ChicagoPunk - User contributions [en]

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2025-09-16T09:03:08Z

DavidTremor: David and the Happenings is primarily an '80s band.

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== The Chicago Punk Database ==

This site intends to be a collections of bands, members, labels etc. for the Chicago punk scene. This site focuses on the earlier Chicago scene - but is open to all eras past and present. Most information on this page focuses on Chicago punk before [[1990]], though there is a growing collection of information from the 1990s and beyond. If you have content to add for an era feel free to contribute. All you have to do to add pages is create an account and start making pages. [http://punkdatabase.com/wiki/index.php/ChicagoPunk:About Click here] for more info on how to edit pages.

There are '''{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}''' articles in the database, most of which are small and need more information. Some suggestions to get started - add a link to an unlisted band on left-hand side of this page, go to a band's page and add members/instruments, fix any spelling errors, or create new page about your favorite Chicago Punk record. Anything you can add will help tremendously, so please contribute today!

== Recent News ==

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=== RIP Steve Albini and John Kezdy ===

[[Image:JohnKezdy-Thumb.png|left|85px]]

Chicago Punk lost two titans as [[John Kezdy]], lead singer of [[The Effigies]], had an accident on his bicycle and passed away at the age of 64. John has been involved with the scene since the beginning and will be missed dearly. [https://www.mixcloud.com/lumpenradio/inbetweenradiostations-171-john-kezdy-11123/ Here is a long interview] with John from Lumpen Radio where he talked about his time with music in Chicago and stories about the Effigies and touring. An article on Kezdy's accident can be found [https://chi.streetsblog.org/2023/08/27/john-kezdy-64-singer-of-the-effigies-died-after-bike-crash-with-amazon-van-illegally-stopped-in-bike-lane here]

[[Steve Albini]] also passed away suddenly in May at the age of 61, a NYT article on his legacy can be found [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/arts/music/steve-albini-dead.html here].

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=== Watch the Savage Beliefs Movie ===

[[Image:Savage-Beliefs-Movie.jpg|left|85px]]

In 1984 [[Savage Beliefs]] movie was mostly shot and thought lost forever, but in [[2019]] director Charlie Fink released the footage on his YouTube page. The movie is mostly complete and can be see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i77QVsk5ozQ&feature=youtu.be here]. Live performance footage for the movie was shot in October [[1984]] at [[West End]], the show also features [[Naked Raygun]].

A good writeup on the movie can be found [https://nostalgiakinky.com/2024/01/21/maximumrocknroll-savage-beliefs-1984/ here] and [[The Punk Vault|MXV]]'s writeup on the release show is [https://punkvinyl.com/2016/04/16/savage-beliefs-movie-screening-and-performance-41416-at-martyrs/#:~:text=The%20film%2C%20Savage%20Beliefs%3A%20The,quite%20finished%20and%20never%20released. here]

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== Main Pages ==

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=== 70s Bands ===

[[BB Spin]], [[Bohemia]], [[Boulevard ]], [[The Buzzards]], [[Chicago Toys]], [[The Corrosives]], [[The Crucified]], [[The Cunts]], [[The Dadistics]], [[Epicycle]], [[The Exit]], [[The Ferraris]], [[Immune System]], [[The Kind]], [[The Lazerblades]], [[Meaty Buys]], [[The Mentally Ill]], [[Nodes]], [[Pistol Whip]], [[Poison Squirrel]], [[Popperz]], [[The Rabbits]], [[Rainbow Girls]], [[Silver Abuse]], [[Skafish]], [[The Swingers]], [[The Trouble Boys]], [[Tutu and the Pirates]], [[Wazmo Nariz]], [[X-Idols]]

