I came across this fascinating story whilst playing through some random tracks from my record collection. It’s amazing what ‘rabbit holes’ you find yourself wandering down once you start to check for some background.

I’ll keep this relatively brief though, as Dean has produced what looks to be an excellent book that accounts in more detail for his various projects over the years in different bands. (‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Soldier: A Memoir’ is available from Amazon … and no doubt several other online and physical retailers.)

There is also a website that hosts many photos of the various bands and the time Dean spent in Vietnam … but it’s made clear that the images may not be used without express permission.

Anyway, the music and back-story are pretty darned good, so I thought I’d help spread the word a little.

Dean, from Portsmouth, Virginia, formed Dean & The Mustangs, his first band, in 1962. Various personnel came and went over the years and in 1965, with the influential British Invasion in full swing, they changed their name to The Satellites.

One acetate recording was made, but before anything could be made from that, in 1966 Dean was drafted into the army and sent to Vietnam. It was while stationed in Qui Nhon as part of the 127th MP Company that he formed The Electrical Banana, the name apparently chosen partly in deference to the front cover of The Velvet Underground‘s first album and a lyric in Donovan‘s “Mellow Yellow.”

Playing and practicing at various military bases, ‘The Banana‘ as they were sometime referred, recorded a few songs in an army tent, one of which was an early cover of The Velvet Underground‘s ‘There She Goes Again.’ This, and the B-side ‘She’s Gone‘ were sent back to California for a limited run of 7″ singles to be produced. (Original copies of these must surely be worth a deal of money, I’d suggest, although I can find no record of any being sold / valuation.)

With his term of duty completed, Dean returned home where he got together a backing band and recorded the ‘Gooseberry Pie‘ track posted at the start of this piece. This, as far as I can make out, was his only official release, with copies on Discogs exchanging hands upwards of £150 …. there is even one on sale as I write this, for over £1000. (The track was ‘honoured’ with inclusion on Volume Two of the ‘Essential Pebbles‘ compilation.)

From here, he formed The Soft Light who would appear on various local television channels.

(The track – played on vinyl – starts at 2′ 26″ in. Check out the dancing, too.)

Next came my favourite of Dean’s band incarnations, Mad Wax. Briefly named Spectrum, this power trio played some funky hard rock and were active from around 1971 through 1978. George Newsome, on bass, also played with Dean on his ‘solo’ recording of ‘Gooseberry Pie.’

After this, the trail goes a bit quiet. There was a brief surfacing of a band by name of Mousey Brown, in effect a replacement for Mad Wax who had called it a day by 1979. However, I believe only a few shows were played and no recordings made.

In the mid-Eighties, Dean formed what he states was his most successful band, by virtue of playing with ‘seasoned players with years of experience.’ Big Bubba & The Blockbusters was a 50s / 60s tribute band that opened for many big stars from that era.

But that was The Eighties … and for another blog somewhere out there to pick up on!

__________