Two hours to go til they opened the front gates for the KISS concert. I was selling ten dollar packs of PCP to my left and right, and smoking doobies in the middle. I started to blow an occasional cloud of smoke towards the rental cops positioned in front of the box office. I was a twelve year old punk on drugs. This was going to be a great night.
At 7:00pm the gates opened and I rushed in, right into the waiting arms of those rent-a-cops I had been teasing for the last hour. They pulled me into a makeshift booking station located behind the box office and started going through my pockets, relieving me of a special-roll, pre-encore spliff. I still had a few packs of angel dust in a plastic baggie tucked in my underwear. Thankfully, my Mom still outfitted me in tighty-whities, a safe storage spot for contraband. I was processed, had my picture taken, and walked out to a school bus with wired-up windows for safe keeping. As I heard the muffled sounds of the band onstage, I wondered if this would constitute grounds for discharge from the KISS army.
After the concert had been over for a little while, state police cars began taking the detainees out for the ride to the station in groups of two. In the back seat were my possesions in a plastic bag, including my Polaroid camera. The trooper was pretty easy going and let me document the journey with a few pictures. I still have them in an old photo album. The kid in the car with me was kind enough to snap a couple of pictures of me to show my friends in school. After being booked, I was given a phone call home. My Mother let them keep me in juvenile detention for the weekend to try and "scare me straight".
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
KISS
We bought our KISS tickets at record town in north Miami. It was 1976, and the band was on the verge of what became worldwide rock n' roll domination for the greasepaint foursome. David Linhart and myself listened to KISS Alive all Saturday morning and decided to get an early start towards the Hollywood Sportatorium, a pretty good sized arena located in the middle of nowheresville. I'd seen the Greatful Dead, Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, Foghat, and countless other groups play there, but seeing KISS, was something different. These guys had a dangerous edge that the others lacked. I was always a tag-along for the other shows, and this baby was all ours. I was a charter member of the KISS army, and I had one whole wall of my bedroom dedicated to their exploits. I had my Mother sew my KISS army patch onto the arm of my dungree jacket, just in case there was any speculation on the matter. Arriving early to the concert served two purposes; a better shot at a front row seat (the tickets were general admission), and a chance to practice my new sideline as a drug dealer.
I had befriended Ernie, a surfer/burnout dude about a month earlier. when I was invited to hang out at his apartment through a mutual pal. He was in his late 20s, and always had a group of teenage kids around at his place doing drugs and trying to act cool. He lived below his Dads office in a place that was adorned with black light posters, lava lamps, and a surfboard that had been dry-docked for quite some time. He was like a large version of Sean Penn's character from "Fast times at Ridgemont High". I started messing around with PCP at Ernies and jumped at the chance to be a junior distributer for him. It would mean free drugs for me and add a little cache to my resume. It might also pay for my KISS ticket. I got a batch from him the night before, and he showed me how to divide it into ten dollar portions. I figured there was great sales potential at the next evenings show.
David and I took the bus out to the Sportatorium and arrived after 1:00pm to an empty parking lot. In my previous visits, I'd never seen the place so desolate and uninviting. We were basically the first ones there. We found a trail in back of the building and smoked a little pot and snorted some PCP. That familiar buzzing sound echoed through our heads as we wandered back to the front section. There were now a few cars starting to pull up, and kids were getting dropped off by their parents, with faces painted like their favorite band members. I'm not sure we were ready for the experience of being fucked up on this drug and looking at people with their skulls made up in grotesque masks of evil. We decided to head to the front gate of the venue to ensure a head start on the rush for seating and try to generate some sales.
To be continued...
I had befriended Ernie, a surfer/burnout dude about a month earlier. when I was invited to hang out at his apartment through a mutual pal. He was in his late 20s, and always had a group of teenage kids around at his place doing drugs and trying to act cool. He lived below his Dads office in a place that was adorned with black light posters, lava lamps, and a surfboard that had been dry-docked for quite some time. He was like a large version of Sean Penn's character from "Fast times at Ridgemont High". I started messing around with PCP at Ernies and jumped at the chance to be a junior distributer for him. It would mean free drugs for me and add a little cache to my resume. It might also pay for my KISS ticket. I got a batch from him the night before, and he showed me how to divide it into ten dollar portions. I figured there was great sales potential at the next evenings show.
