Lost Rochester Bands

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Our Lost Rochester Bands provides a place to share information about the history of bands that were once part of the Rochester Music Scene, but are no more.

Please add your own favorite bands that have passed from the scene by editing them in (please sign any major edited additions) or contributing via the Comments section, below.

Please Note: some of the groups are documented in their own separate page, please follow the - see more links.
    1. 60's
    2. 70's
    3. 80's
    4. 90's
    5. 00's
    6. 10's
    7. Unknown
    8. Comment

60's

"Hammer" Late 1960's early 1970's. What happened to them???

70's

80's

90's

*Nasty Trast - mid nineties metal

*Hawaii - mid nineties metal

00's

10's

Unknown

Comment


2010-05-02 23:23:33   Bands of the 60's not mentioned: The Noblemen, winners of the first WBBF rock band contest at the War Memorial, four guys from John Marshall High School, Bob Johnson, John Conti, Pete Tantillo and Merl Ringwood. Also, the Showstoppers and the Brass Buttons who used to play at the 414 Club at the corner of Dewey and Ridge Rd. West, the bands had Don Potter, Bat McGrath, Bobbi Gugilimi, etc, before Potter and McGrath hooked up with Chuck Mangione. —hoover

2010-06-15 19:47:24   How soon they forget. ( forty five years ) Wilmer and the Dukes were the best band Rochester ever had. Wilmer was as good as James Brown any day of the week. A sacrilege to omit the Dukes. Then there was the Groop Ltd. that had a regional hit in the summer of 65 with "Tomorrow" and "As Time Goes By" Number one for three weeks in upstate. WBBF was the go to station. The Groop also played on Joe Deans Sox Hop twice ( Television ) Would give someone elses right arm to see that footage now.
The Quirks were great,as were the Invictas and the Heard. —jakegerber

2010-07-11 23:21:13   Let me see if I can add some early 90's bands to the mix... I have to start with my favorite of the era: Koo Koo Boy - think Blondie meets Bela Lugosi, absolutely brilliant stuff. New Year's show ringing in 1994 with KooKooBoy and Dog's Life (Skorgie's?) was among my favorites ever. Along the same lines were the Shop Class Squares, which I think shared a lot of the same players with Dog's Life. It is hard to escape the AltRoc scene in the 90's without having experienced the Peachy Nietzsches - a rolling cast of players that seemingly numbered in the dozens in some shows. On the eclectic side of eclectic. I seem to remember catching some act called Phillis Driller - picture if you will ten horns on stage all trying to be John Coltraine. Anyone remember Zezozose (sp?) - me neither... How about surf guitar in the ROC with Duke Galaxy and the Pipeliners? Swinging Beef was a fun blue-eyed funk outfit that was solid. Many Rolling Rocks were consumed watching Spank - my best attempt at describing them is if Les Claypool and Mick Mars played a gig with Fishbone, that would be Spank. Somebody mentioned Big Hair - Was it them who had a song called "Jeff of the Future", celebrating the WITR punk rock DJ of the same name? (Jeff, if you read this, thanks for all the lenses back in the day). Chillin' evenings listening to Mic Fambro solo acoustic were awesome (Mic is the Miche in Miche and the Anglos) and the Big Drum series of shows featuring local acoustic acts organized by the Queen Bee were very cool. I am missing countless others - I will put on my thinking pants and report back with more...

Flying over your house,
(The DJ formerly known as) Chris Ludwig
Host, 'The Coffee Club' on 89.7 WITR '93-'94

2010-08-10 23:05:47   In the 70's there was Whale and Another Pretty Face (who were from the New York City area but played at Fantasy Swings, Elliot's Nest and Ziggy's.) Also the Flashcubes from Syracuse who played with New Math a lot. —LynneB

2010-08-26 08:51:07   Jasper was in my opinion the best country rock band in Rochester late 70's early 80's. Great keyboard player named Jimmy Nelson, awesome lead guitar player named Jim Adams, drummer was Steve Vullo. The other lead singer guitar player was named Paul (help w/last name)and I can't remember Bass players name. I followed them everywhere....Brew Haus, Cottage Hotel, Tuckers, Country Whse.,Schoolhouse, Tid Bits. I wish there was good counrty rock band around. Jasper played everything from Little Feat to Poco to Les Dudek.....really miss that band.

