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Eddie Rockit - Historical Archive

This is an auto-biographical recollection of the musical career of
Eddie Rockit a.k.a. Ed Nawrocki


the 50's
INTRODUCTION

I became interested in music at a very young age. My dad Stan Rock was a songwriter. So I was inspired by him to pursue music and songwriting.

I remember having a plastic guitar as a preschool child. Then as a pre-teen I assembled a mult-piece drum set out of cardboard barrels, metal cans and a plastic snare drum. I used the lids from the barrels as cymbals.


the 60's
Rainy Daze - Daze Of Night - 1964-65

Henry Kern - Accordion
John Weinbrener - Hawaiian Guitar
Ed Nawrocki - Drums

I started my professional career at age twelve. I joined a band with two other
grammar school classmates. I was playing drums at the time. The drum set I
used was borrowed from the brother of one of the guys.

We started playing parties at private homes performing such memorable tunes as " Never On Sunday ", " Yellow Rose Of Texas " and " Twist and Shout ". I guess the fellow who owned the drums got jealous, that we were popular, so he refused to
let me use his drums anymore and that ended that band.

I tried to get my dad to buy me a drum set, I even promised I would form or join a polka band but he brought me home a guitar instead and signed me up for guitar lessons. I took six weeks of guitar lessons and became a guitarist.


The Unknowns - Mesmerizers - Murphy's Marauders - 1966

Ed Nawrocki - Guitarist/Vocalist
Ray Gielarowski - Drums
Mike Pestrak - Keyboards

I knocked around on guitar for a few years basically learning to play. I found two other grammar school classmates who had an interest in playing music and we decided to form a band. It seemed like every week we had a new name.

Eventhough I was playing guitar I still yearned to play the drums. When I started high school I joined the school band as a drummer. I had no drums at home except my makeshift kit but fortunately we were allowed to rehearse at school after classes.

My love for the drums began to fade when I was told that in order to stay in the school band I would have to put on a uniform and march. I did not sign up for band the next semester or the following years in school and so ended my formal musical training. Everything I learned from then on was through experience with other musicians.


The Peasants Revolt - 1967

Ed Nawrocki - Guitarist/Vocalist
Ray Gielarowski - Drums
Mike Pestrak - Keyboards
Barry Deron - Bass

Paul Zibits - Lead Guitarist/Vocalist
Dennis Pokorney - Vocalist
Ray Rogus - Tambourine
Jerome Smigley - Lights/Sound/Special Effects

My grammar school buddies were also were planning to go to the same high school that I was (Gordon Technical H.S.) so we continued to play together and we finnaly settled on a band name, The Peasants Revolt

The People Factory - 1968-69

Ed Nawrocki - Guitarist/Vocalist
Ray Gielarowski - Drums
Mike Pestrak - Keyboards
Paul Zibits - Lead Guitarist/Vocalist
Dennis Pokorney - Vocals
George Stachnik - Vocalist/Cienematographer
John York - Bass


If you can't make it out on the image above, on our business cards we had the slogan "Fabrication of the Population". An early sign that we wanted to change the world through music.

The People Factory was a great experience, especially for a young teenage male. We began playing many of the local high schools Gordon Tech, Madonna, St.Pat's, Foreman and started to build a small following. Unfortunately our following was not big enough.

We entered a local Battle of the Bands that had a Mercury Records recording deal as a prize. The winners were chosen by audience response. Basically, who ever brought the most ( loud mouthed ) people won. We made it through several rounds and into the final round play off. The representative from Mercury Records came to my house and spoke to the band. He was rooting for us because he thought we were the most talented of all the competitors but he warned us that one of our challengers had a much bigger and louder following. They had a following almost twice our size and twice as loud, so in the end the Black Light Company won.


Other Musicians Encountered
Robert Prosser - Guitar
Gary Gaspord - Bass
John Lundeen - Guitar
Several Musicians whose names I forgot.

Rehearsals during this period were rotated between band members homes, basements and garages because nobody's parents could handle it for more
than a couple of weeks at a time.

