Hello, Welcome to the Spring/Summer 2001 CRYAN' SHAMES Online Newsletter
Editor Gloria Knuth.

Cryan'Shames.com! The Homepage has now acquired the new Domain
www.cryanshames.com


"On The Cover Of The Rolling Stone....."
Well Our Guys, The Shames made it - Not the Cover but The Web Site of Rolling Stone Magazine. With Trivia Quizs, Registered Fans, Biography and much much more. "Proof positive that the music of the Cryan’ Shames is timeless, is their recent mention in ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE as “Top Albums of the Last Twenty Years.” Check it Out.
Click Here

New release of The Cryan' Shames Albums: Sugar And Spice, A Scratch In The Sky, and Synthesis on CD by Sundazed.
Click Here

WTTW - Channel 11 T.V.

We just heard this great news from Marlene O'Malley, our Chicago area reporter.
Hi all you Shameless people out there! The information I have is that the Channel 11 special on the 60's Chicago music scene is tentatively scheduled to air Nov. 19. It's part of a WTTW Chicago Stories with Bob Sirott, and includes The Cryan' Shames, the Ides of March, Buckinghams, New Colony Six, Shadows of Knight, and more. If we hear any more, we'll make sure it's posted on the web page. And it WAS a great show last night (Sept.2, 2001), wasn't it?

We are sad to announce that Dave Purple (Grape) The Cryan' Shames bassist from 1966, and one of their founding members, has passed away.
Memorial Page Click Here

More News from Clark Besch...
A NEW BOOK OF ALL 60'S WLS CHART HITS IS COMING OUT. HERE IS THE SITE. TELL EM, CLARK SENTCHA! Chicago Top 40 Charts 1960-1969 by Ron Smith

Dennis Conroy Update
Denny had heart surgery on October 10, 2001 at the Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan and as of this writing he is recovering at home and in good spirits. Denny said to thank everyone for their phone calls and get well cards, and that he really appreciates the concern. James Fairs and Tom Doody surprised Denny with a call at the hospital while he was recovering, and was joined by Jimmy Pilster who also kept watch over him . We had a Tom Doody sighting recently on "The Left Coast" and he was reported to be alive and well. His fans were starting to wonder "Where on Earth is Tom Doody?".

The Cryan' Shames to be featured on the morning show KZRO-100.1FM/Z100FM Radio Station in Mt.Shasta, CA. for the next few weeks featuring Shames music.., you can check it out weekday mornings at 7am West coast time...they are streaming the station in HQ Windows Media stereo via wireless off the studio roof where you can hear the feed as if you were there.

Listen to Z100fm Live Click Here

WTTW CHANNEL 11 TV

The April 13, 2001 Network Chicago City Talk featured an article on the following Chicago 1960's bands: The Cryan' Shames, The New Colony Six, The Shadows of Knight, and The Buckinghams. It was written by Jim Mueller who did a Chicago Tribune article on The Cryan' Shames in the early 1980's.

April concert update info from Jimmy P., The Shames have two great shows scheduled for April:
  • Saturday, April 21,2001- Chicago City Limits, 1712 W. Wise Rd., Schaumburg, IL.(847)524-9910. $10 in advance, $12 @ the door. We start at 10:00 and do two shows (10:00-12:30).This is an intimate (small) nice club w/ a small stage, and it would be nice to fill it w/ party people, so bring some friends ! ! !
  • Sunday, April 22, 2001 Benefit performance for the Center for Independence through Conductive Education. The Arabian Knights Barn, 6526 S. Clarendon Hills Rd., Willowbrook, IL (630)-327-7399 (just south of 63rd Street, west of Rt. 83 one mile). This is a good cause for a great school for kids w/ physical disabilities.
    We will be doing one show @ 2:00 in the afternoon (2:00-3:30 probably). $10 for Kids and $25 adults. Beer and food and a great auction w/ a bunch of wonderful stuff to be had.