=== 80s Bands ===

[[4xy]], [[11th Commandment]], [[A Mason in Ur]], [[Algebra Suicide]], [[Anti-Bodies]], [[Arsenal]], [[Articles of Faith]], [[Babes In Toyland]], [[Barbie Army]], [[Bhang Revival]], [[Bhopal Stiffs]], [[Blatant Dissent]], [[Bleach Battalion]], [[Bloodsport]], [[Bloody Nails]], [[Big Black]], [[Blue Green God]], [[Bonemen of Barumba]], [[Bottles Flying]], [[Breaking Circus]], [[Burning Corvairs]], [[Bucket #6]], [[Caustic Defiance]], [[Certain Death]], [[Da]], [[The Dangling Units]], [[David and the Happenings]], [[Dead Fink]], [[Dead Serious]], [[Dead Steel Mill]], [[Defoliants]], [[Denied Remarks]], [[Destructive Youth Patrol]], [[Dog At Large]], [[The Drats]], [[The Drill]], [[Dumb Ra]], [[DV8]], [[The Effigies]], [[Electric Cool-Aid]], [[The End]], [[End Result]], [[Enema Resort]], [[Evil Eye]], [[Flea Circus]], [[Forced Allegiance]], [[The Front Lines]], [[Friends of Betty]], [[Fudge Tunnel]], [[Gary Jones]], [[Gear]], [[Generation Waste]], [[Get Smart!]], [[Grab Bag of Fathers]], [[Gross National Product]], [[Group of Individuals]], [[happy hunting]], [[Happy Toons]], [[Hazardous Youth]], [[Heavy Manners]], [[Identity Crisis]], [[ID Under]], [[IMF]], [[The Imports]], [[Impulse Manslaughter]], [[Indecent Liberties]], [[Industrialized Autocracy]], [[Infections]], [[Insane War Tomatoes]], [[The Interceptors]], [[Insolent Respect]], [[Johnny Vomit]], [[Juvenile Delinquents]], [[K.G.B.]], [[The Kremlins]], [[The Kruds]], [[The Leeches]], [[Life Sentence]], [[Loose Lips]], [[Lost Cause]], [[The Luchs Brothers]], [[Mark O and Leslie]], [[Men]], [[Ministry]], [[The Misled]], [[M.O.S.H.]], [[Nadsat Rebel]], [[Naked Raygun]], [[Navastrau]], [[Negative Element]], [[NGA JIWA]], [[No Empathy]], [[Noise Monsters]], [[Number Nine]], [[The Odd]], [[ONO]], [[Out of Order]], [[The Ozzfish Experience]], [[Painterband]], [[Phil 'n the Blanks]], [[Plywood]], [[Political Justice?]], [[Precious Wax Drippings]], [[Problem Dogs]], [[Product 19]], [[Protagonists]], [[Psi Bears]], [[Rapeman]], [[Repulse Kava]], [[Ring 13]], [[Rights of the Accused]], [[Sanitary Patrol]], [[Savage Beliefs]], [[Scarred For Life]], [[Scoobie Snack]], [[Screaming Rachel and Remote]], [[Screeching Weasel]], [[Seismic Waves]], [[Sharon Tate's Baby]], [[Silent Language]], [[Silly Carmichaels]], [[Six Feet Under]], [[Slit and the Stiches]], [[Sludgeworth]], [[Small Irregular Pieces of Aluminum]], [[Special Affect]], [[Spongetunnel]], [[Sport of Kings]], [[Stations]], [[straightjacketbazooka]], [[Strike Under]], [[The Suburban Nightmare]], [[The Subverts]], [[Tar]], [[Target]], [[Ten Year Old Surgeons]], [[Terminal Beach]], [[The Throbbers]], [[Toothpaste]], [[Trial by Fire]], [[Uncle Fester]], [[Unified Field]], [[Urban DK]], [[Urge Overkill]], [[The Vaguelys]], [[Verboten]], [[Vermicious Knids]], [[Viktimz of Society]], [[Violent Feedback]], [[Violent Tumor]], [[The Watchmen]], [[The Wayouts]], [[We Make The Nig Heist Look Like Saints]], [[Zoetrope]]

=== 90s Bands ===

[[88 Fingers Louie]], [[8 Bark]], [[Alkaline Trio]], [[Allister]], [[Alpha Skool]], [[Apocalypse Hoboken]], [[The Arrivals]], [[The Beautiful Mutants]], [[The Bliss Machine]], [[Blue Collar]], [[Blue Meanies]], [[Bobby Conn]], [[Bollweevils]], [[Brownpeace]], [[Buzzmuscle]], [[Cap'n Jazz]], [[Captured by Robots]], [[The Cunts]], [[The Dead Carpenters]], [[Deadscene]], [[Drunken Catholics]], [[Friction]], [[Gauge]], [[Gore Gore Girls]], [[The Indicators]], [[Ivy League]], [[Jack Scratch]], [[Jerkwater]], [[The Jesus Lizard]], [[Keep Away From Julie]], [[Landos 45]], [[Los Crudos]], [[Lozenge]], [[The Misdemeanors]]. [[My Big Beautiful]], [[Oblivion]], [[Pegboy]], [[The Riverdales]], [[Ruby Zel]], [[Screeching Weasel]], [[Shellac]], [[Skullface]], [[Skullkrusher]], [[Slapstick]], [[Slow Children Playing]], [[Sludgeworth]], [[Smoking Popes]], [[Sweep the Leg Johnny]], [[Swingset]], [[Tar]], [[Toucan Slam]], [[Trenchmouth]], [[Tuesday]], [[V.Reverse]], [[The Vindictives]], [[Wesley Willis]], [[The Wesley Willis Fiasco]], [[Winepress]],

=== 2000s Bands ===

[[The Black Sheep Band]], [[Bluster]], [[The Bomb]], [[The Coughs]], [[Lawrence Arms]], [[The Methadones]], [[Report Suspicious Activity]], [[Wardogs]]

=== Bands That Need Pages / Information ===

[[Baxter]], [[The Broadways]], [[Causey Way]], [[Colossal]], [[Crashdog]], [[Deals Gone Bad]], [[Duvall]], [[Dumb Ra]], [[The Honor System]], [[Hot Stove Jimmy]], [[Mary Tyler Morphine]], [[Mexican Cheerleader]], [[Mob Action]], [[The Nobs]], [[Razer]], [[Research Defense Squad]], [[The Sex Kittens]], [[Skapone]], [[Skullface]], [[Slaphappy]], [[Snidely Whiplash Experience]], [[Spiderz]], [[Squirtgun]], [[The Tarts]], [[The Torpedos]], [[The Tossers]], [[The Trouble Boys]], [[Tremors]], [[Tricky Dick]], [[Tub Ring]], [[The Untouchables]], [[Urethra Franklin]], [[The Ventilators]], [[The Vicissitudes]], [[Walker]], [[Wolcott]]

