5 years in a row(for a town like Austin where EVERYONE has a band, being singled out like that is a BIG deal), were gigging about 10 times a month, and then Davy retired in 2006. We quickly found a replacement(first guy I called), and barely missed a beat(sorry). We came in 2nd the next 2 years for the cover band award tho', but I'm happy to say we won it for the 6th year last month!

CURRENT EGGMEN INSTRUMENTS:
Lead:
Gretsch Country Gent
Ric 12
Epi Casino
Fender Strat("Rocky")
Gibson Les Paul
Dano
Fender Strat
Rythym:
Ric 320
Epi EJ160E
Epi Casino
Phantom BJ Teardrop
Fender Tele
Casio keyboard
Bass:
Hofner '63 reissue Beatle(LH)
Brice "Beatle"(LH)-backup
Ric 4001S(LH)(MMT)
Ric 4003FG(LH)-backup
SX Jazz(LH)
Jerry Jones electric sitar
Davison hollowbody(LH)
Keys:
Casio keyboard
Drums:
Ludwig

Very nice, Ron. As I said,I know at least three guitarists/vocalists who are fine singers and players and all of whom love the Beatles. I sing and, were it not for McCartney, would be neither a bassist nor a musician. All four of us have played together in other bands but not for the last 30 years. Two drummers I Know have not played rock professionally for years but are schooled, studio players who can play anything and love Ringo. All that's missing is a keyboard person. Pittsburgh has always been behind the times musically but is more of a blues/R&B town. I have to think, though, That there are enough people my age (late 50s) who would come out to see a Beatles/60s band. When the four of us played together, we did a an acoustic set of Beatles tunes that was always popular. My only question is if the rather sparse club scene here would offer enough gigs (although all of us are otherwise employed.) If I hit the lottery for enough money, I'd buy all the gear and pay everyone to play, whether we charged the clubs or not. Matter of fact, if I could get the band started, I'd play for gas money or even for free. Like most things, it's a matter of my getting off my butt and doing it.

I was in Austin in 1997 -- I wish I'd known to look for you. Wilco was in town that weekend but we couldn't get tickets so we wound up in a restaurant/bar that had a small blues quartet. What I Really remember was that it was 104 degrees and too hot to walk anywhere. We went to a natural springs pool outside town. Still too hot. I also remember that one of the locals told us we should go down to a highway overpass at dusk and watch the bats come out.