    2001 - 4th of July Festival at Bensenville, Il. with The Cryan' Shames

    The Cryan' Shames will be performing with The New Colony Six, The Ides' of March, and Paul Revere and the Raiders at the Redmond Park Band Shell in Bensenville, Il. The Shames will perform from 1:30-3:00P.M. Other special events include a parade, food venders, boat rentals, and volley and bocce ball rentals. Click here for details
    Jimmy P., The one and only J.C. Hooke, recently injured his ankle so he has been getting around with an assist from crutches. Jimmy said this may add a new twist to his cymbal kicking.
    Rainbow Summer Show July 27, 2001 with The Cryan' Shames
    Covered by Marlene O'Malley,and G.L.O.R.I.A.

    Gloria and I went to Milwaukee last night for the 7:30 Rainbow Summer show with the Shames....what a great show! The guys sounded so good....they just get better as the summer goes on. Unfortunately we couldn't catch the early show, but we understand it was just as exciting. Between the shows the Shames were able to get out and enjoy the many attributes Milwaukee in the summer has to offer. Larry and his family went to the zoo, Rocky got out his roller blades and checked out the city, Jimmy and Mike Ayres spent the afternoon with family members who live in the area. Tim wasn't able to make the afternoon show, but he said his brother Jeff filled in for him and did a great job.

    What a beautiful venue for a concert - the Peck Pavilion at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is a covered pavilion with permanent seating, and every seat was filled. It's right on the river in downtown Milwaukee, and a lovely setting for an evening stroll even if the Shames hadn't been there! The audience was enthusiastic and appreciative, and treated the Shames to thunderous applause during and after the show. Afterwards the guys came out to sign autographs and meet some of the fans. We accompanied Jimmy and Mike later to a restaurant owned by Linda, a fan who brought some old photos along of the early Shames and other Chicago area groups, where Jimmy and Mike signed her "Wall of Fame" and took some new pictures for her album.

    We had a wonderful time in Milwaukee, and the people there should be proud of their city and the great folks who promote these outdoor concert series. Everyone was impressed with the city and the people, and we hope the Shames will return there to play more often. We're looking forward to Oshkosh!

    RON'S CUSTOM GUITAR....

    The latest news is an upcoming feature page "Ron's Custom Guitar" which will cover the custom build from the ground up of Ron Brandt's new Strat. It's body is being made from raw, unshaped Koa Tonewood, and the neck from Pau Ferro with various fish inlays on the fret board. To quote Ron "The pick ups fit like a standard Strat single coil footprint, but they are two single coils stacked to achieve the traditional quack of a Strat while using the bottom pick up for hum canceling instead of as a pick up". Ron anticipates the completion of his new axe by the next concert season.



    RON"S CUSTOM GUITAR UPDATE

    Well, Ron's new Custom Guitar page Click Here has been launched which includes some awesome pics of his new axe being built from the ground up. Ron's guitar family has just increase with the addition of these fine instruments.



    DOWNERS GROVE CLASS OF 1967 REUNION

    For informaton and great pics CLICK HERE
    Roger Wimmer is spearheading this event.

    The Cryan' Shames Quiz!
    Joanie Crear is our latest 100% perfect scorer. She joins Ken Barber , Denny Conroy , and Russ Becker.

    SCRAMBLE UPDATE
    New Scramble Playdates!
  • Wednesday, October 31, 2001 (Halloween!)- Chicago,IL.
    Scramble appears at PJ Clarke's on State Street just north of Division in downtown Chicago.

  • Wednesday, November 21, 2001 (The day before Thanksgiving!) - Warrenville,IL.
    Scramble appears at The Avalanche in Warrenville on Route 59 about 1 mile north of Butterfield Road (Route 56) next to the Dairy Queen.

  • Friday, November 23, 2001 - Warrenville,IL>
    Scramble appears at Hotshots in Warrenville. Hotshots is located on the corner of Route 59 and Batavia Road in the same strip mall as the McDonalds and Subway.