=== Records ===

[[A Chicago Punk Rock Collaboration For The Kids, Vol 1]], [[All Rise]], [[Achtung Chicago!]], [[Basement Screams]], [[Boogadaboogadaboogada!]], [[Busted at Oz]], [[Code Blue]], [[Dial-a-Trance]], [[Flammable Solid]], [[Naked Raygun - Home (Song)|Home]], [[Innocence]], [[It's A Punk Thing, You Wouldn't Understand]], [[Jettison]], [[My Brain Hurts]], [[No Punks in the Pit]], [[Raygun...Naked Raygun]], [[Magnetic Curses]], [[The Middle of America Compilation]], [[Picking More Daisies]], [[Punkhouse]], [[There's A Fungus Among Us]], [[Throb Throb]], [[Understand?]], [[Vanilla Blue]]

=== Labels ===

[[Aaugh! Records]], [[Alona's Dream Records]], [[Autumn Records]], [[Dazit Records]], [[Dill Records]], [[Disturbing Records]], [[Fever Records]], [[Fiction Records]], [[Go Deaf]], [[Harmless Records]], [[H.I.D. Productions Ltd]], [[Homestead Records]], [[Johann's Face Records]], [[Landmind Records]], [[Little Farmer Music]], [[National Trust]], [[No Blow Records]], [[Quarterstick Records]], [[Pink Records]], [[Pravda Records]], [[Roadkill Records]], [[Ruthless Records]], [[Schwa Records]], [[Sandpounder Records]], [[Shakefork Records]], [[Skinhead Records]], [[Snat 5 Records]], [[Subfusc]], [[Suburban Home]], [[Thermidor Records]], [[Thick Records]], [[Touch and Go]], [[Tough Records]], [[Underdog Records]], [[Underground Communique]], [[Version Sound]], [[Victory Records]], [[VML Records]], [[Walkthrufyre Records]], [[Wasteland Records]], [[Wax Trax Records]], [[What The Fuck? Records]]
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=== People ===

[[Steve Albini]], [[Al Scum]], [[Rodney Anderson]], [[Jon Babbin]], [[Billy Blastoff]], [[Vic Bondi]], [[Chris Bjorklund]], [[Steve Bjorklund]], [[Eric Brockman]], [[Iain Burgess]], [[Robert Byrne]], [[Mick Calhoun]], [[Joe Camarillo]], [[Eric Cassell]], [[Jeremy Cowan]], [[Steve Cheese]], [[Tom Clark]], [[Larry Damore]], [[Bob Damrau]], [[Troy Dixler]], [[Ted Domurat]], [[Lorna Donley]], [[Sean Duffy]], [[Santiago Durango]], [[Rich Edgley]], [[Jed Fox]], [[Bob Furem]], [[Philip Galanter]], [[Camilo Gonzalez]], [[Ken Goodman]], [[Jack Graham]], [[P. Michael Grego]], [[Joe Haggerty]], [[John Haggerty]], [[Scott Harris]], [[Dem Hopkins]], [[Anthony Illarde]], [[Al Jourgensen]], [[Jughead]], [[Marie Kanger-Born]], [[John Kezdy]], [[Pierre Kezdy]], [[Joe Losurdo]], [[John Lundin]], [[Keith Lyons]], [[Art MacQuilkin]], [[Doug McCombs]], [[Bill Meehan]], [[Ken Mierzwa]], [[John Mohr]], [[Terry Nelson]], [[Brian Peterson]], [[Marko Pezzati]], [[Mary Alice Ramel]], [[Sean Rice]],[[Dave Riley]], [[Corey Rusk]],[[Bobby Scarpelli]], [[Dan Schafer]], [[Dan Schneider]], [[Audrey Shaw]], [[Bobby Skafish]], [[Jim Skafish]], [[Slapstick Family Tree]], [[Jim Sludge]], [[Brooks Smith]], [[Geri Soriano]], [[Eric Spicer]], [[Bill Stephens]], [[Chopper Steppe]], [[Steve Steppe]], [[Barry Stern]], [[Dan Sullivan]], [[Travis]], [[Dave Thomas]], [[Chuck Uchida]], [[Joey Vindictive]], [[Douglas Ward]], [[Rob Warmowski]], [[Ben Weasel]], [[Kevin Weppner]], [[Paul Zamost]], [[Bryn Zellers]]