How about these other great bands from Rochester...Autumn Skies, Buffalo Road Show, St.James Band, Slipton Fell, Todd Hobin (actually from Syracuse I think),Stony Creek. There was also a bandthat used to play at the old Art Stock's Playpen named Fate. They did alot of new wave stuff. I can't leave this comment without mentioning Eternity. Thanks Jimmy, John A., John Jones, and Phil the keyboard player for some great music and fun times.... —MikeMaher

2010-09-07 17:42:13   There was a popular cover band from the early 70s, initially called "Freedom Tree" but subsequently changed to another name that I do not recall.

They were regulars at the former motel bar on the southwest corner of Elmwood and Mt. Hope Avenues (now part of UofR). They often played at a large club on the east side of West Henrietta (Peppermint Lounge?) and also the Ramada Inn—the "Ram-it-in" as their saxaphonist liked to call it..

They had an incredibly talented Hammond organist who simultaneously played the basslines with his feet, chords and solos with his hands and sang as well. They had a female singer and a saxaphonist/singer who loved to crack crass jokes. The drummer had a tenor voice and handled all the high falsetto parts when they did their Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons medleys. I'm sure they had a guitarist but I don't remember him clearly. In later years they added a bass player.

Help me out—-who were the musicians in this excellent and under-appreciated band?

Jack Prewitt
Rochester, NY —JackPrewitt

2010-09-23 15:35:50   The Band "ETERNITY" is mentioned in lost bands of Rochester somewhere in here, But there is a huge mistake..they mention everyone in the band ACCEPT THE GUY WHO GAVE THEM THEIR SOUND...LEAD GUITARIST "TOM PROCOPIO" PLEASE ADD HIS NAME. They were one of THE most popular bands in the late 70's and into the 80's! It's a shame they are on the list and only got a mention. —Joeytuchrello

2010-09-23 15:59:01   ACCEPT != except —DamianKumor

2010-11-13 08:11:10   there were some good high school bands also//the cult, the abstractions and the coachmen// i played with the cult and filled in with the coachmen from time to time/// we were all friends and went to school together. bow whiting —bowwhiting

2010-11-13 08:43:56   What about The Muffkins from the 90's? What happened to them? —BatGuano

2010-11-28 20:12:51   What about The Colorblind James Experience? Was Black Sheep too famous to be a "lost band"? Their lead singer probably became the most suscessful rock musician to ever come form the Rochester area. —dbrandriss

2010-12-13 21:13:55   remember: Street Player, Center stage, Impact, The Connectors, Sahara —musicluvr

2010-12-13 21:42:30   Jasper was actually spelled Jaspur; the guitar player was Paul Carpenter and the bass player was Dennis Schauber. They really got around town and even around the state. I think I still have a tape of theirs. Paul Regan was the singer for Claude Raines, at least for a while— there may have been others. Thanks for the memories of Dark Heart Alarm— hadn't even thought of them in years! —LuizAddams

2011-01-11 17:56:46   "musicluvr" asked about Streetplayer...I was in one of the lineups they had which, at the time, was Ricky Orico on keys and vocals, Jody Martino on lead vocals, Davey Gruttadauria on guitar and vocals, Bobby Collucci on guitar and vocals, Chris Brake on drums and Mark White on bass. Occasionally Billy Schifano sang with us. We played Scoops, The Spur of the Moment, west side bars like those. Lot's of Top 40 and dance stuff. Lots of fun! —whthouse

2011-01-14 19:43:48   I remember Old Salt at Red Creek! What ever happened to them? A time of "PEACE." —paisley

2011-02-04 10:02:07   In the mid to late 90's there was a great groove scene with bands like Abby's Cafe, The Druids, Into the Now, and Kernal Wah. One of these bands was always playing at Milestones or Waterstreet. I played Bass in Abby's and the band was often referred to as "That band with the cool artwork" which was done by lead guitarist Steph Ford. These bands were obviously influenced by The Dead and Phish but all had their own feel and were very different. I know there are more to add to this list and maybe someone can help out with that! —EricManzler

