Thousand Oaks Rock Bands - Stories of Our Times -

It's March... of the Ents...over snow capped Rockies

2012-03-02T19:24:00.003-08:00

A good friend, musician n' Rocky Mountain survivor-

Wally Stoltze III.

He and I printed 'PIG IRON' in '69 to distribute at TOHS; a monthly guide to concerts and reviews.
'Pygmy Productions' for concerts and cave raves... rented the CLC auditorium for a San Fernando Valley band, 'Champion' and Cast of a Thousand concert.
We wrote some tunes: 'Spill the Wine' for Brother's Keeper,
'Evasella' for Lady
'Factory Man' with Cast
'Nordic Reindeer revue' for Marut
'Spiders in Yer Chimney, (baby)' for Cast Iron Pygmies...

Cheers, Wally.

Em dim7 chard

2012-02-28T20:43:00.000-08:00

Mushroom man, Jerry McMillan plays a mean Swiss Chard.

Spider's in yer Chimney?

2012-02-17T23:33:00.000-08:00

Larry 'Spider' Webb still rockin' in Feb.

'Got'sum red hot coals burnin' in a wooly hung stockin',
All thru the house, not even a mouse was talkin'
Here comes McNick in wisker'd white jaws,
Oh yea! Death may be yer Santy Claus...
...Mama.
.

Marut, Cast of Asteroids

2012-02-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

My lovely Cheryl found this article in one of her Mother Jane's memory shoe boxes-

Summer of '78 I joined Wally and his new band, composed of young students of Cast.. Jeff was a new comer prodigy, playing bass, bass pedals, drums, perfect pitch n' sneers.
Marut was a live band, covering 801, 10cc and Cast live.
New songs evolved, 'All in a Breath, Rain and Wally n' eye's, 'Nordic Reindeer Revue'... any vid/recordings out there?

Thousand Oaks News Chronicle
Photo by Paul Fontana

It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine: Children of the Mushroom interview with Dennis

2011-09-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine: Children of the Mushroom interview with Dennis.

California Gold Coast Dreamin'

2011-07-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Just acme across a new Band blog that is covering the Tri County rock bands from the 1960s. There are a few bands that I'm now becoming familiar with outside of Ventura County. I look forward to checking California Gold Coast Dreamin' often. The featured band on the blog this month of July 2011 is, Children of the Mushroom

makes ya wanna join a band all over again...

A Sunday's Cast of the Light of the Moon

2010-11-24T00:38:00.000-08:00

The Gentlemen of the 'Sunday, Jammy, Sunday';~
Frank Akrey on keys, Bil McCombe on guitars and Cast included.

Thanks to Frank for sharin' his space for a sunny Sunday gathering of friends, a clear night n' a full moon...

...is that lava flowing down the Conejo Grade?

March 23, 1968 Billboard Magazine Mentions Children of the Mushroom

2010-07-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

Well, while enjoying a little wifi time at a Ventura Starbucks I happened on this internet archived March 23rd 1968 (page28, see highlighted area) Billboard Magazine which mentions radio station KELP located in El Paso Texas. Their program music director/deejay, Charlie Russell, picked Children of the Musroom's "You Cant Erase A Mirror" for the Best Leftfiled Happening. The El Paso area is where this song took off in a regional breakout which resulted in Children of the Mushroom charting.

Billboard's own definition: Best Leftfield Pick is a record by a new artist/established artist who hasn't had a hit recently that has a chance to go all the way.

Ricky knew he'd be Rockin'

2010-01-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

Garage Rock Radio Theme - MySpace Video

2009-11-18T23:42:00.000-08:00

Garage Rock Radio Theme - MySpace Video

Nice of Garage Rock Radio to include a photo of Children of the Mushroom into their new video theme!

ebay Bidding - Children of the Mushroom

2009-11-17T22:09:00.000-08:00

Well I haven't seen one of our 45s for sale on ebay for a while. This one seems a bit worn. How much will it sell for?

I did contact the Seller & this is his reply

YOUR THE MAN!~I wish you lived down the street for i would beg you to sign it....Oh you probably would have just talked me out of this record...how many of you guys are still around?.....Picked this up at an estate sale here in El Paso...Mil.bases everywhere so no telling where it came from....the listing originated on Craigslist....I will see this lady again I'm sure at another sale and will find out everything i can about the family but this may take time..(I wont forget)....Thank you very much for your email...Have you seen the jerry bright on line? take care.....drew

Da' Rec n' Crew

2009-09-03T18:46:00.001-07:00

Larry 'Spider' Webb on the T.O.H.S. Quad with Dale Poune in BG

Phil Hareff Reminiscing At Band Tree lll August 2009

2009-09-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

You never know what will pop up in conversation at one of Jim Rolf's Band Tree events. Here Phil Hareff is remembering Conejo Car Wash which used to be located at 399 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Owner Hugh Holbert hired many local rock band members. Since our bands didn't generate the funds for us our job there allowed many of us to buy equipment & cars. Along with the hard work we were able to keep up with all the band & girl gossip. Oh the stories we could tell you! Any of you remember Phil's 64 red GTO?

Conejo Car Wash owner Hugh Holbert (seated left) with California Grassfield members (L to R) Rich Severson , Boyd Cannon, Pat Flynn, Colin Kyffin (seated). Boyd & Rich worked at the car was wash with many of us.

