Platinum Load

3/4 of The New Chains. 3/4 of Super Karaoke Fun Time Band. 1/3 of Swingin' Neckbreakers. Not only do I endorse this band, but I am their videographer. Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ March 3, 2012. FIRST SHOW, PEOPLE!


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Based On A True Story

Ladies & gentlemen, I am proud to present the world premiere of Burn Down The Barn. Recorded and filmed in 2007 for a vanity project. And it served its purpose. No point going into the details now. It will all be in the book. Metaphor heavy, to be sure. Those in the know will know.

Recorded under the Otis Ball & The New Chains banner, which was Super Karaoke Fun Time Band backing me on my own songs. The other OB&NC song/video was Fire Needs Oxygen, which can easily be found on the magical internet.

The recording features Keith Hartel on lead guitar, Dan Hyland on bass and Kevin Hyland on drums. Cinematographer was Stronger Than Dirt Pete Moss, the finest fake manager in the world.

Apologies for the awkward YouTube framing, but it is an apparent product of the ancient camcorder used to shoot it.

Mr. Rock & Roll

In honor of ... something. The first song I ever wrote. Inspired by Bob Greene's book. Billion Dollar Baby.

mp3 download hyah

FRAT PARTY! With SPECIAL GUEST!!!

LYTID was released in early January of 1990 and I spent the next few months promoting the album with live shows, radio appearances and print interviews, all the while booking a mid west tour for March. The band was in heavy rehearsal mode. Our repertoire was large. Sometime in February I was approached about a fraternity party at Steven's Technical Institute in Hobroken. The timing worked out, in that it would give us a low key warm up show about a week before we left on tour. Also too, I had always wanted to play a frat party. Seemed like the perfect gig for the show I was doing. I was correct.

Butler, Grula and I arrived at the frat house a few hours before show time and discovered the "PA" was a mishmosh of bits and parts. I think a boombox was powering the set up. Luckily Rich lived in town and was able to get a ride back to his pad to grab what we needed to turn it into something resembling functioning.

Powered by pitchers of red liquid and cigars, we plowed through almost every song we knew. And then some. And we were very happy when the SPECIAL GUEST I invited actually turned up and played a number of songs with us in the first and second set. After the show he told me that this was the first time he had ever had fun playing a live show. In addition, we had The Maries and Nancy along for moral support. It wasn't our tightest show, it wasn't our best show, but it remains my favorite OB&C show of all time. All our stage tricks, the request bucket and the longest Charles Manson's Birthday ever.

And though I didn't know it at the time, it would be seen by more people than any other OB&C show ever. Someone asked us before the show if they could videotape it. I never had a problem with bootlegs. All I ever asked for was a copy. Well, I got that and more because a few weeks after the show, Stevens Tech started broadcasting the entire show on their low powered campus TV station.On an endless loop. For about 3 weeks.

And so it is my pleasure to bring you Otis Ball & The Chains' FRAT PARTY! With SPECIAL GUEST! The set lists are posted in the comments for those that prefer no spoilers.

FIRST SET

SECOND SET

THIRD SET

Live...Suburbia!

Just got my copy of the new book, Live...Suburbia! There on page 32 is a picture I am so very happy has survived and remained in the archives for almost 35 years. October 28, 1978. The world premiere of KISS Meets The Phantom on NBC. I was (and remain) a KISS fan. But, unfortunately, I was expected in West Dundee for my BBYO Induction Ceremony. I am sworn to secrecy, but I think I can now safely say that blood, sweat and tears were involved. And visibly, fire. I had to wait a year or more to finally see the movie. Happily, by the time it reran, my Pops had purchased a VCR. And now I am the proud owner of a DVD. Bad movie? Too be sure. Do I still love pulling it out every decade or so? Sure do.

Fun book. Anyone still checking this site regularly will love and appreciate it. Hit the link. Reasonably priced.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Juicy John Pinks, DeKalb, IL

Alright, all you knucklehead Google searchers. Now there's a FaceBook page.

Juicy John Pinks