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It should’ve happened… multiple hits, a massive career, world recognition and all the rest.

 

The Del-Vettes

It should’ve happened… multiple hits, a massive

career, world recognition and all the rest.

All was over in a dash of flash. It was 1966 and The

Del-Vettes initiated one of the coolest, edgiest,

fuzziest, garage rock records yet created. “Last Time

Around”…even charting big in the Midwest. Give a

listen. They were on Dunwich Records and for a moment there was something that might be called a

“Chicago [Rock] Sound.” Dunwich had gathered the Shadows of Knight, Saturday’s Children, the

Knaves…

The initial lineup from the Chicago suburban Beatle-charged punks included Jim Lauer, Bob Good,

Lester Goldboss, and Paul Wade. Their initial single on Seeburg––the jukebox company––was a noteable

not. Lester and Paul left; and enter Jack Burchall and Roger Deatherage. Now, this move made a

difference.

Their initial Dunwich disk, “Last Time Around,” would be the end.

An inconceivable number of ways of going wrong always hover. Decisions are a constant and it only takes

three, two or one to bring it all down. Their follow-up 45 “I Call My Baby STP” (complete with a motor oil

decal) was out of step and antiquated before it’s creation. What were they thinking? The “successful”

Dunwich label was financially floundering. The groups picture appeared on the cover of Look magazine

for an article on Mod attire (though names weren’t mentioned). There was talk of the group starring in a

movie to be called Somebody Help Me. New management appeared. There was talk of cleaning the act

up; of a more Pop-like presentation. They agreed to some of this, apparently, and their name changed to

The Pride And Joy.

The movie never happened; cleaned up Pride And Joy recordings failed to chart… and that cool, energy

and fuzzed out riffing was never to reappear. Bouchard left first, with the group splitting in 1968. There

was never an album; not enough songs had been recorded. Bouchard in 1983–– the only musically active

member––appeared in the Top 40 with “The Curly Shuffle,” as a member of the Jumped in the Saddle

Band.

Buchard died in 1999. Per reports, Lauer has been held in either a mental health facility, or imprisonment

for committing murder.

A confirmation of the latter is being sought.

The above Del-Vettes is no relations to the like-named female group on End Records.