    Scramble Just played a fun gig at The Ringside in Elk Grove Village Saturday night March 10.2001. Scramble was comprised of Rocky, Dave Rice (the best keyboard player alive today!- and Ron's best friend Paul Wood agrees. , Greg on bass and Ron. Besides just playin' great loud rock & roll, it was fun because some Cryan' Shames fans always show up. Scramble dates are included on The Shames's website as a bonus concert feature in the "Events" section.
    A couple of girls from The Rory's February 16th concert were there for the entire concert. It's interesting to hear their comments when they see Scramble as someone other than the Shames. Plus, as Ron B. Added " I get to front, sing and solo a lot more with Scramble in a bar atmosphere where I can get away with cursing and telling silly dirty jokes, we're a lot of fun". Jeff also showed up late and played the last set. Scramble will be playing at The Avalanche Sports Bar in Warrenville,Il.on April 14, 2001. The Avalanche is located on Rt. 59 about 2 miles north of the East-West Tollway (I-88).
    The following weekend Ron played the Odyssey dinner cruise on Friday and then Scramble played at a very cool suburban club called North Beach. Jimmy Pilster said he was planning to come out and sit in with Scramble.

    RON BRANDT.COM..........
    You can now reach The Fishin' Musician at his NEW !!! Address

    Ron's site features stories and pictures from his many adventures, recipes, music, along with a lot of fun and humor.

    There were a lot of Cryan' Shames concerts last year with a Chicago Gold reunion April 8th,2000 at the Merriville Holiday Star Theater. Hopefully there will be a repeat performance this year! Stay tuned for update details. Performing with The Cryan'Shames were the Buckinghams and The Ides of March.

    Isaac Guillory's new CD has just been released "The Days of Forty Nine" which can be ordered from his web site at:Isaac Guillory CDs
    We also heard from Jim Pilster that some of Isaac's concert videos can be purchased from his web site in the near future, more details to be announced.

    Where on earth is James Fairs (Part 2)?.


