1979-Kalamazoo: I hear the Ramones and think they sound like the group I played in high school.I think I could be as bad/good.
I get a guitar from Pennys (The Global "le Ted") and learn three chords and write my first song"The World is Burning".I get the first Clash album and write some more songs.See a bad Joan Collins movie where she talks about lovely little trouser snakes. I have my group name...The T-Snakes!
I work in a book store so to pass the time I make up a band "theT-Snakes" ,print up USA tour shirts and buttons and wear them to clubs in Detroit and New York.
Cool dudes and dudettes come up to me ask about the T-Snakes and say"..oh yeah I've heard of them..." yeah right.There's nothing yet to hear...yet.
1980-Working in the bookstore with me is a friend named Sue.Her new boyfriend(Tyrone) plays folk guitar. I ask him if he'd like to start a group he does and suggests his best friend as bass player(Tiny). He doesn't play bass but can borrow one.One my crew from high school transfers to WMU he playes the drums(Thunder). All we need is a singer.
One day Sue brings in her friend Cherie(Tina) from NYC to the bookstore.She has a really really cool haircut. I ask her if she can sing? She says yes I ask her to join the band and the reat is history.
I rent a space on the top floor of the Saniwax building(now the Park Trade Center).
We get a case of Goebles beer and learn twenty original songs:
Armaggedon Rock,Italian Love,The World is Burning,Hotel Mongaloid,Thorozine shuffle.
We are really awful. We go to the Coffee Cup after each practice to talk over the group.
I write some more songs: Plug in My Brain,Let's get Laid,Too Stupid for Words,It's Getting Harder,...get more golden Goebles and we get good enough to play out.
Our first gig is in Lansing at Club Doobie.We are a success.Afterwards at a local restaurant we have fans waiting for us!
This is what it's all about adulation fun rocknroll and greasy spoons.
Tiny decides to leave the group. I recruit Charlie another friend from highschool to play bass.(Tonic Snakes)
More gigs and new songs.We add two non originals.Proud Mary and Knock three times. Very Wacky.
Play the Whistlestop and see future Kzoo punkers Dick and Kenny in the audience.They are so clean.
Record and release our four song EP. Thunder leaves the group for a real job.It's the last time we'll play with him.
Earl joins the band(Tremor) a chick magnet he attracts a whole new crowd.
More gigs we start getting good.Tyrone decides to move to Oregon.
The EP is gaining some exposure and Tonic gets married to a girl from the Netherlands.She plays the violin and keyboards.She joins the band(Tonia). This is our lineup till the band folds.
We gig ,get a backer and record some songs for Columbia Records.
We bicker,fight and get released by Columbia. Tremor quits.
We try adding Todd Snakes on drum machine .Tonic and Tonia quit.
1984-I disband the group
2005-Jeff Clark aka.Thunder Snakes passes. I almost do.
2006-reunion gig to remember Jeff Clark/Thunder Snakes and to expose fans old and new one more time to T-Snake rock.
WIDR wants to remind you that:
The Donkey Show opens tonight in the York Arena Theatre!!
It is a modern retelling of Shakepeare’s classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a huge dose of disco!
March 19-21 and 26th- 29th in the York Arena Theatre.
Tickets are only $5 for students! (reg. 20 dollars)
Cash Bar
For tickets and show information, call the University Box Office at 269.387. 6222!
Thanks for coming on the Nonchalant Cafe. If T-Snakes fans are interested, I have posted a portion of the interview on the Nonchalant profile. CLICK HERE