Most of our gigs were played in local churches or school halls with the occasional birthday/house party. However the outdoor arena called to us even then. We performed outdoors for St. Bartholomew's Ice Cream Social, St. Pat's High School Homecoming event and a birthday party in a back yard. We had attempted to rehearse outdoors once or twice but the neighbors and police would have nothing of it.


the 70's
The North Ave. Storefront - The Cicero Ave. Storefront 1970-71
Ed Nawrocki - Guitar
Terry O'Hagen - Organ
Randy Stockwell - Guitar
Terry Black - Bass (from England)

Once I finished high school and began earning a living it was time to get a more serious band related rehearsal space. It was realy cool having a storefront. No more
did we have to put up with parents. However neighbors would still complain some
and the police still prohibted our rehearsals after 10:30 P.M.

This was the first of a few of the bands that never played out. Even though we had invested the time nearly a year between the two storefronts, we never got off the ground. At the North Ave. store it was just Randy, Terry and I without a rhythm section. Trivia note: the North Ave storefront was part of the French Boy Pop Corn factory. Occasionaly we would sneak into the factory and help our selves to popcorn.

The Cicero Ave. storefront was cooler because it was in the neighborhood and more than twice the size. When Terry Black joined the band I thought we were about to really make it. We never did find a drummer and that was that.

It was during this period of time that I picked up a hitch hiker named Patricia who said she was Cat Stevens' neice.
My "Summer of Love".


Other Musicians Encountered
Joe Murell - Bass
Jim Stelmakowski - Guitar
Jim Golubik - Drums
Mahoney's Good People


High Voltage - Stacy Sprague - 1972-73

Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist
Bob Edwards - Keyboards
Joe Army - Drums
Stacy Sprague had a Guitarist named Murphy.

Additional Members of these two bands are unknown at this point time.

This is when I decided to pursue my musical career as a vocalist and put down the
guitar. High Voltage rehearsed in a home in Wooddale and Stacy Sprague rehearsed
in a bar in River Forest. The common denominator in these two bands were Bob, Joe
and I. About a year after Stacy Sprague broke up I bumped into Bob at an Auto Show
held at McCormick Place. It was at this meeting that Bob told me about the new band he was in, called The Chicago Blues Band. It just so happened they needed a singer.
He said the band wanted to become more Rock oriented and was moving away from the Blues.


Chi-Blu - 1974 - 77

Original Line Up:

Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist
Bob Edwards - Keyboards
Sid Burton - Drums
Butch - Bass
Jim - Guitarist
Next Generation Line Up:

Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist
Bob Edwards - Keyboards
Sid Burton - Drums
Gene Ryder - Guitarist
Russ - Guitarist
Lou - Bass

Additional Crew:

Keith - Sound
Garry Fitzgerald - Lights/Effects
Ozzie - Crew
Electric Nick - Crew

I arrived at the audition with no equipment and a bit nervous. The band was called  The Chicago Blues Band. They had scheduled several people that day and when I arrived there were two others also auditioning. I did my thing and pretty much resolved myself to the fact that I probably wouldn't get the gig.

One of the auditioners was a fellow who was not such a great singer but he had a lot of P.A. equipment and the other was a foxy, well endowed, redhead female.

I was sure I was out of the running but the keyboard player said I should stick around. As it turned out, I got the gig. They thought the guy was a jerk and they didn't want to work with a female, in spite of her talent, they all just wanted to do her. So did I.

After I joined the band the name was changed to chi-blu  and our genre became Hard Rock. Several of the guys belonged to an organisation called Midwest Vans LTD . Midwest Vans  was a Van Club and very similar to a Motorcycle Club with the exception being everybody had vans. I also had a customised 1974 Gold Dodge Van at the time.

Because of our affiliation with Midwest Vans  and especially Oak (fuckin') Lawn Chapter  we began playing for club sponsored parties and festival type gigs known as Truck-Ins. Truck-Ins were large events sponsored by van dealerships and auto sport publications such as Hot Rod Magazine .These events were held all over the U.S., Canada and Europe and served as a meeting place for Van Clubs and Van Enthusiasts.The most memorable Truck-In for me was held in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This was the largest event I had ever performed at. Over 10,000 vans and easily twice as many spectators attended the event.