=== Venues ===

[[3rd Floor]], [[950 Lucky Number]], [[A-Zone]], [[Abbey Pub]], [[Ann Arkees]], [[Aragon Ballroom]], [[Artful Dodger]], [[The Avalon]], [[B'Ginnings]], [[The Bank]], [[Batteries Not Included]], [[Bop Shop]], [[The Bottle]], [[Bottom Lounge]], [[Centro-American Social Club]], [[Circuits]], [[Club Foot]], [[COD]], [[The Congress Theatre]], [[The Crypt]], [[Cubby Bear]], [[Czar Bar]], [[Delilah's]], [[Dreamerz]], [[Durty Nellies]], [[El Rancho Orphanage]], [[Empty Bottle]], [[Exit]], [[Fireside Bowl]], [[Fotch's]], [[Gaspars]], [[Harry Hopes]], [[Head's Pub]], [[Hell House]], [[Hideout, The]], [[Hotti Biscotti]], [[Hueys]], [[The Igloo]], [[Iron Rail]], [[Isabelle's Grand Finale]], [[Ivanhoe Theater]], [[Jamies Elsewhere Lounge]], [[Katz and Jammer Kids]], [[Keith Garage]], [[La Mere Vipere]], [[Lounge Ax]], [[McGreevys]], [[McGregor's]], [[Medusas]], [[Metro]], [[Mexican Patriotic Club]], [[Misfits]], [[The Mutiny]], [[Neo]], [[The Nervous Center]], [[No Palace]], [[O'Banion's]], [[Oak Theatre]], [[Odum]], [[Off the Alley]], [[Old Chicago]], [[Off the Alley]], [[Over Easy]], [[Oz]], [[Park West]], [[Phyllis' Musical Inn]], [[The Piss Factory]], [[Prodigal Son]], [[Quiet Knight]], [[Riley's Rock House]], [[The Riviera]], [[Ruts]], [[Shenanigans]], [[Space Place]], [[Stages]], [[Tuts]], [[The Warehouse]], [[Waves]], [[West End]], [[Wrigley Side]]

=== Fanzines ===

[[Bullshit Detector]], [[Coolest Retard]], [[Disorderly Conduct]], [[Gabba Gabba Gazette]], [[Last Rites]], [[Les Ponques Rockeurs]], [[Matter]], [[Non-Stop Banter]], [[Primitive Noise]], [[Raveup]], [[Submission]], [[THIS]], [[Wholesome]], [[Your Country Needs You/YOU]]

=== History ===

''Chicago Punk History at a Glance -'' [[Timeline]] ''Detailed History by Year -'' [[1974]] [[1975]] [[1976]] [[1977]] [[1978]] [[1979]] [[1980]] [[1981]] [[1982]] [[1983]] [[1984]] [[1985]] [[1986]] [[1987]] [[1988]] [[1989]] [[1990]] [[1991]] [[1992]] [[1993]] [[1994]] [[1995]] [[1996]] [[1997]] [[1998]] [[1999]] [[2000]] [[2001]] [[2002]] [[2003]] [[2004]] [[2005]] [[2006]] [[2007]] [[2008]] [[2009]] [[2010]] [[2011]] [[2012]] [[2013]] [[2014]] [[2015]] [[2016]] [[2017]] [[2018]] [[2021]] [[2023]]

=== MP3s ===

[[Bloodsport]], [[DV8]], [[Seismic Waves]], [[Toothpaste]]

=== Films ===
[[You Weren't There]]

=== Places ===

[[Punkin' Donuts]]

=== Television ===
[[Chic-a-go-go]], [[JBTV]]

=== Websites ===

* [[Ken Mierzwa|Ephemeral Creation]]
* [[Pit of Punkiness]]
* [[The Punk Vault]]
* [[Chicago Hardcore]]
* [[WindyCityPunk]]
* [[Dupage County Hardcore]]

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[[Category:Content]]

David and the Happenings

2025-09-16T08:45:31Z

DavidTremor: Update to the July 2025 Club / Airwaves Reunion in Carbondale IL

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==
=== 1980 ===
Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===
Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===
In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined Siegfried and Nelson to form the third and final version of David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a number of years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the Midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and in New York City, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

In January 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax for the remaining months. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name and Management ==
There is some dispute as to who came up with the name David and the Happenings but what is agreed upon is that the name was coined well in advance of the forming of the group. There had been a 60's band called The Happenings and it was originally bandied about somewhat as a joke or as the name of a fictitious group. . After the band began to have some success they enlisted the management services of friend and booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==
Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005 due to a serious bone infection from an old dog bite. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson (as Jonathan X) became a successful technical director in the television industry, with over six National Emmy's and other esteemed awards to his credit. He transitioned to directing, and his credits include directing the Tavis Smiley show, Assistant Director for the Oscars and Assistant Director for An Inconvenient Truth. Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and several other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured with and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing graphic design and other computer work. In 2014, Siegfried formed a business called 3D Printing Chicago, where he currently does CAD design and 3D printing.

== The Reunion ==
On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band played Fitzgerald's annual "Ghosts of Rock Stars Past" Halloween Party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank and original Velveteen Jeri Lee Sparks, and have performed that venue again for the 2011 and 2012 Halloween shows.

== The Club / Airwaves Band Reunion in Carbondale ==
On July 26th, 2025, a brand new lineup of "David and the Happenings All-Stars" performed back were it all started in Carbondale, IL, at Booby's Bar and Sandwich Shop. The show took place in their beer garden which is the former location of the Club which burned down in 1985. The band headlined The Club / Airwaves Reunion show organized by Carbondale native musician Adam Fletcher of the punk band The Copyrights. Other guests on the bill included Carbondale legend Tawl Paul and Da Blooze, Four on the Floor, The Boppin' 88s, and a guest appearance by Jason Ringenberg of Jason & the Scorchers.

