Thursday, April 3, 2025

The Vanguards (Mendota)

The Vanguards were five teenagers from Mendota, Illinois: Tony Martin, vocals; Jack Wagner, lead guitar; Jim Larkin, rhythm guitar; Benny Sutton, bass guitar; and Gary Fitzgerald, drums.  All were students at Mendota High School.

The combo formed in 1964 and got their start playing at the local youth center, the Mendota Kanteen.  

By 1966, the group was performing throughout the northern half of Illinois, including gigs in DeKalb, Dixon, Princeton, Ottawa, Streator and even Chicago.   

In early 1966 the group travelled to the Universal Recording Studio in Chicago for a recording session.  The end result was a single which the band self-released in the summer of that year.

The 45 included "What's Wrong With You," an original written by Martin and Fitzgerald, along with a cover of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" on the flip side.  (The audio in the YouTube videos below was transferred directly from the master tapes not from a record.)

 

The band also made several other recordings which were never released at the time.  They included covers of "Bulldog," "Hi-Heel Sneakers" and "Kansas City,' as well as two originals:

"Cool Richie" & "Peachtree"
  

Informal live recordings done at the Mendota Kanteen in 1966 show the band doing a number of Rolling Stones' covers (Paint It Black, Satisfaction, As Tears Go By, Get Off My Cloud & The Last Time) as well as songs by as the Kinks, the Turtles and the Animals.   Their sets included a number of Ventures-inspired instrumentals as well, such as “Pipeline,” “Diamond Head,” "Walk Don't Run" and “Perfidia.”

The group continued to perform through the summer of 1967 including gigs in nearby Compton and Amboy.  By 1968 however the members had all graduated high school and went their separate ways (i.e. Vietnam), bringing an end to the band.

Fast forward to 2010, when singer Tony Martin and his wife were involved in a car accident which left him with serious spinal injuries.   A benefit was planned for Martin in January 2011.  The day before the event, all of the members of the Vanguards joined Martin at his bedside.  It was the first time in 43 years they were all together again.

Around the same time, a Vanguards CD was produced and sold to help raise money for Martin.  Incredibly, the band members were still in possession of the master tapes and acetates from their '66 sessions.  The CD included "remastered" versions of the single along with unreleased tracks (see above YouTube videos).

Tony Martin passed away in 2014.  In the 40+ years after the Vanguards he continued to sing, performing with multiple area bands such as the Old News Band, Rum and Chowder and Lonwolf.

Guitarist John "Jack" Wagner continues to write and perform music in Texas to this day.  You can listen and purchase his latest release HERE.   He also writes musical stage plays.  His most recent, Dream Catcher: The Ray Scott Story, is currently being produced by the Mystic Cat Society in Houston.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The Byrds Flock to Illinois on First U.S. Tour (July 1965)

In early July 1965, just as their single "Mr. Tambourine Man" reached number one on the pop charts, the Byrds set out on their first national tour.  

Over the course of a month, the band performed more than 25 times in ten different states.  With the exception of a weekend detour to Miami Beach for the Columbia Records Sales Convention, almost all of the shows took place in the Midwest.  The venues were mostly amusement parks, rec and youth centers, and small town ballrooms.

Using Chicago (Roger McGuinn's hometown) as their base of operations, the group zig-zagged across the middle of the country on a Trailways bus.   Traveling with the band was a troupe of go-go dancers led by L.A. freakster Carl Franzoni.

In his book, Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of the Byrds' Gene Clark, John Einarson detailed life on the road during the '65 tour of the Midwest:

The Byrds' trek across America was in a regular Continental Trailways excursion bus replete with standard bus seats.  No bunks, bedrooms, bars, or kitchen like today's touring buses; just your normal 60-passenger bus pulling a trailer with the group's gear (including new Fender Dual Showman amplifiers boasting 100 watts - the loudest on the market at the time - courtesy of CBS, who had recently acquired the renowned instrument maker).  