2011-02-27 13:04:08   My first recollection of the 60's bands was about high school bands. I remember the T dances, early 60's, at the Knights of Columbus building downtown where Bobby and the Bombers (from Eastridge) was playing. They had the first record I ever bought from a local band. Then, as I snuck in the Aquinas' Sock Hops I learned about The Root of All Evils. Both bands of high school fame that disintegrated quickly. And then, a driver's license opened up the world. Yes, the Quirks at Clover lanes (and they did play Herman's Hermits, too), and Wilmer and the Dukes at Braimar's and another place near Hamlin Beach, and the Invictas playing at Tiny's Bengal Inn in Summerville. And let's not forget the Show Stoppers, who featured Don Potter and Bat McGrath. Here the line blurs between high school and college years, since they were a continuous party in Rochester. But the best was the Varsity Inn, where I could be found every weekend at the table under the toilet seat hanging on the wall. Yes, The Angry Young Men and The Invictas. The House then took over, with singer Phil Sanguedolce (who I believe can still be found singing in bands around the area). The world was changing. I saw there a band that opened up with the a song from the then unknown group Vanilla Fudge. They were called the Kustard Kluster, the name a lame tribute to the psychedelic band, and the two lead singers also did some mean versions of the Bee Gees. The keyboard man was Vinnie Strenk. They were good, but didn't last long. The Invictas went touring and then the Thursday night band stepped up to sharing weekend spots with the House (I don't remember them being called Howz), and this band was the Rustix. The band's bass player at that time was Bob Sohener, Vinnie Strenk showed up again on the keyboards (the Kluster krapped), and the drummer was an ex Invictas guy with a mean foot, David Colon. They eventually moved to the Club, off of East Avenue, recording two albums for Motown's Rare Earth label, and history legend for Rochester. The House did the whole Sgt. Pepper album, dressed in Sgt. Pepper uniforms when the album came out. For those learning to appreciate jazz, Gap Mangione with Tony Levin on bass were playing at The Other Side of the Tracks in Pittsford. (Tony Levin is now a rock legend having played with King Krimson, being Peter Gabriel's bass player, and many others including Alice Cooper and John Lennon.) By this time the Rochester music scene was exploding, and by the late 60's/early 70's we had the Brass Buttons, The Oxford Watch band, the Heard (Hurd?), and The House reformed itself as NEMIS (North East Music Improvement Society), and bass player Ronnie Collins joined the Rustix, bringing them to peak performance. I loved the Rustix, and they were better than most bands. But, they were limiting themselves to being back up to the lead singers, squelching the guitar sound and the tight excitement that the band provided. Eventually Potter and McGrath came back from New York City to open Highly Morris Alley, a coffee house on West Ridge Road that had Chuck Mangione showing up on Saturday nights after his gigs at the Shakespeare in the Xerox tower. And, damn, I think after that I joined society. Put on a tie, got a job, got married,..... can't remember anything else. —deltastrat

2011-03-28 22:19:12   The Jokers Wild, 1965-1970 Joe Ippolito lead singer, bass: Armand Miale vocals, guitars: Lenny Crellin, vocals, drums: Lou ?, guitar: Bruce Dalvin, guitar. Great party band. Would play one set wearing sport jackets that every piece was a different color. Joe went on to form the Bachelor Seven ( 7 single guys who liked partying, They promoted their parties, indoor and outdoors, their largest party was 3,400 people at a party house. He now resides in Laguna Beach, CA. Armand went on to radio and TV sales, Lenny became a art teacher. —broadwayjoe

2011-04-16 03:06:25   Anguish metal/hardcore band 1999-2000 s. had a big fan base. Played all over the rochester area. Won 1999 battle of the band award at waterstreet music hall. Recorded a 5 song EP in 8/1999 and 3 song demo in late 2000. Went on to be gutter slut- Death metal/hardcore/technical metal 2000s. Then one of the singers joined Psyopus-extreme/technical/metal mid 2000s became a tourin act. shared the stage w and a few random local heavyweits/ Ply-metal hardcore late 1990 s-2000 s, , Loopus Rap core band. 1995-2003 , hate machine- metal hardcore 90s-2000s, Division 9 -hardcore 90s-2000s, Controlled substance-hardcore, Blind identity-Metal hardcore 90s-2000s,Sexmaze-experimental metal 90s-2000s, The Niche-jam band 2000s, 40oz failure Rap/metalcore 90;s-2000s, The Druids jam band 90s-present, Tweak-hardcore 90s-2000s, an so many more amazin bands still to be remembered.... —Ericprince

