Posted by: Joe @ 7:22 pm
This one is for Pam Barrs who asked about the Beloit band, Mic’s Masters, later the Leopardmen, who played at the Pop House just before my time there. However, I do remember being at a Beloit Catholic High School Mardi Gras dance when I was in eighth grade (spring 1964) where Mic’s Masters were playing. I can recall one of the songs they played… Surfin’ Bird. Pam, are these the guys you mentioned… twins Roger Mickey (lead guitar) and Robert Mickey (rhythm guitar/keyboards), Chuck Voss (bass) and Jim Rogers (drums)? The Leopardmen may have included Stan Schufelt (vocal) and Steve Leitz (bass).
(Photo courtesy of the Stankewitz family)
**UPDATE** I should have suspected that Mic’s Masters would have recorded a 45rpm single, as many garage bands in the sixties did. This one may have been the first recorded by a Beloit band. Leaf Records studio was located in Janesville and was used by a number of area bands. The song, Rock-N-Round, was written by Roger Mickey and recorded in 1963…
(Label courtesy of Dave Hernandez)
June 19th, 2006 at 9:59 am YES - that would be them! Thanks for posting this Joe.
December 28th, 2006 at 9:23 pm Pam, I was the guitarist in the Mic’s Masters and I can remember a lot of great nights playing at the Pop House. I’m the one standing on the highest platform. I am a CFO for a Corporation in Dallas, Texas area. I still play, mostly piano now; my daughter was a jazz sax major at North Texas Univ, and my son is a better guitar player than I ever was. Drop me a note, I’d like to hear about some of the old Pop House gang. BOB
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:56 pm Bob, great hearing from you. My band “The Chevelles” were the second rock n’ roll band from Beloit. You guys were the first… Dave
April 19th, 2007 at 1:09 am Hi Bob, Great of you to ‘check in’. I was the lead guitarist in the Chevelles. You guys were a rock-solid group. I recall seeing you perform at a BCH Mardi Gras as well as at the Waverly Ballroom. No mention was made of Steve Lietz(sp?) (bassist) in the The Leopardmen/Mic’s Masters history. Steve and I lived a few doors apart in grade school. Wasn’t the ‘B’ side of your Leaf single “Sandstorm”? I recall liking it better than the ‘A’ side — but that’s just me. Keep playing, Bud! Tom