    Photo By: Michael Hart

    James Fairs's band which is coincidentally called The James Band performed with The Cryan' Shames at their February 16,2001 concert at Rory's, Addison,Il. which featured the guest appearence of Jimy Rogers from The Mauds, and at a private party the following day. This event was covered by Marlene O'Malley, our Chicago area roving reporter, and G.L.O.R.I.A. Knuth, On-Line Newsletter Editor.:
    After a very late night Friday at Rory's (Barb & I were out looking for an all night drug store at 3:00 a.m. for flu medicine for James), we were up early Saturday to play roadies for the rest of the weekend. Gloria and her husband Al and I met James and his bandmates Greg and Casey for brunch, then piled them and their equipment and luggage into a vehicle for the ride to Tinley Park and Saturday nite's party.
    The occasion was a 25 year corporate anniversary, and the Shames, the James Band and Heartsfield were invited to play. We spent the afternoon talking with James and the band while they set up their equipment and did a sound check, then retired to the hotel for about an hour. When we got back Jim Nudd was almost finished with his sound check,and shortly thereafter he introduced the Shames.
    They played a great set, although Paul Wood wasn't there, due to another commitment. Dave Rice filled in for him, and did an upstanding job. They had the crowd up dancing to their music, and Jimmy, Ron, Larry, Rocky, Tim, Dave & Michael Ayers seemed to be in rare form. They looked to be having a great time, and so did the party-goers. The sound system was awesome, and Ron commented that it was probably the best system they've worked with in a long time.
    They sounded mellow and professional, even though it seemed half the band had been down with colds or the flu lately. Even Tim enjoyed himself, while anxiously awaiting word from his wife Denise who was due to give birth to their third child any minute! (Congratulations on the new little Rutter!) At the end of their performance, Jimmy introduced James Fairs, who came up to sing "It Could Be We're In Love", and "Sugar & Spice" with them, then led into his own music with the addition of Greg & Casey.
    The James Band's music is totally different from James' previous ventures. It's hard driving, new, upbeat,techno music that's a mix of the blues, hard rock, new age, dance and Jimi Hendrix. With Casey's experimentation on different types of percussion and Greg's interesting bass arrangements, James' guitar can really wail and his voice blends perfectly in with the mood he sets, whether it's soulful blues like "Come Back Virginia" or rockin' to "This Life/These Times". They played to an appreciative audience, and sold quite a few of their CD's, which will benefit Isaac's family.
    James paid tribute to Isaac, whom he said felt as close to having a brother as he'd ever have. Jimmy and Michael Ayers joined James on stage, adding their percussion to the beat as well.After their set, most of the Shames and the James Band stayed around to hear Heartsfield.
    All of the original Heartsfield members were there to play, which they haven't done together in about 5 years. James and Greg did the sound engineering for them, and even I was called into service to have Artie the drummer "whack 'em" so James could set up their sound correctly! Greg got up on stage later in the evening with various other musicians to jam with Heartsfield, and some of the party goers were doing a dance that Greg said sounded like something called "the Gator", which apparently is a Florida thing. Anyway, we danced til dawn again, trying to make the most of a weekend that would be over far too soon.
    After depositing the James Band back at the hotel at about 3:00 a.m. Sunday, we were up again at 9 to have a quick breakfast and head to the airport. It was a bittersweet trip, knowing that shortly all the excitement and fun of the weekend would be over, and James and his band would be back on the plane to Florida. When we got to the airport, we laughed about a baby doll that seemed to be abandoned at the security check in, and James wondered what the world was coming to that someone that looked as normal as Greg and Casey did would get stopped and checked by security, and he would get through without a hitch! (The catch was, James had checked all his equipment except his guitars, and Greg & Casey had all the electronic stuff in their carry-on bags!).
    Anyway, we all said our goodbyes at the airport, and I for one can't wait til the James Band is back in town for another gig! Even with all the late hours and lugging equipment around, we had great fun and lots of laughs, and though the recovery took a bit longer than it used to in the old days, I'm ready for it again!!!!
    Long live Rock'n'Roll!
    Marlene and G.L.O.R.I.A.

    A JIMMY P. UPDATE 3/18/2001:

    Things are starting to shape up for The Cryan' Shames 2001 concert season. This year's first concert was on February 16th, 2001 at Rory's with the addition of The James(Fairs)Band

    The Isaac Guillory Benefit has been postponed until a future date due to technical difficulties. Jimmy also has a list of 2001 Shames concerts that he will be sending us soon, so stay tuned.

    A BLAST FROM THE PAST........

    The Cryan' Shames 1970 Wild Goose Tour photos have just been posted , courtesy of The Cryan' Shames

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    The Cryan' Shames 1967-68 The New Place photos and story courtesy of Joanie Crear

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    The Cryan' Shames /Ides' of March Union 1975-76 "B'Ginnings" photos courtesy of Joanie Crear

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    "Morton East High School 1967 Pics photos courtesy of Edlyn Andrlik

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    "Stepan Center (Notre Dame) 1968 Pics photos courtesy of Bob Millea

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    More 2001 concerts will be posted in the Events section of this Homepage as they are firmed up.

    We just learned from Jim Pilster that Isaac Guillory passed away on December 31, 2000 after a long battle with cancer. A memorial page for Isaac with guest book can be visited at:Isaac Memorial Page . The Cryan' Shames are planning a benefit for Isaac with details to be announced later.
    G.L.O.R.I.A.

    2002 Fall/Winter

    2002 Spring/Summer

    2001 Fall/Winter

    2001 Spring/Summer

    2000 Fall/Winter

    2000 Spring/Summer

    1999 Fall/Winter

    1999 Spring/Summer

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    Fans of the Cryan' Shames can send mail to: 72174.3351@compuserve.com