Some of you have already heard that Greg Omerza , Keyboard Player and sometimes Bassist for Minnesota Garage Gods , The Electras , died of a massive heart attack , about a month ago. The band had recently been inducted into the Minnesota Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame (Their performance , above and beyond the call of Rock'n'Roll , at said function , can be viewed on You Tube.) , and other gigs were lined up , including a bill with The Trashmen , but health issues concerning other band members forced the band to put their plans on ice. The Electras evolved from several band line - ups fronted by Guitarist , Bill Bulinski , who places an a notice on his High School bulletin board , asking if anyone played Bass. Omerza answered the ad , though he only played the Accordion. In time , the band fell under the spell of Alan Price's Organ playing with The Animals , and persuaded Omerza to get a Vox keyboard , and learn how to play it , and The Electras were born. The band enjoyed local success , but , great records like "Dirty Old Man " and "Action Woman" did'nt sell like they could have. Today , of course , all their singles are super - rare collector items. I , myself , have only ever seen one.
The Electras reformed , briefly , in the 80's , but everyone was not stark raving Garage Rock crazy back then , as some of you may have been told. There was talk , over the years , of doing it again , but , sadly , their moment back in the spotlight was brief. Whether or not the surviving band members will perform as The ELECTRAS , I can't say.
Jerry Haynes was popular in the 60's and 70's as Kiddie Show host to The Dallas / Ft. Worth Metroplex , Mr. Peppermint. He wore a strawboater and a pink and white pinstriped sportcoat , and sang for the kiddies , getting ready for school. He even recorded a long player , reissued several years ago , with guest appearances by Ted Cassidy. He was also , by the 80's , just as well - known , if not moreso , for being Gibby Hayne's Dad. Seriously. Jerry was known to turn up at his Son's gigs in Dallas , sometimes with the whole family in tow , and converse with fans , some of whom were glad to say they still watched his show ! Area Renaissance man , Mark Ridlen , convinced Haynes to record the Pop standard "Yellow Bird" for the fine "Texotica" compilation.
Ridlen persuaded Haynes to sing "Pepper" at the CD release party for "Texotica" , which he actually did .....Unaware that there was an Asian stripper dancing behind him !
Dallas , arguably , did not have the wealth of Kiddie Shows and Kiddie Show Hosts that Chicago can ly claim to (Their "Bozo Show" was strictly poverty row. The other clowns just wore red noses , no greasepaint !) , but , the likes of Mr. Peppermint and Icky Twerp (The Proto - Punk prankster who introduced Three Stooges shorts at breakfast time.) will be fondly remembered by slaves of the cathode ray for years to come.