2011-04-17 14:47:24   Interesting.... I was the guitarist in the band "Vegas" from 1979 to 1984 and I don't see it mentioned here. The band from 79 -82 was the top band in Rochester. The first Vegas featured Lou Ricigliano- guitar, Lex Byers -Vocalist, Rich Fiordeliso -Keyboards and B3 - Nick Russo - Drums and Chris Defazio on Bass. Vegas was reformed in 1983 and consisted of a 3 pc horn section. That group T consisted of Lex Byers on vocals, Lou Ricigliano on Guitar, Rich Fiordeliso on Keys, John Pascarella on Drums, Gary Terwilliger on Bass, Rick Austin on Sax, Doc Davis on Trombone, and Jimmy Squirrell on Trumpet. Information can be found at www.sweet-lou.com. —LouRicigliano

2011-04-17 19:28:23   How about these bands... The Trackers, The Root of all Evil, Portable People, The Hangmen, Lincoln Zepher, The Oxford Watch Band, Gunthers Bus, The Gallant Men??? Need data on these bands of the 60's. —LouRicigliano

2011-04-17 21:06:01   How about these bands... The Trackers, The Root of all Evil, Portable People, The Hangmen, Lincoln Zepher, The Oxford Watch Band, Gunthers Bus, The Gallant Men??? Need data on these bands of the 60's. —LouRicigliano

2011-05-03 15:59:46   Remember the group "Kracker" One of the Best Bands Rochester had the good fortune of hearing. They refused to do covers and did mainly originals and album cuts.Gino Vanelli,Benny Mardones, Marty Ballin and Robbie Dupree to name a few. Unbelievably tight with Great vocals and harmonies.Members included: Billy Schifano(Lead vocal and percussion)Don Ferrara(Lead Guitar)Earnie Pavone(Keyboards)Rich Robinson(Bass & Moog Pedals) and John Pasquarella(Drums) —DonFerrara

2011-05-27 10:07:13   A few of the other noteable late 70s/early 80s Rochester bands not yet mentioned were Bahama Mama (early reggae with horns...evolved from another great local band The Fabulous Putz Brothers)...and Toys [WWW]http://www.discogs.com/Toys-Dashboard-Music/release/1745249, sort of a in a Heart genre. Both of those were on the first WCMF Homegrown LP and had their own albums out. Also, along with New Math and Cappy & Frenchmenn were The Klik and The Chesterfield Kings. I think a couple of those bands were on a rare collection LP of Rochester New Wave/Punk called "From the City That Gave You Absolutely Nothing." Also, no mention of Black Sheep from the mid-70s with Lou Gramm pre-Foreigner. You could also count Talas, although technically from Buffalo...later drummer Mark Miller was from Rochester area.

Also, while technically not a "group"....solo artists Walt Atkinson probably gigged more than almost anyone in the 70s-80s in the Rochester area and was called "Mr. One-Man Band" because of his early use of live looping and layering of his guitar/harmonica/vocals. He still plays somewhere down in the Carolinas where he now lives.

+1 to Old Salt (I think OS was also on the first WCMF Homegrown LP,) Wilmer & the Dukes, Bat McGrath/Don Potter

I'm sure I'm missing many others I'll recall when I look thru my music collection. —mc2

2011-08-09 14:15:23   Any info on the 70's group "Orange"? I have a copy of a studio disc that has a number of their originals. Included - "My teriffic Telephone", Sabotage, etc. —JZ

2011-08-27 08:32:54   Prodigy - 1976 to 1978 —PaulVolta

2011-11-27 00:43:47   Well, my boredom is no more as I ponder on days passed with this page! Music had a huge impact on me growing up. For me it wasn't just back ground noise. Through the beginning with the angst, confusion, suffering and my broken bond with society, my music pushed me and in return I turned it up! Fuck Yea!