Besides David, two original members of the Carbondale David & the Happenings band took part: Steve Lamberson, drummer in the 1980-81 Happenings joined on congas, and Craig Ryterski from the 1982 band played tenor and alto saxophone. The band performed songs by Motown artists, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, David Bowie and two David & the Happenings originals, "Microbes in Action" and "The Scream". David and the band played tribute to David's brother, James Chance, who passed away in June 2024, by performing James' signature song "Contort Yourself". In addition, David wrote a song called "La Dolce Vita" celebrating the old SIU cinema, the bars on the strip in the heyday of 1980-82, the former coffee house Makanda Java run by Jay Stem, skinny dipping at Little Grassy Lake, and the Carbondale party days of Halloween when they closed down the strip. "Do the La Dolce Vita" was sung to the tune of Chuck Berry's "Around and Around".

== Lineups ==
=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums
* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===
* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== 2012 Line-up ===
* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals
* [[Julie Koerner]] - Vocals

=== July 2025 Club / Airwaves Reunion in Carbondale ===
* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Rob Roberts]] - Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar
* [[Wally Hooker]] - Lead Guitar
* [[Greg Edwards]] - Bass
* [[Mike "Taz" Kartje]] - Drums
* [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor and Alto Sax
* [[Sue Simmons]] - Background Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Congas

== External Links ==
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [https://www.facebook.com/TheFTQ// Frank Trompeter Quintet FaceBook page]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]
[[Category:YouTube]]

David and the Happenings

2023-03-08T07:37:19Z

DavidTremor:

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==
=== 1980 ===
Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===
Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===
In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined Siegfried and Nelson to form the third and final version of David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a number of years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and in New York City, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

In January 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax for the remaining months. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name and Management ==
There is some dispute as to who came up with the name David and the Happenings but what is agreed upon is that the name was coined well in advance of the forming of the group. There had been a 60's band called The Happenings and it was originally bandied about somewhat as a joke or as the name of a fictitious group. . After the band began to have some success they enlisted the management services of friend and booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==
Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005 due to a serious bone infection from an old dog bite. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson (as Jonathan X) became a successful technical director in the television industry, with over six National Emmy's and other esteemed awards to his credit. He transitioned to directing, and his credits include directing the Tavis Smiley show, Assistant Director for the Oscars and Assistant Director for An Inconvenient Truth. Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and several other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured with and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing graphic design and other computer work. In 2014, Siegfried formed a business called 3D Printing Chicago, where he currently does CAD design and 3D printing.

== The Reunion ==
On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band played Fitzgerald's annual "Ghosts of Rock Stars Past" Halloween Party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank and original Velveteen Jeri Lee Sparks, and have performed that venue again for the 2011 and 2012 Halloween shows.

== Lineups ==
=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums
* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===
* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===
* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals
* [[Julie Koerner]] - Vocals

== External Links ==
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]
[[Category:YouTube]]

David and the Happenings

2023-03-08T07:35:50Z

DavidTremor:

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==
=== 1980 ===
Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===
Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===
In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined Siegfried and Nelson to form the third and final version of David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a number of years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and in New York City, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

In January 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax for the remaining months. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name and Management ==
There is some dispute as to who came up with the name David and the Happenings but what is agreed upon is that the name was coined well in advance of the forming of the group. There had been a 60's band called The Happenings and it was originally bandied about somewhat as a joke or as the name of a fictitious group. . After the band began to have some success they enlisted the management services of friend and booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==
Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005 due to a serious bone infection from an old dog bite. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson (as Jonathan X) became a successful technical director in the television industry, with over six National Emmy's and other esteemed awards to his credit. He transitioned to directing, and his credits include directing the Tavis Smiley show, Assistant Director for the Oscars and Assistant Director for An Inconvenient Truth. Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and several other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured with and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing graphic design and other computer work. In 2014, Siegfried formed a business called 3D Printing Chicago, and currently does CAD design and 3D printing.

== The Reunion ==
On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band played Fitzgerald's annual "Ghosts of Rock Stars Past" Halloween Party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank and original Velveteen Jeri Lee Sparks, and have performed that venue again for the 2011 and 2012 Halloween shows.

== Lineups ==
=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums
* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===
* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===
* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===
* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals
* [[Julie Koerner]] - Vocals

== External Links ==
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]
[[Category:YouTube]]

David and the Happenings

2012-10-29T04:17:04Z

DavidTremor:

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined Siegfried and Nelson to form the third and final version of David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a number of years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and in New York City, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

In January 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax for the remaining months. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name and Management ==

There is some dispute as to who came up with the name David and the Happenings but what is agreed upon is that the name was coined well in advance of the forming of the group. There had been a 60's band called The Happenings and it was originally bandied about somewhat as a joke or as the name of a fictitious group. . After the band began to have some success they enlisted the management services of friend and booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005 due to a serious bone infection from an old dog bite. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and several other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured with and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing mostly computer-related work.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band played Fitzgerald's annual "Ghosts of Rock Stars Past" Halloween Party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank and original Velveteen Jeri Lee Sparks, and have performed that venue again for the 2011 and 2012 Halloween shows.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals
* [[Julie Koerner]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2011-09-08T08:54:07Z

DavidTremor: /* Origin of Name and Management */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined Siegfried and Nelson to form the third and final version of David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a number of years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and in New York City, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

In January 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax for the remaining months. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name and Management ==

