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Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy sense
of humor and a Van Helsing attitude
In 1976, Craig
Cherry and Billy Demoya were recording original songs in Quadradial
Studios in North Miami, when they were stuck for a band name. They
had called it the Halloween Tapes during the sessions, but they now
needed a name to represent the group—they
needed it quick. Craig handed their producer, Richard Allen, a bunch
of papers with poems and song ideas scribbled on them. He was writing
a book of sci-fi/fantasy poetry and was hoping the title, Tinsel Swain,
would be selected. Luckily, the produced said, “Why don’t
we call you Tinsel Swain?” Billy and Craig quickly agreed and the
band name was born.
The late 70s in Miami spawned 3 groups with the name Tinsel Swain. The
first version included Craig Cherry (bass guitar), Billy Demoya (guitar
and drums), David Ramsey (guitar and drums) and Roger Wilkinson (lead guitar).
David and Roger were from Bushnell, Florida and had played with Craig before,
a few years earlier, in the Tampa area, with a group called Cherry. This
Tinsel Swain band soon fell apart after a gig in the Upper Keys, when the
club owner cut their stay short, because he was afraid Tinsel Swain’s
openly gay sound crew would cause a disturbance with the redneck crowd. |
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Some were stunned; however, most people got it.
The second Tinsel
Swain was immediately formed as a power trio, with Craig Cherry, David
Ramsey and Oscar Dorta now on drums. The group became a glam punk band
and made quite an impression in Miami. For example, they created a
ruckus at an open audition night at the popular Johnson St. Big Daddy's
in Dec. 1977. It was a loud, original, punk rock show with "attitude".
Some were stunned; however, most people got it. It was just an over
the top shock rock show. This group also soon fell apart due to financial
problems and illness. |
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A completely new Tinsel
Swain line up got together in 1978, that included Craig with Yul Vasquez
(guitar), Michael Alexander (guitar), Brian Smith (drums), and Andy Westie
(lead vocals). This was a more commercial group that also did Aerosmith
and ACDC type covers, plus original songs. They worked and toured the
rock club circuit in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
With a great road crew and management, Tinsel Swain was on its way. Unfortunately,
the group had personal problems on the road and was struggling to stay
together. Eventually, unable to keep up the touring pace, the band was
permanently retired. But it would rise again from the ashes decades later.
In 2010, Craig Cherry, who had been writing and recording his original
songs for years, never dreamed that he would play live performances again.
So he created an online comic about a rock band named Tinsel Swain—with illustrations
by Laura Kehoe. He released a CD of original songs with the fictitious characters
as band members. The CD is called The Last Angel by Tinsel Swain. It includes
some great songs like “I Married a Zombie” and “Apocalypse
Man”. The songs have been played on College Radio Stations around
the country and they have many fans worldwide on Jango.com, Internet radio. |
Tinsel Swain and the Vampire Theatre
Craig Cherry and Laura
Kehoe published, in 2010, an illustrated book of poetry, Tinsel Swain – an enchanted story poem. He also published his first sci-fi/fantasy
novel in 2012, Tinsel Swain and the Vampire Theatre. It is a reality inspired
story about a fictional rock band. What if a modern day version of a musical
group like The Beatles, The Monkees, or Spinal Tap went on a galactic concert
tour with a Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy sense of humor and a Van
Helsing attitude? It would most definitely be The Day the Earth Rocked! The
band members are the first goodwill ambassadors from Earth and go on an adventure
to the stars and have some great laughs along the way.
Some people are too old to rock and roll? Maybe, but most people think that
you’re
never too old to play the blues. This is why Craig Cherry is now getting the
band back together in 2012. He is currently rehearsing with David Ramsey, Roger
Wilkinson and other friends—forming a blues tribute show.
Tinsel Swain will live on
as Craig Cherry’s
solo project: the music, online comic, and sci-fi/fantasy novel.
He plans on releasing more Tinsel Swain music and a creating a
series of Tinsel Swain books about the band. For more information,
you can go to www.tinselswain.com.
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