At the beginning of our show I had the privilege of leading The World's Largest Kazoo Band. All attendees of the event were issued a Kazooand were told to gather before our show to break the Guiness World Record for The World's Largest Kazoo Band. I believe we did break the record that night but you'd have to check with Guiness on that.

chi-blu  was written up in a Midwest Vans publication with a quote from a Hot Rod Magazine representative. In his review of the event he had said we had put on an outstanding performance but were short on crowd control. This was a distinction that we took great pride in at the time. The people went nuts. naked and almost naked females were being body-surfed to the stage where they would dance the Bump with me. I accidentally Bumped one gal off the stage, but before she fell into the crowd, she was body surfed and promptly hoisted right back up.

Because of our outstanding performance at this event, we were asked to play in Colorado for the next Hot Rod sponsored Truck-In. However; two of the guy's wives felt it was inappropriate for their husbands to continue playing with us and they were forced to quit the band. Unable to find replacements soon enough we declined the offer.

chi-blu lasted for a few more years, constantly changing personnel. Though we could not maintain the enthusiasm and level of popularity we had achieved we continued to perform in many of the South Side bars and Midwest Van Club parties.

During my days with chi-blu I was known as Eddie Bottlerocket . Many have asked how I came about that name and so here's the story. chi-blu had decided to play at an outdoor 4th of July party. I believe the house belonged to a friend or relative of our bass player, Butch. Attending the party was a young girl who lived at the house where we were rehearsing. Also at the party were some atrractive older girls who began taking interest in the band. Some of the girls noticed that the younger girl had been hanging around the band and they began pumping her for information about the band members. One of the girls asked about me. The young girl, trying to come off as if she knew us well, said "oh he's the new guy". The older girl asked if she knew my name. The young girl thought a moment. As it just so happened, at the same time, I was lighting bottlerockets as part of our performance. The young girl turned to the older girl and quite definitely and loudly announced "he's Eddie Bottlerocket" and everyone cheered. So that is how I got the nick name. In the many years that have passed since the "bottle" has disappeared and an "E" has become an "I" and most people know me as Eddie Rockit


Full Force - The Origin of the Tales - 1978

Gene Ryder - Guitarist/Songwriter
Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist/Songwriter

Gene and Ed colaborate and write to distinctly differnt versions of
" Tell Me It's Not Too Late "

This was the end of my collaborations with members of chi-blu. All rehearsals during the chi-blu period were on Chicago's far south side. We rehearsed in homes in Summit Illinois, Chicago's south side, Tinley Park and a warehouse in Hickory Hills.

Trying To Fly - 1979

In 1979 John Hartje and I collaborated and wrote " Trying To Fly ".
From this point on cover tunes were verbotten and only originals songs were written and performed.


the 80's
Though John & I were the first collaborators on what would eventualy be Justice Greedy Tunes Chris Butkevicius and I were the first to perform them. Chris & I did a number of appearances as a duet that were often billed as Ed Nawrocki or Ed Nawrocki and Friends.


Other Musicians Encountered
Tim Chambers - Drums
Dan Ward - Guitar
Mike Lewandowski - Keyboards
Steve Arvey - Bluesman/Guitarist


The Basement Band - The Continuation of the Untold Tales - 1980-81

Ed Nawrocki - Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter
John Hartje - Vocalist/Songwriter
Chris Butkevicius - Keyboards/Songwriter

Jim Remington - Vocalist/Songwriter
Brian Caffery - Guitarist/Songwriter
Bob Williams -Guitarist/Songwriter

This was the beginning of the writing team. The majority of the " Untold Tales of Armageddon " were composed in addition to several other songs that would latter become Justice Greedy classics.

The Lyons House - U.C.B. - Ultimate City Band - 1982-83

Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter
John Hartje - Vocalist/Songwriter
Chris Butkevicius - Keyboards/Songwriter
Bob Williams - Guitarist/Songwriter
Larry Garstke - Bass
Tom Andrews - Drums
Madeline Butkevicius - Vocalist/Songwriter
Sally - Vocalist
Black Debbie - Vocalist
Black Don - MC/Comic
Don Darsch - Sound/Crew
Starr- Groupie

This ensemble was put together to perform the material we had written so far
unfortunately that never came to pass. As you can see by the number of people
in this band we were hoping to put on quite a production.