Around the age of 12, there was this 'special band' playing locally and every time I heard this band came a constant flow of adjectives such as "Blaspheme" and "Sacrilegious!" Even the Catholic Church were involved and as their servants protested, the local media came running with a story that would begin my spiritual pelvic thrust deep into society for many years after! The training years to my Year 0 and no doubt the beginning of personal disobedience of anything organized!

Anyway, Immaculate Mary, a quartette who only wore white clothing on stage-what little they did wear, were creating more then music, they were creating a way, for me anyway. A way to say fuck you without having to say it at all. I guess I was just at that perfect age ya know? -Between child & man in self;but I understood it and it meant a lot to me.

While the protesting may have died down by the time I was able to attend shows at 16-17 years old, their popularity did not. But what I was hoping to read on here was the reason of their demise. I suspect like many other great bands-the right people weren't around in all the wrong places they played and well, they had to grow up and work regular jobs? Their record, "Through the eye's of youth" didn't go far, and you had to be at their shows to feel that energy. Its on their records but live is where it really was at. I mean, they could be playing "Mary had a little lamb" and it would be mind blowing.. -(Which reminds me, before every set, they had this recording of everything and anything "Mary" related, so when the lights when out, you'd hear Run Dmc's, "Mary, Mary..why you bugging" Credences "Proud Mary..." and other "Mary" related-random recordings from other artists and tv shows..and then they'd burst onto stage like Rock Aliens from Loud Planet Mother Fucker!)

So in conclusion, my teen years had a great fucking sound track to it man! I sure do miss those days and proud that Immaculate Mary is part of that musical collage. Also, I must admit that I rather enjoyed writing this piece. I was upset not finding "The World's Loudest Band" on this site but sort of glad for my own selfish reasons of reminiscing back in the day. But maybe now some of those in charge can do some research and go ahead and add a little something special for this band up on here. Surely I can't be the only who followed them back in the day..

M.C.

2011-11-27 00:44:20   Well, my boredom is no more as I ponder on days passed with this page! Music had a huge impact on me growing up. For me it wasn't just back ground noise. Through the beginning with the angst, confusion, suffering and my broken bond with society, my music pushed me and in return I turned it up! Fuck Yea!

Around the age of 12, there was this 'special band' playing locally and every time I heard this band came a constant flow of adjectives such as "Blaspheme" and "Sacrilegious!" Even the Catholic Church were involved and as their servants protested, the local media came running with a story that would begin my spiritual pelvic thrust deep into society for many years after! The training years to my Year 0 and no doubt the beginning of personal disobedience of anything organized!

Anyway, Immaculate Mary, a quartette who only wore white clothing on stage-what little they did wear, were creating more then music, they were creating a way, for me anyway. A way to say fuck you without having to say it at all. I guess I was just at that perfect age ya know? -Between child & man in self;but I understood it and it meant a lot to me.

While the protesting may have died down by the time I was able to attend shows at 16-17 years old, their popularity did not. But what I was hoping to read on here was the reason of their demise. I suspect like many other great bands-the right people weren't around in all the wrong places they played and well, they had to grow up and work regular jobs? Their record, "Through the eye's of youth" didn't go far, and you had to be at their shows to feel that energy. Its on their records but live is where it really was at. I mean, they could be playing "Mary had a little lamb" and it would be mind blowing.. -(Which reminds me, before every set, they had this recording of everything and anything "Mary" related, so when the lights when out, you'd hear Run Dmc's, "Mary, Mary..why you bugging" Credences "Proud Mary..." and other "Mary" related-random recordings from other artists and tv shows..and then they'd burst onto stage like Rock Aliens from Loud Planet Mother Fucker!)

So in conclusion, my teen years had a great fucking sound track to it man! I sure do miss those days and proud that Immaculate Mary is part of that musical collage. Also, I must admit that I rather enjoyed writing this piece. I was upset not finding "The World's Loudest Band" on this site but sort of glad for my own selfish reasons of reminiscing back in the day. But maybe now some of those in charge can do some research and go ahead and add a little something special for this band up on here. Surely I can't be the only who followed them back in the day..

M.C.