Along for the trip were L.A. scene-makers Vito [Paulekas] and Carl [Franzoni] and their entourage of crazed hippie dancers whose uninhibited gyrations caused quite a stir in the heartlands of America.   

The Byrds appeared in Illinois repeatedly during this month long tour.  Some of their shows however have never been properly documented.   Their performance at the Hi Society Youth Center in Peru, Illinois on July 30th, for example, has been overlooked by most chroniclers of the band.   

One of the first shows on the tour was a six hour dance scheduled at Rockford College.  The July 10th concert ran from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm at the College Fieldhouse.  The only other band on the bill were the Chicago-based Blackstones.  The Rockford Morning Star reported that "hundreds" of teenagers enjoyed the show.
 

Earlier that same day, the Byrds appeared at Sears locations across Chicagoland with WLS DJ Ron Riley.  To the first 200 fans at each store, free pictures of the group were to be given out.  The locations and times were the State Street store 10-10:30; Irving Park & Cicero 11-11:30; Harlem & North 12:15-12:45; Oakbrook 1:30-2 pm. 

Over 10,000 teenagers showed up to see the group between the four locations.  The Rockford newspaper reported that 2,000 teenagers rioted at the Arlington Heights shopping center.

The band would not give another concert in Illinois for two more weeks, however the Byrds made national news on July 20 after an incident at the O'Hare Inn near Chicago's airport.   It was reported that the band was barred from eating breakfast at the motel when they arrived at the dining room without any shoes on.   The group eventually returned wearing cowboy boots.
 
The motel's president announced that rock 'n roll musicians would be banned from staying at the motel going forward.  He added that the Byrds dressed "more in keeping with a flophouse than a respectable motel."

The band's next performance in Illinois was their July 24th show at the Arie Crown Theater, McCormick Place in Chicago.  The 8:30 performance was part of the "Summer of Stars - '65" series.  The Shadows of Knight were the opening group.

According to Christopher Hjort's book, So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-by-Day, 1965-1973, the band played a gig in East St. Louis the following evening.  He mentions that the concert was possibly held at the Casa-Loma Ballroom which, if true, is actually across the river in St. Louis, Missouri.

Next the Byrds would go to Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan before finishing their tour in Illinois.  Just two days before leaving for England, the Byrds landed at the Hi Society youth center in Peru, Illinois.  

Incredibly, a Friday night concert by one of the hottest bands in the country was held in a basement venue that could fit a few hundred kids at most.   The show was scheduled from 8 to 11 pm.  Daniel Marenda, who was in attendance that night, shared on X that Chis Hillman's bass amp failed during the show and the band had to borrow one from a local group.

The next night, according to a newspaper article in the Park Forest Star, the Byrds finished their tour at the Park Forest Recreational Center in Park Forest, Illinois.

Hjort's book however presents a different series of concerts at the end of the tour:

The Byrds wind up their Midwest tour with dates in Paris, IL (playing the Pavilion in Twin Lakes Amusement Park), and a pair of hastily arranged suburban Chicago school bookings at Morton High School, Berwyn, IL, and Arlington Heights High School, Arlington Heights, IL - the latter with The Shadows of Knight in support again.

In John Rogan's book, Timeless Flight: The Definitive Biography of the Byrds, the Paris, Illinois date is somewhat confirmed by Liz Donahue, one of the members of the dance troupe:

It was amazing.  I don't think the Mid-West was ready for Carl Franzoni and the whole troupe of us.  We'd go into restaurants in the Mid-West and they wouldn't wait on us.   They thought we were something from Outer Space.  In Paris, Illinois, they actually threw us off the dance floor.  I think they cancelled the gig that night."

On Sunday August 1st, the Byrds flew out of Chicago, headed for London to begin their first overseas tour.  The days of playing small town ballrooms and rec centers in the heartland was short-lived.  Like the Kinks tour of the state in 1965, never again would the youth of Illinois get such an intimate look at one of the iconic bands of the 1960's.