During this period of time we rehearsed in a former motorcycle gang club house owned by Jerry Kilanowski.

Photo Archive

John Hartje
Singer/Songwriter

Bob Williams
Guitarist/Songwriter

Starr
Groupie

Spontaneous Combustion - 1983

Bob Williams - Guitarist/Songwriter
Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter
Chris Butkevicius - Keyboards/Songwriter
Tom Andrews - Drums
Don Darsch - Bass/Sound/Crew

Spontaneous Combustion came about spontaneously. Driven by Bob and Tom's desire to perform the material.

When Chris and Don were persuaded I reluctantly gave it a shot but combustion was self evident. Bob soon after moved to Minnesota but did not fade yet from history.

justice greedy historical archive - 1984-96

Back House/Storefront/Johns Attic/Back House Revisited - 1984-85

There was a transitionary period that followed which was the birth of Justice Greedy
and a union that spanned Greedy's entire history and became the Greedy Core.

The Greedy Core

Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter
Chris Butkevicius - Keyboards/Songwriter
Anthony Szymanski Jr. - Guitarist/Songwriter

Additional Personnel during this period:

John Hartje - Singer/Songwriter
Don Darsch - Sound
Bill Wilke - Saxophone
Frank Wolinsky - Flute
Bob ? - Drummer

After we returned to the back house we decided to try our hand at producing an in house recording. Chris had written rhythmic cord pattern I laid down a lead guitar riff
as a mellody and TJ played rhythm guitar. John and Chris both had their hands in producing this track but who did what and to what degree remains disputed to this day.

The finished piece was titled " 202 " . Most of us felt it would be great background music for a Harley davidson ad but we never pursued it.

Soon after Andrew Szymanski came in as drummer. Along with Andy came Brian Johnson who was resposible for most of the artwork for flyers and our first band logo. Chris Butkevicius came up with the name Justice Greedy . The name being taken from a play by Philip Messinger titled " A New Way To Pay Old Debts ". The main character in the play was Justice Greedy a corrupt judge. Additional artwork was also created by Madeline Butkevicius during this time period.

Other Musicians Encountered
The Goth Chick who wrote "Oh Sharon" - Vocals /Guitar
Lancelot Link the Secret Shrimp - Bass


These were our first banners created by Brian Johnson

Greedy 1- Dickens - 1986-87

Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter - a.k.a Eddie Rockit
Chris Butkevicius - Keyboards/Songwriter - a.k.a. Buddah
Anthony Szymanski Jr. - Guitarist/Songwriter/Vocal - a.k.a. T.J. Lake/McKenzie
Andrew Szymanski - Drums/Vocal - a.k.a Wolfboy
Phil Szpiki - Bass
Sue Zindle - Bass - a.k.a. Aurora
Don Darsch - Sound - a.k.a. Pola Bear
John Hartje - Production - Arrowheart

Brian Johnson -Art


Madeline Butkevicius - Art

There was a transitional period tha followed Phil's exit from the band and when Sue became our bass player. The first of many spins through the revolving door of bass players. During this first spin 3 other bass players auditioned and rehearsed with the band.
Kevin, Professor Longhair's uncle

Bill (Bam Bam) McCormack
who later gave us Air Play.

A black dude who claimed to be Jamaican
with a rather large ego who liked coming
to practice with two girls at his side.


Photo Archive - Greedy 1
This logo was designed by Madeline Butkevicius and was used on promo flyers and as cover art on the Owa Tagu Siam demo recording. Since most of the material Justice Greedy was performing had been arranged and created by the Ultimate City Band the banner included that bands name as a sub title.
This is the Dickens building of the Metroplex Rehearsal Spaces. Home to Justice Greedy for the greater part of their history. I don't remember the room number to Greedy 1  but it was an awesome space. Greedy 1 consisted of four rooms with two entries, one of which was a double door. We rehearsed in one room, set up another room as a control room/office, used the smallest room for storage and oboe rehearsal, and the third room was our lounge. The lounge was large enough for a 12 foot Chritsmas tree and a ping pong table.


