Similar to what you are listening to
Sorry, we couldn't find any episodes.
Please try again later...
Sign up or log in to MY NTS and get personalised recommendations
Support NTS for timestamps across live channels and the archive
The Velvet Illusions, the legendary seven-piece 60’s teenage rock band, was formed in Yakima, WA, circa 1965. We utilized Vox amplification and Vox and Mosrite guitars, including a Mosrite double-neck. We practiced seven-days-a-week in order to learn and perfect our versions of popular songs of the day. We also wrote and recorded originals; and we recorded two songs written by the great Jerry Merritt, a former member of Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps.
I was co-lead singer and guitarist in the Velvet Illusions. Steve Weed, our Vox Continental organ player, and I sang all the songs, and were joined by a bunch of talented musicians, including George Radford, Jr., who played three sizes of saxophones. The group was filled out by the following members: Dewayne Russell, lead double-neck guitar, Danny Wohl, rhythm guitar, Dale Larrison, bass, and Danny Wagner, drums. When some original members left, other boys took their place, including Jon Juette, drums, and Roland Bautisa, guitar. Roland went on to be a long-time member of Earth, Wind & Fire.
We performed throughout the Pacific Northwest, building a loyal fan base, and we released several 45-RPM records which we recorded in Seattle, WA. In early summer, 1967, we relocated to Hollywood, CA in an attempt to get in the game with the big kids. As well-scrubbed, innocent Yakima boys, we were fish out of water! We had no experience to speak of, with alcohol, let alone drugs. We had fun hanging out at “hippie” places, observing but not being a part of, that scene. We played a limited number of gigs, and suffered membership changes; but we also managed to record four additional songs, at the famed Sunset Sound studios. (I left the band before those last four tunes were put down on wax — but I think they're great songs!) We totally broke up in 1967 and returned to Yakima. Several of us who had remained friends, played one fantastic gig as the Peppermint Tea, playing to a large crowd during the halftime of a Harlem Clowns basketball game; but then we faded out.
Subsequently, people all over the planet began collecting Velvet Illusions 45’s. Various companies placed our songs on compilation CD’s. I was unaware of this phenomenon; and I finally learned about it in 1987. I began to work diligently to get our story told accurately, and to get our music officially released. It took years to do this. Eventually, several former band members and I were able to accomplish several great projects:
In 2009 we placed a song, “Acid Head”, on the Grammy-nominated 4-cd Rhino set, “Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965–1968”, which features rarities by the Byrds, Doors, Beach Boys and other great groups, along with lesser-known groups (BTW, the Grammy went to a Beatles re-release project.)
n 2011 we released our CD, The Velvet Illusions “Acid Head”, on Tune In Records. This project was spearheaded and accomplished by Londoner, Gray Newell. The CD received wonderful reviews, and it sells well on several websites.
In 2015, our retrospective, vinyl LP was released on a great collector's label; it's distributed exclusively on the North American continent by Light In The Attic Records. We've also been included in more and more compilation projects that have been released since then.
Many Velvet Illusions videos can be found on YouTube. Folks have incorporated various tracks from the CD, to combine them with photos/video/animation. I’ve seen skateboarding videos, a psychedelic videos and cartoons, as well as covers by various modern bands. Combined, the videos have had thousands and thousands of views. We're well-represented on internet radio; many stations, big and small, program our music. The above-mentioned Gray Newell also wrote a 6-page history of the Velvet Illusions which was published in the great collector ‘zine, “Ugly Things”, in 2012. And, we had a full-length interview published by another collector ‘zine, "It's Psychedelic Baby", which tells a great deal of our story. I published a WordPress blog story which I think is the ultimate guide to the band, entitled, "Inside The Velvet Illusions". I created and admin the Facebook page, "Velvet Illusions Fans". I invite everyone to visit our page, to learn more about us and our music, and to interact with us.
-- Randy "Jimmie James" Bowles, January, 2019.
The Velvet Illusions, the legendary seven-piece 60’s teenage rock band, was formed in Yakima, WA, circa 1965. We utilized Vox amplification and Vox and Mosrite guitars, including a Mosrite double-neck. We practiced seven-days-a-week in order to learn and perfect our versions of popular songs of the day. We also wrote and recorded originals; and we recorded two songs written by the great Jerry Merritt, a former member of Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps.
I was co-lead singer and guitarist in the Velvet Illusions. Steve Weed, our Vox Continental organ player, and I sang all the songs, and were joined by a bunch of talented musicians, including George Radford, Jr., who played three sizes of saxophones. The group was filled out by the following members: Dewayne Russell, lead double-neck guitar, Danny Wohl, rhythm guitar, Dale Larrison, bass, and Danny Wagner, drums. When some original members left, other boys took their place, including Jon Juette, drums, and Roland Bautisa, guitar. Roland went on to be a long-time member of Earth, Wind & Fire.
We performed throughout the Pacific Northwest, building a loyal fan base, and we released several 45-RPM records which we recorded in Seattle, WA. In early summer, 1967, we relocated to Hollywood, CA in an attempt to get in the game with the big kids. As well-scrubbed, innocent Yakima boys, we were fish out of water! We had no experience to speak of, with alcohol, let alone drugs. We had fun hanging out at “hippie” places, observing but not being a part of, that scene. We played a limited number of gigs, and suffered membership changes; but we also managed to record four additional songs, at the famed Sunset Sound studios. (I left the band before those last four tunes were put down on wax — but I think they're great songs!) We totally broke up in 1967 and returned to Yakima. Several of us who had remained friends, played one fantastic gig as the Peppermint Tea, playing to a large crowd during the halftime of a Harlem Clowns basketball game; but then we faded out.
Subsequently, people all over the planet began collecting Velvet Illusions 45’s. Various companies placed our songs on compilation CD’s. I was unaware of this phenomenon; and I finally learned about it in 1987. I began to work diligently to get our story told accurately, and to get our music officially released. It took years to do this. Eventually, several former band members and I were able to accomplish several great projects:
In 2009 we placed a song, “Acid Head”, on the Grammy-nominated 4-cd Rhino set, “Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965–1968”, which features rarities by the Byrds, Doors, Beach Boys and other great groups, along with lesser-known groups (BTW, the Grammy went to a Beatles re-release project.)
n 2011 we released our CD, The Velvet Illusions “Acid Head”, on Tune In Records. This project was spearheaded and accomplished by Londoner, Gray Newell. The CD received wonderful reviews, and it sells well on several websites.
In 2015, our retrospective, vinyl LP was released on a great collector's label; it's distributed exclusively on the North American continent by Light In The Attic Records. We've also been included in more and more compilation projects that have been released since then.
Many Velvet Illusions videos can be found on YouTube. Folks have incorporated various tracks from the CD, to combine them with photos/video/animation. I’ve seen skateboarding videos, a psychedelic videos and cartoons, as well as covers by various modern bands. Combined, the videos have had thousands and thousands of views. We're well-represented on internet radio; many stations, big and small, program our music. The above-mentioned Gray Newell also wrote a 6-page history of the Velvet Illusions which was published in the great collector ‘zine, “Ugly Things”, in 2012. And, we had a full-length interview published by another collector ‘zine, "It's Psychedelic Baby", which tells a great deal of our story. I published a WordPress blog story which I think is the ultimate guide to the band, entitled, "Inside The Velvet Illusions". I created and admin the Facebook page, "Velvet Illusions Fans". I invite everyone to visit our page, to learn more about us and our music, and to interact with us.
-- Randy "Jimmie James" Bowles, January, 2019.
Thanks!
Your suggestion has been successfully submitted.
Thanks!
Your suggestion has been successfully submitted.
