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beau brummels british invasion drummer john fire hydrant laugh laugh ron elliott smart cookies
To succeed in the music business in 1965 it wasn’t just smart enough to copy the trends of the “British Invasion” of 1964 (even though they say a fire hydrant with a Beatle wig would get a record contract). All the bands in the world were doing that. But one San Francisco band took its “Anglicizing” to the next level and picked their name, The Beau Brummels, after a 19th Century British lady’s man.
Why? Well first, because it was English and had the aura of “being naughty.” But, best of all, it put the bands records right next to The Beatles on the record shelves. Pretty smart cookies.
Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the Beau Brummels were the first nationally successful rock group to emerge from the Bay area. Vocalist Sal Valentino had previously had his own “pompadour” group, Sal Valentino And The Valentines and was no stranger to recording. They had produced a record in 1962 that went nowhere called “I Wanna Twist.” Guitarist Ron Elliott, bassist Ron Meagher and drummer John Petersen joined him.
Starting out playing cover tunes the bands had a following within the city’s Irish community and solidified this by adding guitarist Declan Mulligan. But he only lasted less than a year.
Believe it or not, Sly Stone, produced the band’s first single Laugh, Laugh which made it to Number 15 in the U.S. just a few months after they had played their first show together.
Just A Little came next and it sounded like it was recorded in someone’s front room. But it worked. The casual beginning and amateurish fade at the end helped it go to number 8 in early 1965.
What I liked about The Beau Brummels is that, despite their brief shelf life, they made a big impact on music at the time. I still have the 45 of Just A Little and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. My only regret is that I never saw them live because I heard they were a good band and not just a bunch of guys with a good producer trying to cash in on the music craze of the time.
They were not afraid to regroup and play down through the years and Sal Valentino has a thriving website. Sadly, drummer John Peterson passed away last November.
beau brummels british invasion drummer john fire hydrant laugh laugh ron elliott smart cookies