2011-12-03 16:38:58   My friends and I used to walk over to Leighton Street to watch those 'CMF Monday Night Concerts. Early to mid 70's. The station personnel were nice enough to let us in, but always warned us to "be cool." Anybody know if those shows are around in some format? I would love to hear them again. —SteveMack

2012-01-09 19:23:02   Autumn Skies, who later became M-80. Popular in the early 80's. Played alot at Tucker's, California Brew House, Tiffany's. Anyone know what became of them? —JThomas

2012-01-12 21:30:27   Have not seen mention of The Color Blind James Experience. Also, John Mooney used to play at the Cottage, and the Sun Mountain Fiddler still plays all over the place (used to see him at the Cottage too). Anyone remember a band I think called the Stovall Brown Band, drummer had a prosthetic forearm? —dbrandriss

2012-01-25 12:56:36   Transmission 56, 90's Released a 45 and a CD under Carbon Records. 45 is Still Available. Band Members Sean Havens, Jamie Fritzsching and Mark Williams. Jamie and Mark on on the West Coast, Sean is still local and plays in Cavalcade. —SeanHavens

2012-02-19 08:34:04   Cappy and the Frenchmen Myspace site: [WWW]http://www.myspace.com/cappyandthefrenchmen

Cappy and the Frenchmen FACEBOOK Fan site:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cappy-and-the-Frenchmen/211684995596740#!/pages/Cappy-and-the-Frenchmen/211684995596740?sk=wall —BillThomas

2012-03-03 13:15:05   Hi all. This is Terry Lasaponara, the drummer from the band "Freedom Tree". I read that some people want some info regarding the band, so please email me anytime at <terrylasaponara AT gmail DOT com>. Thank you. —terryfreedom

2012-03-12 10:59:37   I was looking through some vintage issues of Freetime Magazine this weekend when I came across an ad for the bluesband " Jimmy Boston and the Flamethrowers" I remember going out to hear the band during the 1980's. They played a mix of classic blues and swing tunes. They were incredible.Tunes like Caledonia,Help me baby,and Peter Gunn to name a few. The horn section referred themselves to the Hollywood Horns.The band performed regulary at Red Creek and Casablanca as well as Respected Blues clubs in the inner city. The clubs were always at standing room only capacity and the dance floor was always cookin. Band Members consisted of: Jimmy Boston on lead vocals,Donnie Ferrara on lead guitar,Neal O'keefe on bass, Charlie Rau on drums,Russ Marchese on trumpet and Joe Arnone on sax.The bands plan was to perform once or twice a month but due to popularity ended up doing four to five one niters a week for almost two years.Sound and lights was provided by Bill Hooper who always did a Great job.I still have a live recording that they did on WGMC radio. I often wish that a group of this caliber would show up in todays music scene. If you were lucky enough to catch them then you know what i am taking about. This was an incredible group. —["Users/Donna "B""]

2012-03-12 21:09:50   Just want to clear up some inaccuracies and provide more detail for RUKKUS who is listed as a 90s band. My name is Nick Valente, and I am an original founder, guitar player, song writer of the band. I formed RUKKUS with Tommy and Chris Garbin in late 1985 and we disbanded in early 1990 when I left for another project. Therefore, I would consider RUKKUS a late 80s original hard rock/metal band. I left and formed Blastic in 1990 who created a ten song original metal CD called Deep from the Bud with Ed Lynd (Grinders), Todd Dentico (Grinders), and John Giordano. Then in 1993, I formed Justin Tyme with Steve Hartwig, Steve Wright, and John Payton (Buddhahood). Then, in 1995, I formed Rat Salad, all Black Sabbath cover band, with Willy Lopez (Avalon), Joe Lana (Uncle Plum), and Joe Damonda. Today, I play in a 3-piece original heavy metal band called HALO. The band consists of Nick Valente (guitar/vocals), Scott Colicchio (bass/keys), and Vince Rupert (drums). I currently work as VP Business Development and also run my own recording studio called the Sound Chamber. Some other great bands from this time period were Talas, Dirty Looks, Avalon, Black Dragon, Nasty Trast (who's cd cover is my face), Moriah, Immaculate Mary, Warhead, Hate, Supernaturals, Millenium, Bad Action, Aunty Em, Rock Candy, Zillion, Harpo, Run21, Fallen Angel, The Raunchettes, Cat Fight, Shaved Ham, Uncle Sam, Camouflage, and so many more. Thanks. Nick —NickValente