David and I took the bus out to the Sportatorium and arrived after 1:00pm to an empty parking lot. In my previous visits, I'd never seen the place so desolate and uninviting. We were basically the first ones there. We found a trail in back of the building and smoked a little pot and snorted some PCP. That familiar buzzing sound echoed through our heads as we wandered back to the front section. There were now a few cars starting to pull up, and kids were getting dropped off by their parents, with faces painted like their favorite band members. I'm not sure we were ready for the experience of being fucked up on this drug and looking at people with their skulls made up in grotesque masks of evil. We decided to head to the front gate of the venue to ensure a head start on the rush for seating and try to generate some sales.
To be continued...
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Bullet LaVolta
Lucky for me, Bullet LaVolta, a fairly new band playing around Boston was losing their guitar wiz, Corey Loog Brennan. The Targets were on another hiatus and Dredd Foole and the Din were winding down. I always tried to be in at least two bands at once and I was facing the prospect of being a free agent. Corey was Harvard grad and he had a chance to study in Italy for two years. Word on the street was, the were looking for a replacement. I went to check them out at a downtown bar that was way overcwowded. All I could see was guitarists Clay Tarver's cherokee hair spinning in the air and the occasional sighting of lead singer Yukki Gipe whenever he climbed atop a table. I thought they sounded great, a mix of punk and hard rock with some serious attitude. I asked for a shot at the soon to be vacant slot, and they gave me a seven song cassette they were selling at the show.
Corey was quite a guitar player, kind of a cross between Captain Sensible form the Damned and Randy Rhodes with a finger missing from each hand. Not my style exactly, but I thought I could adapt. I learned the songs, passed the audition, and asked to join the band. They were about to enter the stdio with Tom Hamilton to record more material for a forthcoming E.P. I showed them "Get it together" from my first band Iron Cross. Yukki wrote some new lyrics and renamed it "Dead wrong". Clay and I had an almost telepathic way of playing together, like a punk/metal version of Ron Wood and Keith Richards. The rhythm section of drummer Chris "Cougar" Guttmacher and bassist Bill Whelan were like an amplified rhino smashing through a liquor store, with a hint of melody. Chris was the engine of the band, unleashing a stream of 16th notes on his ride cymbal like a proffesional boxer. The thing should have taken a restraining order out on him. Bill hadn't been playing bass very long, but he was a natural, getting better with every rehearsal.
Bullet LaVolta was such a great band to be in. I really looked up to Yukki (real name: Kurt Davis). He was a phenomenal frontman, and a real down-to -earth nice guy. While I was partying and whoring it up at every opportunity, he was hanging out with the fans and fending off the advances of cute girls. The band grew in in stature from gig to gig until it was time to record our first full length L.P. We were also offered the chance to go to Europe in a few months with the Lemonheads. During the mixing of the record, Chris told us he would be leaving the group and heading to the west coast to live. He gave us fair warning, and played a handful of shows while we started looking for a replacement. Since we were gaining a bit of local buzz, we had a few suspicious characters show up. Full on Rock dudes, classic Rock aficionados, and assorted bozos. What is it with drummers? I called Todd Phillips from the fake Moving Targets and invited him down for a shot. It came down to Todd, and this guy named John. John was a great drummer, but he and his girlfriend were expecting their first child. We didn't want to have any part of his first words being "where's Daddy", so we went with Todd. It eneded up being the right decision. I applied for my first passport.