There is some dispute as to who came up with the name David and the Happenings but what is agreed upon is that the name was coined well in advance of the forming of the group. There had been a 60's band called The Happenings and it was originally bandied about somewhat as a joke or as the name of a fictitious group. . After the band began to have some success they enlisted the management services of friend and booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005 due to a serious bone infection from an old dog bite. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and several other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured with and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing mostly computer-related work.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band played Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank and original Velveteen Jeri Lee Sparks, and is slated to play the venue again for the 2011 Halloween party on October 29.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2011-09-08T08:52:35Z

DavidTremor: Minor clean-up and update to performance info

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined Siegfried and Nelson to form the third and final version of David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a number of years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and in New York City, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

In January 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax for the remaining months. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name and Management ==

There is some dispute as to who came up with the name David and the Happenings but what is agreed upon is that the name was coined well in advance of the forming of the group. There had been a 60's band called The Happenings and it was originally bandied about somewhat somewhat as a joke or as the name of a fictitious group. . After teh band began to have some success they enlisted the management services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005 due to a serious bone infection from an old dog bite. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and several other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured with and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing mostly computer-related work.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band played Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank and original Velveteen Jeri Lee Sparks, and is slated to play the venue again for the 2011 Halloween party on October 29.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-10-24T11:30:08Z

DavidTremor: /* The Reunion */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and numerous other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing mostly computer-related work.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band is slated to play Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank and original Velveteen Jeri Lee Sparks.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-10-24T11:28:38Z

DavidTremor: /* The Reunion */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and numerous other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing mostly computer-related work.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band is slated to play Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank and special guest Jeri Lee Sparks.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-10-24T11:25:32Z

DavidTremor: /* The Reunion */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and numerous other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing mostly computer-related work.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. It was hosted by SIU alums Joe Shanahan and Jill Ralston. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band is slated to play Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-10-24T11:23:37Z

DavidTremor:

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and numerous other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he has been self-employed since 1989, doing mostly computer-related work.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band is slated to play Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-10-18T08:58:15Z

DavidTremor: /* Post-Happenings Careers */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and numerous other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band is slated to play Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-10-18T08:57:30Z

DavidTremor:

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band is slated to play Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Lead Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-10-18T08:53:57Z

DavidTremor:

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

The band is slated to play Fitzgerald's annual Halloween party on October 30, 2010 along with Purple Hank.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto Sax, Vocals

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

=== April 2010 Reunion ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Wilson Hogan]] - Tenor Sax
* [[Nick Segal]] - Trumpet

=== Current Line-up ===

* [[David Siegfried]] - Lead Vocals
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Bass, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompeter]] - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
* [[Doug Oliver]] - Guitar
* [[Steve Pirruccello]] - Guitar
* [[Bill Borton]] - Drums
* [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] - Vocals

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-06-07T22:35:26Z

DavidTremor: /* 1980 */ correction after contacting J.J.

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were part of a tight knit punk/new wave dance party scene that was burgeoning at SIU in 1978 - 1979. The band came together after a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-06-07T07:39:51Z

DavidTremor: /* 1980 */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members knew each other as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave dance party scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-06-07T07:38:20Z

DavidTremor: mostly spelling corrections

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and front man was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definitely got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also performed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, a friend of the group who had been around the scene for a few years, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they achieved a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the industry in LA. The band is also closely associated with Metro owner Joe Shanahan due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-06-07T07:28:33Z

DavidTremor: /* 1981 - 1982 */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, took over on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompeter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had amassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-18T07:06:26Z

DavidTremor: minor edits

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980; a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-18T07:05:26Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

=== 1980 ===

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

=== 1980 - 1981 ===

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again.

=== 1981 - 1982 ===

In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-18T06:52:08Z

DavidTremor: /* Post-Happenings Careers */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul/blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing at the [[West End]], The [[Smart Bar]], and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-18T06:48:50Z

DavidTremor: /* Origin of Name */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU around this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-18T06:47:02Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band [[The Fiends]]. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-18T06:46:13Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums plus a female guitarist: four-foot-eleven pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward leaned more toward new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound and began to be taken more seriously by the music community they started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner all hailed from Rockford).

This second version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming his three-piece punk metal band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from Carbondale and the group temporarily disbanded once again. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more towards a rootsy 60's rhythm and blues sound; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as the opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, playing venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they performed at [[The Holiday Ballroom]], [[On Broadway]] and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They usually ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Rev. Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-18T06:33:14Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and T.J. McFly's and also at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T12:04:22Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style, along with Siegfried's antics like stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Marshall Tucker, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells abruptly quit the band and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and a recording of the show exists on cassette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:56:20Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:29:07Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They also opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:27:26Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more new wave than basic punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:26:31Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the Metrosquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads gone from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson impersonation front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:20:55Z

DavidTremor:

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:20:06Z

DavidTremor: /* Lineups */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:19:36Z

DavidTremor: /* Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:16:52Z

DavidTremor: /* Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals (later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax)

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:16:19Z

DavidTremor: /* Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - Alto and Tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - Tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:15:31Z

DavidTremor: /* Lineups */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor) - Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:14:44Z

DavidTremor: /* Post-Happenings Careers */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed with Chance and the original Contortions at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:08:11Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and punk style combined with Siegfried's antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:05:23Z

DavidTremor:

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:04:34Z

DavidTremor: SIU

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:02:50Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Wells' raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:02:33Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and Well's raunchy punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T11:00:39Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and their most blatently punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T10:59:28Z

