TOMBSTONE NJ
JOEL PIRARD: I was in a band named ORION that broke up in 1981. George Barker was in a band called Topeka that broke up around the same time. We formed TOMBSTONE.
I have adapted the stuff we wrote together and 2 he wrote in a TOPEKA and completed all the songs in a home studio. Some are simple, some are a bit more intense. Many speak to simple love and broken hearts.
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So with your kind indulgence, here are songs I was able to re-record from a terrible source tape. In some cases I had to rewrite lyrics from his buried vocals! Warts and all this is ALL ME.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Mostly formed from 2 bands that used to perform together a lot.
Years ago I was in a band with my friend, former TOPEKA guitarist George Barker, former TOPEKA bassist Ray Lehner, Mike Gelbke on drums, and later Scott Pittman replacing Ray. We were sort of a cross between early Steely Dan and Tom Petty!
All I had for decades was ONE boom box rehearsal tape.
I have over the years ( since 1983 ) listened to it and culled from it for my own recordings.
The band had broken up and George and I had lost touch. Subsequently I found out on Facebook that he had died in 2000. George was an amazing guitarist and songwriter.
Not sure if I will ever release them anywhere, but they need to see the light of day.
I cannot play like George, but I think I captured his essence.
Our mutual friend Glen was with him in his last days, and told me that George always had a kind word for me when ever I was brought up, which HE did often. I had wanted to reach out several times but could not locate him.
He could make you crazy, his playing could make you cry, he could make you want to kiss him. I miss my friend. I wish I could have seen him again. I REALLY wish i could have played with him again.
When I joined Facebook in 2009, he was gone 9 years..
UPDATE: I had lost touch with Scott over the years as well, but former musicians we knew in common informed me recently that Scott, sadly passed away 2 years ago...
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
We were all pretty used to playing live by the time this band formed.
Your musical influences
Jeff Beck, Tom Petty, Allman Brothers Band, Kansas, Steppenwolf
What equipment do you use?
FENDER STRATOCASTER, FENDER P-BASS, ALESIS QUADRASYNTH, KORG TRITON, CASIO ELECTRIC GRAND, YAMAHA PSR E-303, ZOOM DRUM MACHINE ROLAND DIGITAL RECORDER for the studio recordings,
The vintage recordings were recorded on a Panasonic cassette boombox, my keys were Korg Polysix, Crumar organizeer and a Yamaha CP30 73 note electric piano. Kustom cabinet with 4 channell powered mixer. George used Ampeg amps and Gibson Les Paul, Ray used Fender precison and Ampeg, Mike used Ludwig percussion.