Corey was quite a guitar player, kind of a cross between Captain Sensible form the Damned and Randy Rhodes with a finger missing from each hand. Not my style exactly, but I thought I could adapt. I learned the songs, passed the audition, and asked to join the band. They were about to enter the stdio with Tom Hamilton to record more material for a forthcoming E.P. I showed them "Get it together" from my first band Iron Cross. Yukki wrote some new lyrics and renamed it "Dead wrong". Clay and I had an almost telepathic way of playing together, like a punk/metal version of Ron Wood and Keith Richards. The rhythm section of drummer Chris "Cougar" Guttmacher and bassist Bill Whelan were like an amplified rhino smashing through a liquor store, with a hint of melody. Chris was the engine of the band, unleashing a stream of 16th notes on his ride cymbal like a proffesional boxer. The thing should have taken a restraining order out on him. Bill hadn't been playing bass very long, but he was a natural, getting better with every rehearsal.
Bullet LaVolta was such a great band to be in. I really looked up to Yukki (real name: Kurt Davis). He was a phenomenal frontman, and a real down-to -earth nice guy. While I was partying and whoring it up at every opportunity, he was hanging out with the fans and fending off the advances of cute girls. The band grew in in stature from gig to gig until it was time to record our first full length L.P. We were also offered the chance to go to Europe in a few months with the Lemonheads. During the mixing of the record, Chris told us he would be leaving the group and heading to the west coast to live. He gave us fair warning, and played a handful of shows while we started looking for a replacement. Since we were gaining a bit of local buzz, we had a few suspicious characters show up. Full on Rock dudes, classic Rock aficionados, and assorted bozos. What is it with drummers? I called Todd Phillips from the fake Moving Targets and invited him down for a shot. It came down to Todd, and this guy named John. John was a great drummer, but he and his girlfriend were expecting their first child. We didn't want to have any part of his first words being "where's Daddy", so we went with Todd. It eneded up being the right decision. I applied for my first passport.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Moving Targets break up/Fake Moving Targets
When the Moving Targets returned from our very first U.S. tour we were broke, tired, and homesick. Everyone except me, I thought it was the greatest experience ever, a realization of my dreams, finally come true. Traveling around the states, playing music, meeting people, and smoking tons of pot. So what if we had to skip a few showers and eat at taco bell every day. Chuck, the homebody that he was, held up pretty well. He may have been taken aback by my rock n' roll lifestyle, but he was always there to offer sound tips on staying out of trouble, and he was a solid bass guitarist. Pat had a hell of a time playing music, but he had started his own carpet installing business back in Boston, and had alot of bills and responsibility waiting for him when we returned. We did a show at the Rat and had ourselves a good nights sleep in our own beds.
That fateful afternoon we set our shit up, tossed around some riffs, and took a break. Pat then explained that he wouldn't have much time for the band over the next two months, as he had to concentrate on work and debts. Chuck and I wanted to learn some new material and play the 2 shows we had coming up in the next few weeks. obviously, it wasn't good news to our ears. Pat was a prime canidate for a rich girl friend, as they say. Trouble in Targetland indeed! We realized we had to try and carry on and look for a "Pat Brady" type drummer to keep the band going. We might as well have asked John Bonham to crawl out of his grave and catch the next flight to Boston.
After trying out a couple of guys (including soundman Carl Plaster, who gave it a good shot), Chuck threw his hands in the air and gave up the idea of finding someone to fill Mr. Bradys size 12 shoes. Problem was, we still had a couple of dates booked for the band. Like a true musician, I insisted that the show must go on. I now introduce, fake Moving Targets 1. The following day after enjoying a Kilslug set at T T the bears, I stoped by Burger King to have it my way. While in line I was somehow recognized by a young lad named Todd Phillips. He was getting a shake, I was getting some fries. I discovered he was a drummer and a fan of the Targets. I got his number, and he said he would love to give it a try. Later that evening , I ran into Jeff Weigan from the Volcano Suns, and convinced him to throw his chip in the pot. The next day we met up at the 'Suns fithy excuse for a rehearsal room, and kicked out the Jams. Todd had some chops, and Jeff created a wall of crunch with his Rickenbacker bass. All was not lost.
