The Chesterfield Kings

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The Chesterfield Kings
Background information
OriginRochester, New York, United States
GenresGarage rock, psychedelic rock
Years active1979–present
LabelsSundazed, Mirror, Wicked Cool
MembersAndy Babiuk
Mike Boise
Jeff Okolowicz
Ted Okolowicz
John Cammarosano
Past membersGreg Prevost
Paul Morabito
Orest Guran
Richard Cona
Doug Meech
Mike Pappert
Walt O'Brien
Paul Rocco
Brett Reynolds
Kris Hadlock
Websitehttps://www.thechesterfieldkings.com/
The cover artwork of The Chesterfield Kings' Let's Go Get Stoned (1994) references the American version of the Rolling Stones' Aftermath (1966); the Mirror Records logo references the London Records logo.[1]

The Chesterfield Kings are a rock band from Rochester, New York, who began as a retro 60's inspired garage band, and evoking the sounds and styles of 1960s psychedelic rock music. The current lineup features longtime members: Andy Babiuk, Mike Boise Jeff Okolowicz, Ted Okolowicz, and newcomer John Cammarosano. Former singer Greg Prevost left the band in 2009 to pursue a solo career. The band, named after a brand of unfiltered cigarette, was instrumental in sparking the 1980s garage band revival that launched such groups as the Unclaimed, Marshmallow Overcoat, The Fuzztones, The Pandoras, Mystic Eyes, The Cynics, the Secret Service, and the Stomachmouths.

History[edit]

The early Kings were a late-1970s recreation of a mid-1960s garage band sound. Their self-released first single was a cover of The Brogues' 1965 "I Ain't No Miracle Worker" b/w The Heard's 1967 "Exit 9".[2] In a deliberate effort to create their own rare garage-band collectible singles, only 100 copies were pressed.

Their first broader public exposure came when a track on Greg Shaw's 1981 Bomp! Records compilation Battle of the Garage netted them a series of dates at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City. They continued with this 1960s garage sound through the mid-1980s, releasing two albums—Here are the Chesterfield Kings (1982) which contained entirely cover songs, and Stop! (1985) which introduced their first originals. They then turned to a harder-edged rock sound for Don't Open Till Doomsday (1987) and Berlin Wall of Sound (1989) featuring the blues guitar work of new band member Paul Rocco. The group's next album was an acoustic blues record Drunk On Muddy Water (1990).

Their Let's Go Get Stoned (1994) was a mix of slightly post-Aftermath Stones covers and originals in the Stones' style. Surfin' Rampage (1997) featured pop harmonies; Where the Action Is (1999) was a return to garage band roots, a mix of covers and 1960s-styled originals.

The Mindbending Sounds of the Chesterfield Kings (2003) pays tribute to the more baroque side of the 1960s underground, evoking at times the sound of the Electric Prunes ("Transparent Life", "Disconnection"), and featuring appearances by Jorma Kaukonen on two tracks. In 2004 the band briefly appeared performing two songs from the album, "I Don't Understand" and "Mystery Trip", on stage in a rock club scene in the fifth season episode of HBO's The Sopranos, "Irregular Around the Margins".[3]

Their Psychedelic Sunrise (2008) was an extension of sorts of the group's previous album. Got Live…If You Want It (2009) was a dual live recording and DVD set, as well as the group's final release.

The Kings' full-length feature film Where is the Chesterfield King? (2000) is described on their web site as "A comedy/drama in the vein of The Bowery Boys, Batman, The Monkees Show, A Hard Day's Night, Hawaiian Eye, and The Munsters, with a little Three Stooges slapstick to boot…"

In 2009, Prevost left the band and took the solo route releasing a 45 "Mr. Charlie" b/w "Rolling Stone Blues" in 2012, and in 2013 releasing the blues-rock album "Mississippi Murderer".

In 2013 Andy Babiuk formed The Empty Hearts featuring a roster of founding members including Blondie drummer Clem Burke, The Cars guitarist Elliot Easton, and The Romantics guitarist and vocalist Wally Palmar. They released two albums, their self titled debut album The Empty Hearts[4] and it's followup The Second Album[5]

In 2024, the Chesterfield Kings returned after a 15 year hiatus, starting off their return with a west coast tour.[6] Four longtime members of the band are carrying its music forward, namely, Andy Babiuk, Mike Boise, Jeff Okolowicz, Ted Okolowicz and newcomer John Cammarosano.[7] They released a brand new single on Wicked Cool Records "Meet You After Midnight".[8]

Line up[edit]

Current Members

  • Andy Babiuk (lead vocals, guitar, multi-instrumentalist 1979–Present)[9]
  • Jeff Okolowicz (bass 1995-1999 2009-2024-Present)[10]
  • Ted Okolowicz (guitar 1995-1999 - 2024-Present)[11]
  • Mike Boise (drums, percussion 1996-Present)[12]
  • John Cammarosano (guitar, keys 2024-Present)[13]