These two photos were taken while Phil was in the band. The photo to the far left was our promo photo. Phil is the guy up front and in the middle with the dark subglasses on. Tony and Andy to his left and Chris and I to his right. The other photo is of me during our performance at Nick's Pub.


The next set of photos were taken by Bob Dekanec at Concordia College
where Sue, Andy and future bass player Roger were enrolled.
As you can see we liked having our fun with Andy.
(some say we should have cracked his skull when we had the chance)
Ed Nawrocki - Eddie Rockit
Ed Nawrocki - Eddie Rockit

Chris Butkevicius - Buddah

Back row L- R: Sue, Ed , Andy, TJ
Chris up front middle.

L - R : TJ, Ed, Andy upside down, Chris & Sue

Greedy 2 - Austin - 1988-89
Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter - a.k.a Eddie Rockit
Chris Butkevicius - Keyboards/Songwriter - a.k.a. Buddah
Anthony Szymanski Jr. - Guitarist/Songwriter/Vocal - a.k.a. T.J. Lake/McKenzie
Andrew Szymanski - Drums/Vocal - a.k.a Wolfboy
Sue Zindle - Bass - a.k.a. Aurora


LLL Duce - Sound
Jimi McHendrix - Crew
Dyno Boy - Crew
Joe ( From the Garage ) - Crew

John Hartje - Production - Arrowheart
Terminator - Crew
By the time we settled in at Greedy 2 we were performing regularly and anticipating continued success with the release of the " Owa Tagu Siam " demo recording. Unfortunately our democratic process went out of whack when we allowed a one vote veto power, rather than decision by consensus. A green arm band protest followed. Consensus won out and the Goose was cooked.


OWA TAGU SIAM - Demo Recording

The Owa Tagu Siam demo was recorded in 1988 at Pegasus Recording with Gary & Mary Kahn as engineers.

Featuring:
Ed Nawrocki ( Eddie Rockit ) - Rhythm Guitar and Vocals
Chris Butkevicius ( Buddah ) - Keyboards
Tony Symanski ( T.J. Lake ) - Lead Guitar and Vocals
Andrew Symanski ( Wolf Boy ) - Drums/Percussion
Sue Zindle ( Aurora ) - Bass and Vocals

Additional personnel:
John Hartje ( Arrowheart ) - Production

1. Impressions
Bob Williams - Words & Music

2. Rock Hard
Chris Butkevicius - Words
Ed Nawrocki - Music

3. You're Asking Me
Ed Nawrocki - Words & Music


Thanks to Bill McCormack, OWA received Air Play on his Radio Program on Radio Z95


Promotional Flyers - Owa Tagu Siam Tour



Tridis
Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter
Chris Butkevicius - Keyboards/Songwriter
Anthony Szymanski Jr. - Guitarist/Songwriter
Ty Wiggins - Bass
Nick Kapka Drums

Tony and Chris were still driven to continue and quickly another band was formed. This time we were going to try something much different than Justice Greedy . Nick Kapka a former member of the Plague , a thrash metal band, was added on drums and Ty Wiggins an ecclectic bass player from Conqueror Worm took over the bass player position. Fascinating music ensued however we were unable to write new material fast enough to keep everyon'e interest.

the 90's
XIXO - 1990

Ed Nawrocki - Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter
Chris Butkevicius - Keyboards/Songwriter
Madeline Butkevicius - Vocalist/Songwriter
Jerry DeLaDesmo - Guitar

Greedy 3 - Normandy - 1991- 93
Once again Justice Greedy Returns. The same line up as before with the only exception being that Sue Zindle was replaced by Roger Ottolino - King of the Owandabi Tribe on Bass.

Roger and some new material from Rockit sparked Justice Greedy to new heights. A number of gigs followed and the release of Something Inside gave most of us a renewed confidence.

Moon comes back on board as a roadie and blew on sax when ever he could in spite of the objections of many.

