Beginning in New York as a drummer in the late 60's,
Tim McGovern hooked up with the
Velvert Turner Group (a Hendrix protégé) and moved to LA to record an album in 1970. He decided to stay in LA and teamed up with Randy California from Spirit to record the cult classic
"Kaptain Kopter and the Twirlybirds".
After a pawn shop purchase of a Fender Mustang, the instrument change was complete. Guitar it would be. He formed Straightjacket with Reggie Isadore (a former drummer of Robin Trower's group). Met up and gigged with Chaka Khan. She gave him her guitar because she thought he needed a better axe. Gigged with a young, unsigned Van Halen at the Starwood while traversing the LA music scene. Joined POP in 1978 and recorded two albums with them.
In 1980, Tim joined the Motels. He helped jumpstart them to become one of the most popular bands of the 80's. After the Motels, he founded one of the first "world beat bands" called Burning Sensations and recorded the classic hit "Belly of the Whale", which ended up as a Top Ten video on the "fledgling" MTV Network in 1983. In 84' he recorded "The Ballad of Pablo Picasso for the motion picture soundtrack
"Repo Man".
Then it was time for a break. Had a son, left LA...Left the music scene for 18 years. He moved to the Seattle area. Lived on a boat. Did various jobs ranging from taxi driver to carpenter. But as they say, "you can take the musician out of music.... but you can't take the music out of the musician". The spell overtook his being and has forced him out of his self-imposed exile.
Back into the local circuit with a vengeance, he has picked up right where he left off —— mesmerizing audiences throughout Puget Sound with his energy and precision. With his creative, demanding, intuitive style he has forged what he feels is his best, most versatile band he's ever worked with. He is driven again to play, create and record. The Odyssey continues!
ORANGE BARRELL DARRELL
The name was a by-product of being an airborne
Traffic Reporter.
As radio stations try to jockey their position in the ratings game,
They often turn to gimmicks and characters. This turned out to be one
of the worst character assassinations in history!
"There's nothing like the first buzz off a can
of
Budweiser at 4:30 in the morning!"
These kinds of statements were becoming trademark
in the repertoire of "O.B.D." That and, "Is this a
smoking flight?
Double Jack PLEASE!"
The stations were loving it. It generated a sick following.
In fact after getting "blasted" in the parking lot one
morning a not so famous radio dialogue did occur.
Disc Jockey Dan Dan the Country man:
"Let's go to our eye in the sky Orange Barrell Darrell...
"Hey O.B.D. any traffic out there?"
O.B.D.: "Uhhh??? Whaaat?? Huuuhhh?
Disc Jockey Dan Dan the Country man: "O.B.D.?
You there?"
O.B.D.: "Uhhh Yeah....Whaaa?"
Disc Jockey Dan Dan the Country man: "O.B.D.?
Anything to report?"
O.B.D.: "I LOVE MY JOB"
This was the beginning of the end of a career in traffic reporting. It
only got worse! Many mornings were found in the Satellite cafe doing
"on air" traffic reports while ordering eggs and drinking
Mimosa's. Then out to the van for a few blasts and the trip to the
office to lie...err fill out paperwork!
Seriously Though
Jeff Omerons musical career spans more than two decades. He is a drummer an engineer and an excellent vocalist. He studied classical percussion at the Zyskowski School of Percussion in Eastern Washington in the early 70's to 80's. He competed at State solo and ensemble competitions and always scored excellent marks. He placed 2nd in the Bellson vs. Rich open drum set competition in 1978 performing an open drum solo adjudicated by Louis Bellson and Buddy Rich. He attended the Ali-Akbar Khan School of Eastern Percussion in San Rafael, California in 1981. He was exposed to rudimental "corps style" drumming in high school, and finished his marching career in the World Champion Blue Devils from Concord, California. He placed 4th in the world on multiple tenor drums at the finals in Montreal, Quebec 1981. After college, he honed his chops in various rock and punk bands touring relentlessly. Not making "IT" or making a lot of money, he settled down depressed and artistically challenged in Spokane, Washington...Perfect!
Got
married. Drove a Semi-Truck...
Wrecked the marriage, Wrecked the truck...
Proceeded to wreck himself.
Convinced that it was not his fault, he just ran out of money, he
finally wore out his 20 plus year welcome. He found himself dead
center in a drug and alcohol rehab. While living in a halfway house on
Bainbridge Island, WA. he was introduced to Tim McGovern. Jeff started
playing gigs again in a "safe" band to get his "sea
legs" back. Not wanting to suck anymore Jeff jumped at the
opportunity to play with Tim McGovern in Knucklehead....
The rest is history.
One time at a Buddy Rich concert, Jeff was backstage
partying with some buddies (no pun intended). Jeff got up the courage
to ask Buddy "THE MAN" Rich for an autograph. Could not find
anything except a cigarette...
As he was going to ask him to sign his cigarette, Jeff's friend Joe
Drake busted in drunk off his ass and said, "Jeezus, you guys
sound about as good as my High School Marching Band!"
Just like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddy Shack!
At this point Buddy got up from his cup of coffee and he was pretty
quick for being an old man and stated, "You better get the FUCK
outta here before I kick all your asses." So we ran out. It was
common knowledge that Buddy rich was a black belt in Karate. We
continued to be drunken asshole teenagers in the halls of the Spokane
Coliseum. We acted like we were Bruce Lee verses Buddy Rich doing
"spin kick paradiddles" and drum solo Kung Fu moves complete
with sound effects from the steps and water fountains!
"Ziggaduh Booosh"....Hiiii Yeeeah!
Tim McGovern
Jeff Omeron
