Detroit bands from the late 60's and early 70's

[jerrytimes]

So I've been on the hunt for the past year or so for local Detroit bands from the late 60's and early 70's. I don't mean popular bands that came from the city, but more of the underground ones, or ones that maybe signed a major deal but never really took off. I figured I'd ask here since there seems to me a lot of people around of differing age groups. I'm 36, and think today's music is relatively lame....I've probably felt this way for a good 10 years.

[dguy4evr]

Here's a link to a group that we went to see at various venues, [[The Hideout being one of them) Their manager was and still is the manager of Bob Seger who finally did hit the big time after many years of hard work. Yeah Rockin Robert! http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-u...s-mn0000919711 Always wondered what happened to these guys. Also, if anyone knows whatever happened to a group called the "Henchmen" can you let me know. One of their songs is on the Hideout CD. You might want to get a copy of the Hideout CD it is a classic example of the various groups that were around Detroit in the 60's.

And yes, the 60's were a great decade for local groups and very affordable concerts where you didn't have to sell your soul to get good seats. Best concert ever was The Doors at Ford Auditorium.

[jerrytimes]

I've been wondering the same about the Henchmen. On their Facebook page in does appear that they played a show in November in Ferndale.

[detroittrader]

I've been wondering the same about the Henchmen. On their Facebook page in does appear that they played a show in November in Ferndale.

The Henchman from the 60's and The Hentchman from the 90"s thru current are totally different. The Hentchman currently playing are most noted for having Jack White in the band for a short time.

Regarding the 60's Henchman, I know nothing about them, however they may be mentioned in a 2005 book by David A. Carson: Grit, Noise and Revolution. I will check the index later today and see if they are listed. I would highly recommend this book to you!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...and_Revolution

[Lowell]

In the pre-hipster and pre-gentrification days when the Cass Corridor was Detroit's arts bohemia, Shadowfax was the 'house' band. I first heard them at Mad Anthony's [which became Union Street later] but most often at Alvin's [now Tony V's]. They had great lead guitarist, the 6'8" blond gentle giant Bill Hodgson who could play electric guitar like Jimi. He could also switch gears and play haunting solo acoustic guitar singing with his unforgettable mellow voice. He was also an outstanding realist painter. Sadly this great talent took his life in NYC in 1984.





Shadowfax broke up in the early eighties and another band, also a mix of visual artists/musicians, the Layabouts, became the successor arts bohemia house band. They broke up and scattered in the 2000's but have come back together for reunions, most recently last fall at Hopcat for the Detroit anarchist paper The 5th Estate's 50th anniversary. They also played Alvin's, the Dally in the Alley many times, Concert of Colors and other Corridor venues.

Here's a taste along with a bit of background from Estaban of this forum, a renowned Cass Corridor/Detroit painter who was their energetic vocalist.


And one with clearer audio from a Concert of Colors performance.

[garyalex]

Here's a couple I heard:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRC_[[band)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frost

[dguy4evr]

The Henchman from the 60's and The Hentchman from the 90"s thru current are totally different. The Hentchman currently playing are most noted for having Jack White in the band for a short time.

Regarding the 60's Henchman, I know nothing about them, however they may be mentioned in a 2005 book by David A. Carson: Grit, Noise and Revolution. I will check the index later today and see if they are listed. I would highly recommend this book to you!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...and_Revolution

I will check out this book, thanks! Also, here are some links to the Detroit Garage Band era. There were a lot of venues out there. There was one in particular that is seldom mentioned. During the summer months they opened the "Silver Bell Hideout" it was the Silver Bell ski lodge that was used in the summer to host some great bands. Saw the Amboy Dukes there.
http://www.allmusic.com/album/friday-at-the-hideout-boss-detroit-garage-mw0000014517

http://www.motorcitymusicarchives.com/lostvenues.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pleasure_Seekers_[[band)

[Baselinepunk]

The Layabouts -- easily in my list of top five greatest bands of all time.

[Smirnoff]

Four Sharps, Jamie Coe & the Gigolo's, Free, Stix & Stoned.....