Kevin Junior (nee Gerber) , longtime Chicago singer , guitarist , and frontman  passed away , reportedly last Friday , from complications related to an ongoing heart condition. He's best known for his work with Chamber Strings , who very nearly became THEE Next Big Thing out of Chicago , but , he came from humbler beginnings , first with the Joke - Punk band , The Maggots , then with The Mystery Girls , a high energy outfit in The Stones/Faces/ Dolls / MC5 / Hanoi Rocks vein. They later changed their name to The Rosehips , incorporating more "Rock'n'Roll Gypsy" stylings , ala Suicide Twins , acoustic Thunders and Keef , and Nikki Sudden. In fact , Kevin toured The US and Europe with Sudden and his Brother , Epic Soundtracks. The Rosehips would pave the way for the considerably more sublime Chambers Strings , which later included three ex - members of Lava Sutra ( Who made up , with The Mystery Girls  and Waste Kings , a triumvirate of bands the critics SHOULD have taken note of , instead of kissing Billy Corgan's ass.). it's also amusing to note , though I doubt anyone else will , that he also played GUITAR IN GG  Allin and The Toilet Rockers. ALLIN WAS CONSIDERIG TAKING ON THE WHOLE OF THE MYSTERY GIRLS AS HIS BACKING BAND , AND DOING A STRAIGHT ROCK SHOW , AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON.....Did'nt go that way .


Kevin , now turning to Alex Chilton and Brian Wilson for inspiration , seemed poised for success , but it would be relatively short - lived , as drugs , and a faulty heart , intervened. HE GOT CLEAN AND REFORMED THE BAND , LATER RELOCATING TO DAYTON , OHIO , where he remained for three years , playing out with a new Chamber Strings.   I DID'NT SEE HIM VERY OFTEN DURING HIS "Dark ages" , but , we were always friendly.


What a younger Kevin represented so well was embodies by The Mystery Girls' opening set for Johnny Thunders. MANY PEOPLE SAW THEIR ALL GUNS BLAZIN' SET AS A CONSOLATION PRIZE FOR THUNDERS BEING SO NOT THERE. I had to think , this is what Johnny could still be, were it not for the drugs.
KEVIN WAS like A YOUNGER JOHNNY , BUT FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS , UNTIL , AS SYLVAIN SYLVAIN SAID ABOUT THE DOLLS' DOWNFALL "It was like a horse race , we were in the lead , and we broke our leg.".


The Kevin I knew was a very funny , likeable guy. HE HAD A VORACIOUS  APPPETITE FOR MUSIC , AND LOVED COMEDY , especially Redd Foxx , Rudy Ray Moore and LaWanda Page. NO ONE could dress like him. If you saw him on the street , he'd be wearing the same threads he'd wear on stage. It was Rock'n'Roll , 24/7. nOW , IT'S ETERNITY.