A Concert at CLC, Thousand Oaks

2009-09-01T17:03:00.001-07:00

Dennis Looks Perplexed - Band Tree lll 2009

2009-08-31T00:11:00.003-07:00

Well, Dennis looks hot & like he kinda missed so many friends at the 3rd Band Tree Reuinion. What no Children of the Mushroom! Anyway the day was a great success. Click on the photo link to see a few pics ... Hats off again to Jim Rolfe!!

Thousand Oaks Bandtree Reunion III

2009-08-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

I'll be there in spirit for III.

My good friend Joe Dean

will be the Bassman for Cast this year.

Y'all hav'a Blast n' Rock da' Joint!

Rec Zeppelin

2009-07-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from 'The Rec'

Band Tree lll - In The Making

2009-07-30T03:50:00.000-07:00

Well Jim Rolfe, famous Conejo Valley guitar player/teacher, is getting the word out about BandTree lll Sunday August 30th. See the list below of the confirmed bands so far. Its not easy for many of us that live out of state to get there. I'm considering attending even though Children of the Mushroom might not play. For me its just rubbing shoulders with old friends and hearing and re living the ole stories...

All the Info can be found at the Thousand Oaks Band Tree lll Facebook event page.

Venue Address & Map

Jim Rolfe says...

Admission Free:

You can bring: Hats, sunscreen, money, cameras,

You can't bring: Chairs, ice chests, drinks, food. The venue requests that all drinks and food be purchased there. They are doing a great favor providing the venue so save your pennies and help the T.O. Band tree and have a nice lunch and dinner. See their lunch menu. There many be a change in the food provided.


11:20	*Chuck Sternburg and Friends*
12:10	*Boa Bab Blues Band*
12:45	*Moore & More*
1:30	*Shamus Twins*
2:15	*Blue Coats*
2:50	*Gary Meinhold and Friends*
3:35	*Dana Bailey*
4:20	*Chadwick Williams Band*
5:05	*Spider Webb*
5:50	*Cast of a Thousand*
6:35	*Unsound Souls*
7:20	*Retro Rocket*
8:20	*Arlene Kole and Family*

Gossip: I found a reference on Wikipedia connecting Jim Rolfe with The Palace Guard's Emitt Rhodes. Something new in the making?

1967 Grad Night Photo From Disneyland

2009-06-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

Seems like Jon from Capital City Arts Initiative was on the Internet one day recently hunting for the right photograph for their upcoming graduation celebration mailer & chose this shot of myself & April Pierson (taken at Disneyland Grad Night 1967). The 60s things just keep popping up. Anyway who'd a thought.

Click here for their particulars on Facebook.

Jerry McMillens Vox AC 30

2009-05-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

Yes this is the same Vox amp used by Jerry McMillen on August Mademoiselle & You Cant Erase A Mirror back in 1967. Currently owned by Gary Meinhold. Jerry made this thing scream with his Fuzzbuster.

PS - no wonder I cant hear very well today! playing drums in front of this baby...

& Yes that's Jerry in the photo at a BandTreell practice 2007.

Vox History by Jim Miller

Jerry McMillen Interviewed On Takilma FM

2008-08-07T04:15:00.001-07:00

Children of the Mushroom's Jerry McMillen was interviewed by Spaceman, a DJ from Takilma FM this last week in Oregon. Jerry unveiled some new tunes as well as an up to date version of "The Mushroom Theme". Yes he shared a bit of the ole 60's stories too. Click here for the archived recording of the show. Jerry's interview starts approximately 30 minuets into the show.

Thanks Spaceman! www.takilmafm.com

I heard Al Pisciotta & Dave Fontana listened in live via the Internet, cool.

Bill Eucker & Pink Dominos

2008-07-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

Came across some cool information about a song that the famous Thousand Oaks guitar teacher Bill Eucker was credited for writing in the early 1960's called Pink Dominoes. The web site I read www.officenaps.com also spoke about a group called The Crescents featuring a lady guitarist named Chiyo from Oxnard. You can read all about it at officenaps.com

Children of the Mushroom practice with Krista Swanson

2008-04-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

What a very nice treat for a drummer dad to have his daughter invited to sing with Children of the Mushroom at the last Band Tree ll event. Also nice of Frank Akrey to allow some the participating bands a very well equipped place to practice. Hope we can all do it again...

Rock N Roll Meltdown, Glasgow Scotland - Plays "August Mademoiselle"

2007-10-07T17:48:00.001-07:00

Hi Dennis,
I am a Radio DJ in Glasgow, Scotland and I recently got my hands on a Pebbles album featuring the Children Of The Mushroom track August Mademoiselle - WOW!

It's the only track I've heard but it is amazing and slightly sinister (which I like even more!). I was doing some research for my show and I came across your site - it's great to see that you guys are still good friends, when so many garage bands have drifted apart. I'm definitely gonna play Children Of The Mushroom on my show in the next few weeks, I'll let you know when. My show is called Rock N Roll Meltdown and it is on Sundays 4-6pm (in the UK) on subcity radio.
So many bands of the time are really hard to find out stuff about - it's great that Bandtree keeps the spirit of these bands going. People in the UK are really into garage rock there is a whole scene going on in Glasgow.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you have a fan base over here, and if you guys are ever in Scotland you would be most welcome to come on the show.

All the best
Pete Howard

Children of the Mushroom Anthology DVD

2007-10-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

J & K Productions produced a half hour DVD of Children of the Mushroom. This is a very short sample. Its mixed with early photos of the band as well as clips of some of the cover tunes they played early on. Contact Jerry McMillen at mushroom@cavenet.com to order.