Photo Archive- Normandy Studio

Chris' sister Madeline paints Gargy our Gargoyle Gaurdian on the studio wall. Unfortunately the building was demolished and we were not able to rescue the wall art.


Gargy the Gargoyle

Roger Ottolino - King of the Owandabi Tribe
Roger Ottolino - King of the Owandabi Tribe

Normandy Wall Art
Wall Art

Normandy Crew
Normandy Crew

Visit TJ's Memorial for a Normandy Group Photo



Something Inside - Demo Recording
Featuring:
Ed Nawrocki (Eddie Rockit) - Rhythm Guitar and Vocals
Chris Butkevicius (Buddah) - Keyboards
Tony Symanski (T.J. lake) - Lead Guitar and Vocals
Andrew Symanski (Wolf Boy) - Drums/Percussion
Roger Ottolino (King of the Owandabi Tribe)
Bill Wilke - (Gooney/Moon) - Saxophone and Vocals

Recorded 1992 at Acme Recording
Mary & Gary Khan (Pegasus recording)- Engineer/Producer


1. Something Inside
    Words & Music
   Ed Nawrocki

2. Now and Then
   Words & music
   Ed Nawrocki

3. Snows First Fall
    Words & Music
   Ed Nawrocki

4. Down the Drain
    Words & Music
   Ed Nawrocki

Also during this period the song "Same" was written and remains unrecorded.
Click here - for Free Music Downloads from this Recording Session


Photo Archive - Something Inside Recording Session
Excerpts from the Something Inside - Recording Session Video - Provided by Bill Wilke
JG SI Studio - Andy JG SI Studio - Image 4
JG SI Studio - Image 3 JG SI Studio - Image 2
JG SI Studio - Image 14 JG SI Studio - Image 5
JG SI Studio - Image 6 JG SI Studio - Image 7
JG SI Studio - Image 8 JG SI Studio - Image 9
JG SI Studio - Image 10 JG SI Studio - Image 11
JG SI Studio - Image 12 JG SI Studio - Image 13
Click Here - for more Photos from the Something Inside - Recording Session

Greedy 4 - The Rubber Room - Dickens - 1992-93

This was an unusual period for Justice Greedy . Circumstances gave us the opportunity to rent the largest room that was available to band tenants. The room was about 4,000 square feet and we rented two of its' smaller rooms to other bands.

In many ways this could have been an awesome opportunity. Here was the opportunity to grow beyond being just a band and to become an enterprise. A full stage was built that was suitable for showcase, photo's or performance.

Not all shared our larger plans and some members of the band felt it was time for them to move on.

Two songs were written during this period; "Rubber Room" and "Vulture Vignette". Both songs were performed by what remained of the original band but neither had ever been recorded.

Justice Greedy did not perform during this period but Band of  F.O.G (Friends of Greedy) did. Chris, Bill and I did a one time performance with drummer Psycho Dave. We were the opening act for local Black Sabbath tribute band known as War Pigs. "Vultur Vignette" was a our biggest hit of the night.

Armageddon Force Alpha - 1993

Armageddon Force Alpha was a bold attempt to unite the members of the Ultimate City Band and Justice Greedy . The few rehearsals at this attempt were held in Tony's attic but as suspected personalities clashed and the project failed before it had a chance to even get started.

Greedy 5 - Room 15 - Dickens - 1995
Once again the line up we had when recording "Something Inside" decided to re-unite and play some gigs. Tensions had not ebbed but having the chance to perform we reluctantly worked together.

We also produced one last recording entitled Objection Sustained
.


