1985. I had just returned to Spokane from one year on the road with The Gayle Rose Band (bottom right in photo) when, in a discussion with Hidde Hanenburg about his new band, I mentioned I was gearing up to play in another band. He mentioned this new band might be open to adding another drummer. Years earlier, in the late ’70′s (the legal bar age being 19 at the time in Idaho) I had seen a band called Sideshow perform with 2 drummers, not two simultaneous kit players (i.e.Doobie Brothers, 38 Special), and not a kit player and a conga player, but a kit player and multi-percussionist. I was mesmerized by the intricate patterns and endless possibilities. So I phoned Jeff and he was open to fronting the band (I also knew it would free him up to concentrate on lead vocals and boy did he ever kick-ass at it and played beautifully too!). I thus joined The Exploding Fifis with no audition. They had already played a couple gigs but the only bar gig they’d played before I joined was at the Red Lion Tavern. By the first rehearsal I met the others and realized how truly talented and special everyone was, AND… they had NO egos (a rarity in this biz)! The repertoire was quirky, danceable "New Wave" with a touch of funk. Uniquely, they played only what they loved and not just what was marketable.

We clicked. I assumed we probably wouldn’t  get many gigs or have any fans ( I would later be proved very wrong about this!). But I knew a big sound system would help. So we got in touch with my old friend Howard Coon to supply it and to be our soundman. He proved to be a vital part of our show. We soon developed an ever-increasing, loyal and varied fan base and were playing more venues. My favorites were O’bender’s, Red Lion Bar & Grill, and especially Ahab’s Whale. We picked up some sponsors: Rock Bottom clothing and a hair stylist. We even performed on a live TV show broadcast from Cheney called "You’re In Good Company". We had very favorable press reviews and articles.

1986. Funny, I don’t recall a decision to break up the band-we just stopped calling each other. Later, some members of the Fifis played together in other bands but I think they’d agree that it never clicked the same way. I never thought I’d see these guys together again, but thanks to Karl’s initiative, and recent work by all the rest of us (mainly Cherie), we’re planning a reunion! We have some new material to go with the old crowd favorites! I even purchased a vintage Simmons V analog 1982 drumkit just for Fifis gigs (see photo above)!

There was nothing like The Exploding Fifis back then, and that still holds true today!