We practiced a "Targets set" 7 or 8 times over the next two weeks, and borrowed the Volcano Suns van for a Saturday all-ages show in Conneticut. That morning as we loaded our gear out onto the sidewalk, we saw a dark figure approaching from the distance. We realized it was none other than Johnny Cash, who happened to be performing with the Boston Pops that night. He came right over to us (thinking we were musicians), and said: "Hi, I'm Johnny Cash" (swear to God) just like he does in concert. He shook hands all around and asked if we knew where he could find some guitar strings, at that early hour of the morning. Jeff walked over with him to Wulitzer music. If only I'd known how big of a fan I would become years later, I would have joined them as well. We made our way to the show, and played a fairly unremarkable set, as I remember. The gig later immortalized with a picture of my wearing my favorite Led Zeppelin shirt onstage, used for TAANG's second pressing of "Burning inwater".
We ended up doing a couple more shows in Boston and Portland, ME. (where Todd and Jeff shared our hotel elevator with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons from KISS, who happened to be playing in town that same night, swear to God!), but it was the end of the road for us. In our own way, we had become a pretty decent little band, in an instant coffee kinda way, but it wasn't the Moving Targets. I learned alot from Jeff on how to abuse the audience between songs, and it opened the door to Todd Joining Bullet LaVolta down the line. It was also, a hell of alot of fun.
Note: Sometimes the recollections can be a bit incomplete. I want to thank the Roast for correction asto the homecoming gig, as well as adding his two-cents about devil-woman.
The original post listed Manray as the homecoming show. I appoligize to anyone who may have been offended.....
Thanks once again to everyone who takes a minute to read the blogs!
That fateful afternoon we set our shit up, tossed around some riffs, and took a break. Pat then explained that he wouldn't have much time for the band over the next two months, as he had to concentrate on work and debts. Chuck and I wanted to learn some new material and play the 2 shows we had coming up in the next few weeks. obviously, it wasn't good news to our ears. Pat was a prime canidate for a rich girl friend, as they say. Trouble in Targetland indeed! We realized we had to try and carry on and look for a "Pat Brady" type drummer to keep the band going. We might as well have asked John Bonham to crawl out of his grave and catch the next flight to Boston.
After trying out a couple of guys (including soundman Carl Plaster, who gave it a good shot), Chuck threw his hands in the air and gave up the idea of finding someone to fill Mr. Bradys size 12 shoes. Problem was, we still had a couple of dates booked for the band. Like a true musician, I insisted that the show must go on. I now introduce, fake Moving Targets 1. The following day after enjoying a Kilslug set at T T the bears, I stoped by Burger King to have it my way. While in line I was somehow recognized by a young lad named Todd Phillips. He was getting a shake, I was getting some fries. I discovered he was a drummer and a fan of the Targets. I got his number, and he said he would love to give it a try. Later that evening , I ran into Jeff Weigan from the Volcano Suns, and convinced him to throw his chip in the pot. The next day we met up at the 'Suns fithy excuse for a rehearsal room, and kicked out the Jams. Todd had some chops, and Jeff created a wall of crunch with his Rickenbacker bass. All was not lost.
We practiced a "Targets set" 7 or 8 times over the next two weeks, and borrowed the Volcano Suns van for a Saturday all-ages show in Conneticut. That morning as we loaded our gear out onto the sidewalk, we saw a dark figure approaching from the distance. We realized it was none other than Johnny Cash, who happened to be performing with the Boston Pops that night. He came right over to us (thinking we were musicians), and said: "Hi, I'm Johnny Cash" (swear to God) just like he does in concert. He shook hands all around and asked if we knew where he could find some guitar strings, at that early hour of the morning. Jeff walked over with him to Wulitzer music. If only I'd known how big of a fan I would become years later, I would have joined them as well. We made our way to the show, and played a fairly unremarkable set, as I remember. The gig later immortalized with a picture of my wearing my favorite Led Zeppelin shirt onstage, used for TAANG's second pressing of "Burning inwater".
