|
...
The Endless Summer Beach Band performed two shows that night (Apr 1983 in Houston), both of which equaled (or topped) any recent Beach Boys concert for sheer enjoyment. And no wonder. The lineup on stage that night was something of an all-star cast. In addition to Mike Dean and the Beach Band mainstays Jeff Foskett (lead guitar) and Randall Kirsch (bass), the group included British vocalist Adrian Baker (on rhythm guitar), ex-Papa Doo Run Run keyboard player Gary Griffin, and drummer John Cowsill (yes, of those Cowsills).
...
BE (Brad Elliott): He (Bo Fox) was in your group?
JF: No, he was not. We actually had Barry Cowsill in our group in Santa Barbara.
. . .
BE: Barry Cowsill was in the Reverie Rhythm Rockers?
JF: Yes, he was the bass player. It was interesting. He came up one night - Randy played guitar at that point, Randy plays guitar or bass, he's great on both - Barry came up to him one night in a club and said, "Do you mind if I sit in?" I said, "Yeah," 'cause he looked like shit, you know, scraggly beard, long hair. I said, "Yeah, 'cause you can't afford to pay for the instrument if you break it," basically. He said, "Yeah, I can." I said, "What makes you think you can come up here and sit in?" He said, "Nothin'." I kinda like the guy's attitude, so I let him sit in. He sang his ass off, played great, so we kept him in the band from then on.
BE: And when you found out he was Barry Cowsill?
JF: Oh, of course I laid a shit!
BE: That was the group when you did all the Beatle tunes?
JF: No, it wasn't Barry. We had sever other guys in the Reverie, like 27 different members. Randy and Bo and I, without Barry, were called the Pranks and were doing all original music at that time, in L.A. We got offered two record deals, neither of which sounded very good at the time, but would be outstanding by today's standards, 1983. That's how much three year's difference makes.
. . .
BE: How did this current lineup of the Endless Summer Beach Band evolve?
JF: Barry Cowsill introduced me to John and John blew my mind on the drums, because he is phenomenal. He's a showman from the letter 'S' and he sings his ass off. He is a great, great player and just a super guy. I immediately hired him as the drummer, period.
BE: Did Barry Cowsill ever play with the Endless Summer Beach Band?
JF: Never. We've wanted to use him several times, but for one reason or another it's never come about.
BE: Did Mike Kowalski ever play drums for you?
JF: Kowalski can and does sometimes, but preferred not to go this one tour for some reason. It's his anniversary or something. I'm happy with Cowsill in the band because he sings better than Kowalski and in this band we need it.
. . .
JF: . . . We're going to do an album when we get off the road.
BE: Who is "we"?
JF: Randy and myself. Most likely with John and Barry Cowsill.
. . .
|