DavidTremor: /* Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson (aka Jonathan X) on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and their most blatently punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (aka Jonathan X aka Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T10:51:43Z

DavidTremor: /* Post-Happenings Careers */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson (aka Jonathan X) on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and their most blatently punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompeter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has written and performed music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and Yardsale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the 60s soul and blues band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, performing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed another band, The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (AKA Jonathan X AKA Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T10:46:50Z

DavidTremor: /* Origin of Name */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson (aka Jonathan X) on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and their most blatently punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as the name of a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz continued to play and write music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and YardSale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the punk-soul band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, playing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed a classic R&B band The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (AKA Jonathan X AKA Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T10:46:10Z

DavidTremor: /* History of the Band */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson (aka Jonathan X) on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and their most blatently punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, who had been around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz continued to play and write music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and YardSale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the punk-soul band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, playing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed a classic R&B band The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (AKA Jonathan X AKA Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T10:40:05Z

DavidTremor: personnel cleanup

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson (aka Jonathan X) on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and their most blatently punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz continued to play and write music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and YardSale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the punk-soul band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, playing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed a classic R&B band The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

* [[Lynn Vavra]], [[Jeri Lee Sparks]] (as The Velveteens) - Vocals

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Final Version 3 (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Lead Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar, Vocals
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (AKA Jonathan X AKA Bussie James) - Drums, Vocals
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax, Vocals
(later replaced by [[Craig Ryterski]] - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T10:33:25Z

DavidTremor: /* Post-Happenings Careers */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson (aka Jonathan X) on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and their most blatently punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He wrote music reviews for the LA Weekly but moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health and financial problems; he died in 2005. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complications due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz continued to play and write music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and YardSale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the punk-soul band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, playing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed a classic R&B band The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005. Once a microbiologist, he is now self-employed.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Other Members (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (AKA Jonathan X AKA Bussie James) - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax
(later replaced by Craig Ryterski - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]

David and the Happenings

2010-05-17T10:30:05Z

DavidTremor: /* Origin of Name */

'''David and the Happenings''' was a band out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that had strong ties to Chicago and was associated with the alternate music scene in Illinois from 1980 to 1982. The band incorporated elements of punk, new wave, 60's garage rock, Motown, soul, rockabilly, R&B, ska, funk, free jazz and even gospel. The lead singer and frontman was David "Tremor", real name David Siegfried, who is orignally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and happens to be James Chance's brother.

== History of the Band ==

Formed in January 1980, the initial lineup included Scott Nelson on bass, Joel Wells on lead guitar, Scott Morrow on rhythm guitar, and J.J. Jackson (aka Jonathan X) on drums. Most of the band members were already friends as part of a burgeoning punk/new wave scene at SIU that was coming together in 1978 - 1979. The impetus to form a band was sparked by a fateful visit by Jackson in late 1979 when he met Siegfried and the others and was immediately inspired to relocate from Wichita State University in Kansas in order to join the Carbondale music scene. All five original band members were involved in either the photography or film departments at SIU.

Wells and Jackson were the only band members with previous band experience. David and the Happenings initially covered The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, Motown, James Brown, and other more obscure bands like The Sonics and Black Randy and the MetroSquad. They briefly had two female singers billed as The Velveteens: Lynn Vavra and Jeri Lee Sparks (who is the sister of Donita Sparks of the LA girl punk band L7). The band performed in Carbondale on The Strip at places like Hangar 9 and at several infamous parties known as The Deca-Dances. They had a number of notable original songs, including an Archie Bell and the Drells influenced dance tune called The Scream; Microbes In Action, which predicted biological threats like AIDS, SARS, and anthrax scares years before they occurred; (I Want to Be) Technology, which predicted the domination of computers; Leap From Nealy, the true-life story of a college girl's suicide; Wasted On Your Love, which could have come from the Stooges Raw Power songbook; and their most blatently punk diatribe, I'd Rather Be Queer (Than Fuck a Girl Like You). Their sometimes offensive lyrics and raw style combined with Siegfried's performance antics such as stage diving and flashing the audience didn't exactly endear them to the sleepy Carbondale crowd weaned on Waylan Jennings, The Grateful Dead and The Charlie Daniels Band, but they definately got noticed. The first version of the band lasted just five months, ending in May 1980 when Wells quit the band over creative differences and Jackson joined the ska group Riff Raff. Scott Nelson briefly joined Jason Ringenberg (later of Jason and the Scorchers) to form the rockabilly group The Catalinas and it looked like David and the Happenings was history. They played their "last ever" show at Hangar 9 May 22, 1980 and the show was recorded on casssette tape.

Regrouping in the summer of 1980, the band suddenly reformed with Steve Lamberson on drums and a female guitarist: four-foot-ten pistol Ronnie "Rocket" Cetner. With Well's Robert Quine inspired leads missing from their sound, Scott Morrow stepped up to play lead with his blistering James Williamson style front and center. Songs like First TV Generation, Man's Place is in the Gutter, and Punishment and Reward were more sophisticated new wave than punk; the Morrow-penned tunes Calculator and Is it Love or Is it Memorex took the group firmly into the funk genre; and Danger Daddy was pure rockabilly. Saxophone player Frank Trompeter aka "Frankie Axwell" was discovered by Morrow one day playing on the campus steps and was asked to join, adding a jazzy dimension to the group. As they refined their sound they began to be taken more seriously by the music community and started to tour outside of Carbondale. They played numerous venues in Chicago including [[Space Place]], [[Tuts]], [[Gaspars]], (now Schuba's), [[Misfits]], and The University of Chicago (Ida Noyes Gymnasium). They also perfomed in Milwaukee at The Starship and in Rockford at Charlotte's Web. (Nelson, Morrow, and Cetner were all originally from Rockford).