We ended up doing a couple more shows in Boston and Portland, ME. (where Todd and Jeff shared our hotel elevator with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons from KISS, who happened to be playing in town that same night, swear to God!), but it was the end of the road for us. In our own way, we had become a pretty decent little band, in an instant coffee kinda way, but it wasn't the Moving Targets. I learned alot from Jeff on how to abuse the audience between songs, and it opened the door to Todd Joining Bullet LaVolta down the line. It was also, a hell of alot of fun.
Note: Sometimes the recollections can be a bit incomplete. I want to thank the Roast for correction asto the homecoming gig, as well as adding his two-cents about devil-woman.
The original post listed Manray as the homecoming show. I appoligize to anyone who may have been offended.....
Thanks once again to everyone who takes a minute to read the blogs!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Early Music/First Band; Part 2
My Grandmother woke me up the day of Iron Cross's next gig at 6:00 in the morning. There were reports of a house fire in Ipswich and we recognized the address as belonging to the Norris family. My Grandfather agreed to drive me there to see what was going on. The whole area was blocked off with police and fire engines, I saw Mrs. Norris and with her sons George, Bill and Josh surrounded by dozens of people. They were all crying. The firemen were still spraying the remains of their smoldering home. Josh saw me and came over and put his arms around me and told me that Mr. Norris, John, and Mark had died in the fire. I started shaking in disbelief, going over to the rest of the family to tell them how sorry I was. I had never been shocked with so much pain and anger so suddenly. How could something so senseless be really happening? Mr. Norris discovered the fire and tried to get everyone out of bed. He went back in to get Mark and John and they never made it out. It was a loss beyond words.
As the sun rose, more and more people came to the scene to share the grief. Classmates of the Norris brothers started showing up, Everyone was numb with sadness. After a couple of hours, a group of us went to Lori Corbin's house to hold on to each other and try and make some sense of what had happened. We gathered to combat the misery with pot and alcohol, and deal with the shock. I don't think any of us had experienced such a horrific loss in our young lives. How was the family going to accept this tragedy? It was cruel beyond anything we could imagine.
The funeral was a few days later. It seemed like the whole town of Ipswich was there to pay their respects. I helped carry Marks coffin out of the church. I don't remember any of it. I still have a clipping from the Ipswich Cronicle with a picture of us carrying the casket, the only proof that I was really there.
The town rallied around the Norris family. Every laborer, electrician, carpenter, and painter in Ipswich offered their services to help build a new home for the family. It was raised on the same plot of land where their old home had once stood. I couldn't believe how strong they were. They had lost so much. Mrs. Norris insisted on buying a new guitar and amp with a portion of the insurance money, although I felt like it was going to be a long time before I had the desire to play.
As the sun rose, more and more people came to the scene to share the grief. Classmates of the Norris brothers started showing up, Everyone was numb with sadness. After a couple of hours, a group of us went to Lori Corbin's house to hold on to each other and try and make some sense of what had happened. We gathered to combat the misery with pot and alcohol, and deal with the shock. I don't think any of us had experienced such a horrific loss in our young lives. How was the family going to accept this tragedy? It was cruel beyond anything we could imagine.
The funeral was a few days later. It seemed like the whole town of Ipswich was there to pay their respects. I helped carry Marks coffin out of the church. I don't remember any of it. I still have a clipping from the Ipswich Cronicle with a picture of us carrying the casket, the only proof that I was really there.
The town rallied around the Norris family. Every laborer, electrician, carpenter, and painter in Ipswich offered their services to help build a new home for the family. It was raised on the same plot of land where their old home had once stood. I couldn't believe how strong they were. They had lost so much. Mrs. Norris insisted on buying a new guitar and amp with a portion of the insurance money, although I felt like it was going to be a long time before I had the desire to play.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Moving Targets Biography
Moving Targets formed in the summer of 1982 with Pat Brady on drums, Pat Leonard on bass and Kenny Chambers on guitar . With a repertoire pushing through the Punk Rock Songbook, they dragged their gear from there to here. They Rocked right next to the keg. They played "The Greatest Song".