Objection Sustained - Demo Recording

Featuring:
Ed Nawrocki (Eddie Rockit) - Guitar and Vocals
Chris Butkevicius (Buddah) - Keyboards
Tony Symanski (T.J. lake) - Lead Guitar and Vocals
Andrew Symanski (Wolf Boy) - Drums/Percussion
Bill Wilke - (Gooney/Moon) - Bass
Mark Leb - (Lackowits) - Rhythm Guitar and Vocals


Recorded 1994 at Airwaves Recording
Gary Khan (Pegasus Recording) - Engineer/Producer


1. Sayso
Tony Szymanski - Words and Mellody
Ed Nawrocki - Additional Music

2. Snakes
John Hartje - Words
Ed Nawrocki - Music

3. Drinken' N Driven'
Mark Leb - Words and Mellody
Ed Nawrocki - Additional Music

4. Reaping The Harvest
Ed Nawrocki - Words & Music

5. Trying To Fly
John Hartje - Words & Mellody
Ed Nawrocki - Additional Music

6. Y.C.H.I.O.O.H
(You Can't Hold It Over Our Heads)
Chris Butkevicius - Words and additional Music
Ed Nawrocki - Mellody and Additional Music
Tony Szymanski - Words and Additional Music


Click here - for Free Music Downloads from this Recording Session

Greedy 666 - Room 15 - Dickens - 1996

I was glad to see Greedy perform again but was pretty worn from all the experiences and wanted out. I began to look for an understudy. Mark Leb was brought in to learn my guitar parts and I was to focus on vocals. This did not ease the tension and shortly after Andy and Roger left the band permanently.

We auditioned bass players and drummers and a vocalist. Psycho Dave and Wiccan Joe as drummers. Moon on bass. Barry Gibbons as vocalist. Chris on keyboards.

What resulted in the end was more of a Justice Greedy Tribute band than Justice Greedy . Eventhough T.J. was reheaersing with this band he did not play either of its' two gigs and I ended up covering the lead guitar work.

A D.A.T. recording of us was made by a fellow named Ira at this bands second appearance but I never received a copy.

At this point I vowed to never perform professionaly again with any members of Justice Greedy . I do however continue to jam with some of the individuals still.

Eddie Rockit has retired Justice Greedy has expired.

Rockit returns to Austin - Rockit Space Management - 97-99

On April 1 st I received a call from Rod Arensen requesting that I take over the management of the Band Rooms . He had chosen to discontinue his relationship with K.M.S. Management.

Because of a severe thunderstorm and roof problems all the Austin Band Rooms were devastated by water. Most of the bands immediately vacated the building. It was the building management's opinion that the roof leak had nothing to do with the bands vacating and that what they believed happened was an exodus to another building which K.M.S. managed.

All Band Rooms though were to be affected by the dismisal of K.M.S. which meant that the Dickens Band Rooms which were still occupied no longer had anybody to manage them.

I felt that K.M.S. was wrongly dismissed but I began receiving calls from the remaining tenants who I knew personally and was asked to take the responsibility. Reluctantly I did take the management position and I went into business as the Eddie Rockit Service Group and Rockit Space Management.

I managed the Band Rooms for almost 2 years but could not bear up to the stresses involved. My freind Tom has managed the Band Rooms since.

the new millenium
Room 303 - dain bread piknik
In the year 2000 my life began to drastically change. Injuring my back was only the first of several medical and psychological problems. In 2002 I suffered 2 heart attacks and received 2 stints. A chemical imbalance resulted and I was treated for depression and anxiety. I was the diagnosed with prostrate cancer and underwent a radical prostatectomy.

In 2003 I lost my job and I have been unemployed/self-employed ever since.

In 2004 I began to recover from all my setbacks and approached my friend Tall Tom (The Stork) and got myself a Band Room , Room 303. Mark Leb, TJ and I jammed a few times and kicked around some ideas for a new band. I wanted to call my band Dain Bread Piknik .

Though I enjoyed jamming with Mark and TJ, I didn't want to actualy form a band with them but TJ and Mark were ready to make plans to do so and I agreed to produce it. Inspired by 911 and other negative things happening around the world TJ wanted to use his band as a political platform and to express his world philosophy.

Mark suggested the name Pontious Pilate but I felt the name had too strong of a biblical reference and that it would confuse the message they were trying to send. TJ reflecting on the 911 image made the comment that the pilot of the plane that crashed in to the Twin Towers was a Conscious Pilot and aware of his actions. Noting the similarity between the terms Pontious Pilate and Conscious Pilot the band was named Consious Pilate and the cover art for the recording would be the image of a plane crashing into two towers.