This version of the group lasted until May 1981 when Morrow graduated from the film department and moved to Los Angeles to form his three-piece punk band The Fiends. Cetner also disappeared from SIU and this left the the group temporarily disbanded. In the summer of 1981 Jackson quit Riff Raff and rejoined David and the Happenings; Dave Schultz, around since the early punk days, joined on guitar (his short-lived band D Minus was offically the first Carbondale punk band). With this incarnation the band moved more into 60's rhythm and blues roots; they kept their punk edge but gained a wider audience. They had success touring all over the midwest, both as headliners and as opening act for Siegfried's brother James Chance (billed as James White and the Blacks). They opened for acts such as Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Martha Reeves, and Sam & Dave, and played venues from St. Louis to Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, The Quad Cities, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Philadelphia, and finally the Big Apple, opening for Joe Bowie and Defunct at Trax in New York in December 1981. In Chicago they played The Holiday Ballroom, On Broadway and the other venues mentioned previously. Their punk/soul/R&B originals included Pay the Wolf, The Scream ver. 2, Nuclear Function, Hips So Wide, I’m Gonna, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Funk ‘n’ Rock Party, Do Unto Others, Selfish, and others. They often ended their shows with a gospel/punk rendition of Cleophus Robinson's There's Only One Bridge, with the "Wrong Reverend David Tremor" and the band imploring the crowd to "release yourself".

During the spring of 1982 Craig Ryterski replaced Frank Trompter on sax. They played their final show in Milwaukee at The Starship on May 16, 1982. In their three years together, the band had emassed an impressive repertoire of 112 songs, 24 of which were originals.

== Origin of Name ==

There is some dispute as to who coined the name David and the Happenings but what is known is that the name was invented well in advance of the forming of the group. It was originally bandied about somewhat as a fictitious group that might be formed "some day". There had been a 60's band called The Happenings. After it actually "happened", and they acheived a following they utilized the services of booking agent Peter Katsis who today is well-known in the undustry in LA. The band is also closely assocated with [[Metro]] owner [[Joe Shanahan]] due to the fact that Shanahan attended SIU during this time period and is friends with Siegfried.

== Post-Happenings Careers ==

Scott Morrow went on to form The Fiends in LA, releasing two albums in association with L7 and John Doe of X. He moved back to Rockford in the mid-1990s due to drug-related health problems and died in 2005 due to complications stemming from his lifestyle. Joel Wells died in 1998 from complcations due to diabetes and hepatitis. J.J. Jackson became a successful technical director in the television industry and today directs the Tavis Smiley show (as Jonathan X). Frank Trompeter has maintained a healthy music career fronting the Frank Trompter Jazz Quartet and other music projects in Springfield, IL where he works for the State of Illinois. Dave Schultz has continued to play and write music in numerous bands over the years such as Bucktown and YardSale, and currently fronts the alt-country band Purple Hank. Scott Nelson lives with his family in Elgin and is a professional electrician. David Siegfried formed the punk-soul band David Tremor and the DTs in 1985, playing briefly at the [[West End]], The Smart Bar, and [[Metro]], both with and without his brother James Chance. He formed a classic R&B band The Signifiers in 1999, toured and produced a James Chance DVD in 2004, and performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England in 2005.

== The Reunion ==

On April 16, 2010, David and the Happenings got back together after 28 years to perform a single reunion show at The Smart Bar for SIU alumni, family and friends. Original members David Siegfried, Scott Nelson, Frank Trompeter and Dave Schultz were joined by members of Purple Hank and a full horn section. By all accounts the band played as well (or better) than ever.

== Lineups ==

=== Original Lineup (Jan 1980 - May 1980) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Vocals
* [[Joel Wells]] - Guitar
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] - Drums

=== Version 2 (Aug 1980 – May 1981) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Vocals, Bongos
* [[Scott Morrow]] - Guitar
* [[Ronnie Cetner]] (as Ronnie Rocket) - Guitar
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[Steve Lamberson]] - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto sax

=== Other Members (July 1981 – May 1982) ===

* [[David Siegfried]] (as David Tremor)- Vocals, Bongos
* [[Dave Schultz]] - Guitar
* [[Scott Nelson]] - Bass
* [[J.J. Jackson]] (AKA Jonathan X AKA Bussie James) - Drums
* [[Frank Trompter]] (as Frankie Axwell) - alto and tenor sax
(later replaced by Craig Ryterski - tenor sax

== External Links ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidTheHappenings David and the Happenings YouTube videos]
* [http://vimeo.com/4835493 Video documentary on David Siegfried's life and relationship to James Chance]
* [http://www.purplehank.com/ Purple Hank's Website]
* [http://www.frankjazz.com/ Frank Trompeter's Jazz Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:1980s]]