That Fall, two things happened that would forever change the group. The dealer grew his first indoor batch of super-skunk hydro, and the Bad Brains released the R.O.I.R. cassette. Band rehersals now began with a ritual errand through the wooded back streets of Topsfield Ma, followed by a detailed study of the Rastfarian's songcraft. They dreamed of their first real gig. They wrote their first original song, the long-forgotten "Phase out'.
Early December bought a phone call from Anthony from N.Y.C., manager of the Bad Brains, whom the lads had met a couple of weeks before at an all-ages show at the Living Room. They played for him over the phone, and got a gig with the Brains at C.B.G.B.s for that coming Christmas eve. The place was a real dump. full of weirdos, but they got a free case of beer and were treated well. They opened up for D.C. band Scream and the Bad brains.
1983 brought them their first Boston shows and friendships with bands like "Sorry", "Busted Statues", and "Dredd Foole and the din". Bands like "Christmas and "D.Y.S." remained distant. They also met Gerard Cosloy and Lou Giordano, Executive producer and producer of the "Bands that could be God" l.p. That summer the trio recorded 8 songs with Lou at the legendary Radio-Beat studio. That fall, the Dealer moved to Ohio, the Bad Brains switched to an all-reggae set, and the Target's dis-banded amid the noise and confusion.
The summer of 1984 saw the long-awaited release of Gerard's compilation, featuring 3 songs by the band. The group re-formed and started working on a new live show and dressing a bit differently. After a low-interest loan from their good friend/one-time manager Kim Brookes, they made plans to enter Whitedog studios with Lou once again at the helm. They layed down 15 tracks between December and January of 1986/87. The band once again broke up at it's completion.
August 1987 saw the bands first l.p. "Burning in water" released to near universal critical praise. Sensing a quick buck, Emily Kaplan (Salem 66) booked a tour post haste.
Taking to the road with new bass player Chuck "roast" Freeman (Smash Pattern) in early 1987, the Targets made it as far as New Jersey before the Transmission blew in Pat Brady's van. Live sound/producer/all around good guy Carl Plaster sprung for a rental on his mastercard, and the band made it to the next two gigs. After the van was repaired, the boys broke in the new transmission with a 1200 mile ride strait to Miami, where their name was up in lights. The tour ended quitely with a show in a North Carolina bicycle shop where the band was asked to play obscure country songs at half volume. Canceling the next show, they sped home with a re-newed vigor, only to break up the next day .
Kenny jumped ship to join 1 punk band Bullet LaVolta, who on their first European tour, was occasionally asked about "The Mooving Tahgets". Sensing a quick buck, TAANG! records threw the band some money to enter the studio once again with Lou Giordano to record all the left-overs. Pat Leonard was brought in to play bass on the songs Chuck deemed "not up to snuff" and they even played 2 gigs as a 4-piece with Roaster on guitar. Kenny continiued with LaVolta, Rocking throughout the land and opening for bands like the Butthole Surfers and Soundgarden. He bought a pair of black stretch jeans in Baltimore, but he still missed the Targets.
Late 1989 saw the release of their next record "Brave noise"on TAANG! records. A Targets tour was soon booked by the Paperclip agency in Holland and once again, Chuck was on bass. The tour was awesome, just great fun. Lots of free food and drink. People really came out and showed their love. They broke a lot of hearts in the process. Wolfy, Dino and Robert, you are not forgotten. German drum store guy, it was a gas. The reality of life in the states hit the band upon their return home. No more free food. After a final gig at Manray with Buffalo Tom and Jones very, the Targets took another break.
In 1991 "Fall" The last recordings featuring Pat Brady, were released. Kenny went to Berlin to record his first "solo" record. Upon it's release there was a European tour with Jeff Goddard on bass, Jamie Vanbremer on drums and Ben Segal on guitar. They called it "Kenny Chambers and the Moving Targets" and although they sounded great and played some memorable shows, it wasn't the real deal. There was a final Targets release "Take this ride" featuring original bass player Pat Leonard and J' Arcari on drums, but it wasn't the same. They toured Europe and the states to support the record, and called it quits soon after returning home.