Past Members

  • Greg Prevost (lead vocals, multi-instrumentalist 1976-2009)
  • Richard Cona (lead guitar 1976–c.1987)[14]
  • Bob Ames (guitar 1977)
  • Steve Larreau (guitar 1977-1978)
  • Frank Moll (guitar 1978)
  • Orest Guran (organ, guitar, 1979–1986)[14]
  • Doug Meech (drummer 1979–c.1988) (Deceased)[14]
  • Walt O'Brien (guitar, organ, 1986–1987)
  • Brett Reynolds (drums 1989-1994)
  • Paul Rocco (guitar 1990-1995) (Deceased)[15]
  • Kris Hadlock (drums 1994-1996)
  • Paul Morabito (guitar 1999-2009)
  • Zachary Koch (rhythm guitar 2007-2009)


Collaborators

Partial discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • (1982) Here are the Chesterfield Kings (Mirror Records)
  • (1985) Stop! (Mirror Records)
  • (1987) Don't Open Till Doomsday (Mirror Records)
  • (1989) Berlin Wall of Sound (Mirror Records)
  • (1990) Drunk On Muddy Water (Mirror Records)
  • (1994) Let's Go Get Stoned (Mirror Records)
  • (1997) Surfin' Rampage (Mirror Records)
  • (1999) Where the Action Is (Sundazed)
  • (2003) The Mindbending Sounds of… (Living Eye / Sundazed, 2003 Release, Wicked Cool Records 2006 Re-Release)
  • (2008) Psychedelic Sunrise (Wicked Cool Records)
  • (2009) Live Onstage...If You Want It (Wicked Cool Records)

Singles[edit]

  • (1979) "I Ain't No Miracle Worker" b/w "Exit 9" (Living Eye Records)
  • (1981) "You Can't Catch Me" b/w "I Won't Be There" (Living Eye Records)
  • (1982) "Hey Little Bird" b/w "I Can Only Give You Everything" (Living Eye Records)
  • (1982) "I'm Going Home" b/w "A Dark Corner" (Mirror Records)
  • (1984) "She Told Me Lies" b/w "I've Got a Way With Girls" (Mirror Records)
  • (1987) "Baby Doll" b/w "I Cannot Find Her (acoustic version)" (Mirror Records)
  • (1991) "Next One In Line" b/w "Talk Talk" and "You Drive Me Nervous" (Mirror Records)
  • (1994) "Hey Joe" b/w "Roadrunner" (as "The Paisley Zipper Band" Get Hip Recordings)
  • (1997) "Misty Lane" b/w "Little Girl" (Misty Lane records, Italian fanzine release)
  • (1998) "Wrong From Right" b/w "So What" (Living Eye Records)
  • (1998) "Run Rudolph Run" (Living Eye Records fan club Christmas single)
  • (1999) "Where Do We Go From Here" b/w "Louie Go Home" (Living Eye/Sundazed Records vocals by Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders)
  • (1999) "Help You Ann" b/w Lyres "She Told Me Lies" (Living Eye Records)
  • (2000) "She Pays The Rent" b/w Lyres "She Told Me Lies" Feathered Apple Records)
  • (2001) "Yes I Understand" b/w "Sometime At Night" (2001, Sundazed Records vocals by Sal Valentino of The Beau Brummels)
  • (2024) "Meet You After Midnight" (Wicked Cool Records)[16]


Bootlegs[edit]

  • Johnny Thunders and the Chesterfield Kings
  • Fossils
  • Kingsize Rock 'n' Roll
  • Long Ago, Far Away (Paisley Zipper Band)
  • I Think I'm Down b/w I Can Only Give You Everything (2018, Mean Disposition Records recorded in 1978-79)

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Chris Morris, "Bayside's Exec Shift; Kings Get Stoned", Billboard, April 23, 1994, p. 73.
  2. ^ The Brogues original "I Ain't No Miracle Worker" can be found on Nuggets; some information about The Heard can be found at The Heard Story Archived September 10, 2005, at the Wayback Machine, accessed 14 January 2006
  3. ^ "The Chesterfield Kings - IMDb". IMDb.
  4. ^ "The Empty Hearts". Discogs. Discogs.
  5. ^ "The Empty Hearts". Discogs. Discogs.
  6. ^ Van Zandt, Steven. "The Wicked Cool Records Revue!". Underground Garage. Wicked Cool Records. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  7. ^ "The Chesterfield Kings Official site". thechesterfieldkings.com. The Chesterfield Kings.
  8. ^ Van Zandt, Steven. "Meet You After Midnight". orcd.co. Wicked Cool Records.
  9. ^ "The Chesterfield Kings Official site". The Chesterfield Kings.
  10. ^ "The Chesterfield Kings Official site". thechesterfieldkings.com. The Chesterfield Kings.
  11. ^ "The Chesterfield Kings Official site". thechesterfieldkings.com.
  12. ^ "The Chesterfield Kings Official site". thechesterfieldkings.com.
  13. ^ "The Chesterfield Kings Official site". thechesterfieldkings.com. The Chesterfield Kings.
  14. ^ a b c Blair Buscareno, The Chesterfield Kings, Teen Scene #59, 1999.
  15. ^ De Blase, Frank (2009-03-24). "OBIT: Paulie Rocco". Rochester City Newspaper. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  16. ^ "Meet You After Midnight". orcd.co. Wicked Cool Records.

External links[edit]

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