If you saw the Byrds on this early tour and want to share your memories, please leave a comment below or get in touch directly at:  downstatesounds@gmail.com 

July 1965 Tour Dates & Additional Info


July 3    Hollywood Bowl        Los Angeles, CA
Prior to leaving on tour, the Byrds were part of the Beach Boys Summer Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl on July 3rd.  In addition to the Byrds, the show featured the Beach Boys, the Kinks, Sir Douglas Quintet, Sam the Sham, Sonny & Cher, the Righteous Brothers, and several others.  According to Billboard, about 15,000 people attended the concert.

July 4 Jane Fonda's house       Malibu, CA
The Byrds performed at Jane Fonda's 4th of July party.

July 5 Lakeside Amusement Park     Lakeside, CO
The Moonrakers, a Denver-area band, opened for the Byrds.

July 6 Coliseum Annex Sioux Falls, SD

July 7 Prom Ballroom St. Paul, MN

July 8 Inwood Ballroom     Spillville, IA
Hjort's book contradicts this date.  He claims that the group played in Duluth, MN on the 8th and performed at the Inwood Ballroom on the 14th.

July 10 Sears (five locations) - 10 am - 2 pm Chicago, IL
           

July 10 Rockford College Rockford, IL
         

July 11 Terp Ballroom Austin, MN

July 13 Roof Garden Ballroom     Arnolds Park, IA
         
Hjort claims that the Byrds failed to show up for this gig and that the Thunderbolts from nearby Carroll, IA play instead.

July 15 Pla-Mor Ballroom     Rochester, MN

Jul 16 & 17 Columbia Records Sales Convention, Americana Hotel     Miami Beach, FL
The Byrds flew down to Miami Beach for the weekend to attend the Columbia Records Sales Convention held at the Americana Hotel.  They arrived at the same time as some of the Miss Universe contestants which was being held in Miami Beach the following weekend. 

July 18 Idora Park Youngstown, OH
Carl Franzoni recalls being punched in the stomach during this performance (Someone in Youngstown was not a fan of his dancing). 

July 19 LeSourdville Lake Park Monroe, OH
 
Billboard reported that the Byrds performed to a capacity 2,800 people in two 45-minute performances at LeSourdsville Park, located half-way between Hamilton and Middletown, OH.  This shattered the attendance record set at the park by the Beach Boys earlier in the year.  Jim Smith, program director at WSAI and promoter of the show reported that hundred were turned away. 

July 20 Centennial Recreation Center Sylvania, OH
Hjort lists a different location entirely for this date:  The Sugar Shack in Chillicothe, OH  (He adds the band showed up two hours late.)   

July 21 Cedar Point Ballroom        Sandusky, OH
According to the Sandusky Register, the band performed for around 300 youngsters at the Cedar Point Ballroom.

July 22 Band Canyon     Bay City, MI
For details about the show in Bay City, including several first hand accounts, see Michigan Rock and Roll Legends.

July 23 Indiana Beach Monticello, IN

July 24 Arie Crown Theatre Chicago, IL

July 25    East St. Louis, IL / St. Louis, MO

July 26 Gypsy Village Nightclub Louisville, KY

July 27 Forest Park Arena Dayton, OH
 

July 28 Grand Haven Roller Rink Grand Haven, MI
In addition to the dancers and scene-makers, another person traveling with the Byrds was a young Bryan MacLean, founding member of the band Love.  MacLean was friends with David Crosby and was hired as a sort of equipment manager.

In an interview, MacLean said this about his role:   "I realize now I was just a roadie. When they were on the "Mr. Tambourine Man" tour which was cross-country, they hired a guy to be the road manager.

I remember thinking, "Why are they calling him the road manager? I'm the road manager." I referred to myself as the road manager of the Byrds for years and years before I realized there was a distinction.

After the concert in Grand Haven, Michigan, a picture ran in the Muskegon Chronicle of the band's "assistant manager" which appears to be MacLean.   The article, like so many in those days, seemed obsessed with the length of everyone's hair. 

July 30 Hi Society Youth Center Peru, IL

July 31 Park Forest Recreation Center Park Forest, IL