That Fall, two things happened that would forever change the group. The dealer grew his first indoor batch of super-skunk hydro, and the Bad Brains released the R.O.I.R. cassette. Band rehersals now began with a ritual errand through the wooded back streets of Topsfield Ma, followed by a detailed study of the Rastfarian's songcraft. They dreamed of their first real gig. They wrote their first original song, the long-forgotten "Phase out'.
Early December bought a phone call from Anthony from N.Y.C., manager of the Bad Brains, whom the lads had met a couple of weeks before at an all-ages show at the Living Room. They played for him over the phone, and got a gig with the Brains at C.B.G.B.s for that coming Christmas eve. The place was a real dump. full of weirdos, but they got a free case of beer and were treated well. They opened up for D.C. band Scream and the Bad brains.
1983 brought them their first Boston shows and friendships with bands like "Sorry", "Busted Statues", and "Dredd Foole and the din". Bands like "Christmas and "D.Y.S." remained distant. They also met Gerard Cosloy and Lou Giordano, Executive producer and producer of the "Bands that could be God" l.p. That summer the trio recorded 8 songs with Lou at the legendary Radio-Beat studio. That fall, the Dealer moved to Ohio, the Bad Brains switched to an all-reggae set, and the Target's dis-banded amid the noise and confusion.
The summer of 1984 saw the long-awaited release of Gerard's compilation, featuring 3 songs by the band. The group re-formed and started working on a new live show and dressing a bit differently. After a low-interest loan from their good friend/one-time manager Kim Brookes, they made plans to enter Whitedog studios with Lou once again at the helm. They layed down 15 tracks between December and January of 1986/87. The band once again broke up at it's completion.
August 1987 saw the bands first l.p. "Burning in water" released to near universal critical praise. Sensing a quick buck, Emily Kaplan (Salem 66) booked a tour post haste.
Taking to the road with new bass player Chuck "roast" Freeman (Smash Pattern) in early 1987, the Targets made it as far as New Jersey before the Transmission blew in Pat Brady's van. Live sound/producer/all around good guy Carl Plaster sprung for a rental on his mastercard, and the band made it to the next two gigs. After the van was repaired, the boys broke in the new transmission with a 1200 mile ride strait to Miami, where their name was up in lights. The tour ended quitely with a show in a North Carolina bicycle shop where the band was asked to play obscure country songs at half volume. Canceling the next show, they sped home with a re-newed vigor, only to break up the next day .
Kenny jumped ship to join 1 punk band Bullet LaVolta, who on their first European tour, was occasionally asked about "The Mooving Tahgets". Sensing a quick buck, TAANG! records threw the band some money to enter the studio once again with Lou Giordano to record all the left-overs. Pat Leonard was brought in to play bass on the songs Chuck deemed "not up to snuff" and they even played 2 gigs as a 4-piece with Roaster on guitar. Kenny continiued with LaVolta, Rocking throughout the land and opening for bands like the Butthole Surfers and Soundgarden. He bought a pair of black stretch jeans in Baltimore, but he still missed the Targets.
Late 1989 saw the release of their next record "Brave noise"on TAANG! records. A Targets tour was soon booked by the Paperclip agency in Holland and once again, Chuck was on bass. The tour was awesome, just great fun. Lots of free food and drink. People really came out and showed their love. They broke a lot of hearts in the process. Wolfy, Dino and Robert, you are not forgotten. German drum store guy, it was a gas. The reality of life in the states hit the band upon their return home. No more free food. After a final gig at Manray with Buffalo Tom and Jones very, the Targets took another break.
In 1991 "Fall" The last recordings featuring Pat Brady, were released. Kenny went to Berlin to record his first "solo" record. Upon it's release there was a European tour with Jeff Goddard on bass, Jamie Vanbremer on drums and Ben Segal on guitar. They called it "Kenny Chambers and the Moving Targets" and although they sounded great and played some memorable shows, it wasn't the real deal. There was a final Targets release "Take this ride" featuring original bass player Pat Leonard and J' Arcari on drums, but it wasn't the same. They toured Europe and the states to support the record, and called it quits soon after returning home.
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