Another reunion dinner in New York last weekend, when North County music operator-turned-North Carolina operations director John Stees arrived at Vynl on 9th Ave. armed with a disc of photos and flyers from 3 Guys Called Jesus, the band I played in from spring 1985 until I left San Diego in February 1987.
These images feature bassist Steve Duke and drummer Robert Labbe as well as guitarist Ryk Groetchen, who played with the band in 1985. All were taken by the marvelous Margarat Nee.
Bonus artifact: a clipping I mentioned in the “Later Days at the Che” thread, describing how an October 1985 Mexican earthquake benefit 3 Guys played at the Che Cafe was busted for alcohol violations. (Look for me chatting with Eric Sloan in the right-hand photo!)
I like those grainy black and white photos.
I only ever heard stories about Ryk performing in a loincloth. I think he wasnt in the band the few times I saw you guys… or at least he was dressed normally if he was.
I recall a show with him in a loincloth that was someone’s eviction party in North Park…. is this at all based on reality? I think there was a flier with a cartoon of the landlady saying “yes, it’s time for you boys to go”, so they decided to seal with deal with a raucous musical night….
I remember a later show (when it was three guys) at John Stees’ house when you played a fabulous musical answer to the question “What if Dylan had covered ‘You shook me all night long’?”
Paul: You’re thinking of the flyer at left, which also comes to us by way of John Stees. As you’ll see, the precise quote is, “Yez, ees dime por choose boys to go.” Good memory!
When I played with Ryk in WormDrive, we often wore what we called “ball bags” when we played. We usually made them ourselves, or sometimes our friends made them for us. I recall Heather Sher made some lovely ones out of purple and red velvet. When we opened for The Fuzztones at Club Mirage in Mission Valley, the owners shut off the power to the stage after three or four songs. They freaked out when they noticed our attire (or lack of it), and admonished us for being a bad influence on the young females in the audience. There are some songs posted on YouTube of a show from 1988 at The Whistle Stop. Here is a link…
Cool song! I wouldn’t touch that drum stool for $10. LOL
It is our version of a song by Love.
Interesting they weren’t mentioned, but what I remember most about that QuakeAid show was the final band, Solución Mortal. I thought they were incredible, like guerrilla fighters who carried their instruments with them from the jungle. I remember burning trash cans, and the vocalist raising a fist when he sang, inciting the angry mob to riot. You can see them on the right in this photo.
As for the bandana, it (like so many other things) seemed like a good idea at the time.
Didn’t we have to lower our equipment out a back window at that eviction gig to keep from getting it confiscated? Or am I making that up?