A special Tunesday

One of my favorite "didn't make it" Detroit bands (actually Alpena ... but where's Alpena? NE mitten) from the late 60s/early 70s.

Dick Wagner was the front man for the 4-man band. Their first big gig was at Meadowbrook Pavilion in the Detroit suburbs with MC5 and The Stooges (Iggy Pop).

[I'm attending a wedding at Meaadowbrook in August. Meadowbrook was the estate of John Dodge of auto fame; it is now "a place"]

They became a popular band in the Detroit region. The band was pursued by record companies; they recorded 3 albums for Vanguard Records. They were one of the top bands in the region but Vanguard did a poor job in promoting the band nationally - the missed the success their contemporaries Bob Seger, Grand Funk, Alice Cooper, and Ted Nugent enjoyed.

The band broke up in 1970 after the release of their 3rd album; Dick Wagner went on to become a player for Lou Reed, Kiss, Alice Cooper and others.

Dick Wagner died age 71 in 2014.

Thanks for the many good concerts, Dick.

Continue reading →