This is It: Rock 'n Roll Revelation/Revolution circa 1978

Everyone has the band that to them embodied rock 'n roll. The band that made you realize in a sweaty, drunken, exhausted, frenzied state that you would never be the same again after the experience.

Sure, I am a Beatles guy...a master of the obvious as well...and a former geeky suburban kid who listened to ELP, Yes, Styx, Zeppelin. Think of the guy in the movie Dazed and Confused who gets his ass kicked by the cool kids. I was that guy but I had the sense not to antagonize people. I made friends through my insatiable appetite for rock 'n roll. Ultimately, playing drums 6 hrs a day from 14 on substituted for teenage development for me.

My introduction to a high school social life came after my debut as a drummer at a school assembly after playing the drum solo to "Toad" off of the Wheels of Fire album. We ended our song with a drum solo because the band I was in was not tight enough to end the song "Godzilla". No one knew what the hell "Toad" was, but copping Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice and most power drummers for years paid off that day. I had found my niche. The cool kids then let me come to their parties as long as we played at them. But I still hadn't discovered rock 'n roll.

You've heard it before, and lived it, probably. Record hunting became a passion. I remember searching for Nazz albums and import obscure prog records and reading the classified in Trouser Press. I never found anything, except in those years I bought some of the greatest promo cut outs ever. There was a legendary store in downtown Buffalo called Play It Again Sam that sold used CDs, promos and other treasures. I once walked 10 miles there and 10 back to just browse the bins.

One day, my friends and I were drawn to a 45 single that was being put out by the store by a local band The Jumpers. It had a blue label, and had their logo on it. I bought it with no expectations. As the needle hit the platter, my expectations were low but I hoped for something real and bold and new. This was it. IT. Rock 'n roll. The big R 'n R.

Love has died, now I can go
I could try but now I know
you've grown cold, it's in your face
another man will take my place

You'll Know Better When I'm Gone! repeat

Live, they were a revelation. I won't kill you with hollow superlatives and ridiculous metaphors.

We snuck in to a club and the first thing we noticed were the girls. Lots of 'em. Not a Farrah 'do in sight. Crazy, freaky, Nico looking, leather jacket wearing, hollow eyed beauty everywhere. I was horrified and catatonic with excitement at the same time.

Their first set was like a bulldozer with melody. They didn't stop between songs. Everyone was sweaty. Guys cheered like it was the Super Bowl. Girls kind of lurked twirling their beer bottles with this kind of limp wristed, vacant, drooly look. This would be the night that little "her name here" went astray. It would be The Jumpers fault.

I met a nice girl who asked to leave with me. For $50.00. Wow...my first contact with a real, live prostitute! Oh...I didn't leave and I didn't pay. Maybe I paid, but I am sure I didn't leave. I know nothing happened!

My dweeby, middle class brain could not take the sensory overload. I got quite intoxicated, and went around the club collecting beer bottles. I proceeded to the side of the club and broke them against a brick wall just to release the energy I had after seeing them perform. As each bottle crashed exploded on the wall, I'd scream with my arms raised: "JUMPERS!". I was that idiot that you shake your head at, but it sure felt good. It felt exhilirating. It felt indescribable really.

When I got to my car, the car windows were smashed. The Jumpers inspired vandalism and disorder and I was not surprised. I remember driving home thinking my life would never be the same. It hasn't been.

The Jumpers were the greatest rock 'n roll band of all time to me. And believe it or not, they still are and will always be. I will one day do a proper piece on this band who, in all seriousness, were a magical, timeless tour de force of rock 'n roll. Without hyperbole, they should have been huge on a mainstream scale. They had great songs, great vocals, an amazing dual guitar attack, the attitude, the image and the ability to electrify a crowd and inspire riots.

To many, to this day, they were authentic stars who truly deserved the title of rock 'n roll heroes.

This memory was unearthed by the recent release of a CD entitled: Various Artists: This Is It: Buffalo's Greatest 1977-1984 which has, among its tracks, some great Jumpers recordings ("You'll Know Better", "This Is It", "South of the City"), two classics ("Walk Around the World", "Judy") by The Good comprised of Bernie Kugel (Mystic Eyes) and Bob Kozak (Jumpers), Bob Kozak solo ("What Do I Do"), numerous Bob Kozak covers by other bands ("Model"), the Twilleyesque "Lorraine" by The Third Floor Strangers, "I Can Walk Away" by Pauline & the Perils, "Sweet Youth" by The Riddlers, a track by The Cobras, some tracks by The Enemies (later covered by the Goo Goo Dolls) and a few other gems from bands hailing from the greater Buffalo area.

There was a wealth of talent from that area in that time. I am lucky to know some of the people associated with this recording, each of them quality people and very, very talented musicians who influenced my life in many unique and positive ways.

The proceeds of the recording benefit charity and I strongly encourage you to purchase this double CD for this reason alone. You'll find a few nuggets among these tracks that will make the purchase worthwhile. The CD is available at cdbaby.com.

Click for more information or to purchase the CD.

Have a good month.

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