No actual bands was ever formed but Dain Bread Piknik became the inspiration for a film project. We wanted to work in all our creative ideas under one banner and Dain Bread Piknik became that banner and served as the umbrela that covered it all.

TJ and I had many creative brainstorming sessions with Tom and a couple of Jam Sessions. We began to call ourselves Rock, Stork and Daryl (TJ being Echt Daryl Echt) and though we had no intention to perform as a band the idea of us performing together as RSD became the inspiration for the concert segment of the Dain Bread Piknik . We began work on the character development of the bands and musicians' characters. We drew on our collective past musical experiences for much of the characters and added a bit of absurdity. RSD was to be reunited with other musicians and the concert portion of the Dain Bread Piknik was to be the reunion of a bygone super act known as Justice Bleeding.

Tall Tom made the comment in passing that there were 3 items that constantly would always seem to disappear from his home; Bic Pens, Alligator Clips and Phillips Screwdrivers or Bic, Clips and Phillips. Since Rock, Stork and Daryl needed to reunite with somebody in the story development, the other half of Justice Bleeding was to be Bic, Clips and Phillips. We decided to make Nigel Bic the stereotype superstar asshole and Daryl Echt a Motley Metal Maniac was to be his arch enemy.

We felt TJ's band concept Consious Pilate would also be one of the acts but because TJ wanted Coscious Pilot to be an ecclectic pop band in the Dain Bread Piknik story he also wanted to create a band to express an even darker genre of music under a different name. He wanted Daryl Echt's band to be a Heavy Metal act from Europe and he chose the name Wart Hog which was originaly the last name for the character Daryl. TJ later changed the last name of Daryl to Echt (Echt Daryl Echt) and I suggested the band name Rat Bastard.

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Finding little use for the Band Room I returned home. I then sold off all my music gear with the exception of my 12 string acoustic. During this period I wrote 2 songs "Who Needs Love" and "Stown Away" neither one had been recorded but " Stown Away" can be heard as a freaky midi file by clicking here .

It was also during this period that I approached evilchopper and had him re-mix all of our demo recordings and to compile them on one CD. The CD is titled BURNT an historic collection of little significance.

2005

Many of my former musical associates have approached me to jam and possibly work with them. Since I still have no desire to rekindle any former music relationships I have taken on the role of the instigator. Motivating and conspiring to keep these musical talents doing something creative.

Those of you hoping for my return may be sadly disappointed. Will I play again? I would have to say that is unlikely. Will I record the unrecorded material? Possibly but finances are the limiter. Will I work with former band members or collaborators?

In other news: T.J. and Andy's mother has passed away.

Andy is now a
Pickled Beat

2006

In april of 2006, Anthony Szymanski Jr. passed away. A great sadness filled the hearts of all of us who had known Tony as a friend and musical collaborator. T.J.'s wake and funeral brought all his musical collaborators together. A strong desire was expressed by many to put together a tribute band featuring T.J. 's recorded and unrecorded material. At first it appeared that there was enough drive and passion to make it happen but as in Justice Greedy's past we were unable to unite and establish a band to do so. For what ever reason it did not happen. The artists were split in two factions, those East of Harlem and those West of Harlem. John Hartje and I met regularly with determination to make it happen but nothing manifested.

Since I was getting nowhere with the Dain Bread Piknik project I was prepeared to jump in on the tribute wholeheartedly. I felt Andy (T.J.'s brother) was sincere in his desire to memorialise his brother. I also felt that since John Hartje had been working with TJ over the past year on a project I had instigated with TJ, I truly felt that a tribute to Tony was realy going to happen. Mark Leb was willing but right from the start felt that everybody was just blowing hot air. In the end he proved to be right.

2007

So once again I had given up on music and I was no longer frustrated or anxious about anything. I spent most of my time just hanging out with Tall Tom at the bandrooms and I found great peace and joy without the need for a band or performing music.

The good life didn't last long though because iI soon found myself caring for a dieing friend. Tom had been diagnosed with Leukemia late in 2006 and I along with Eric Brown did our best to be there for Tom in his end days.


Click here to visit the STORKSNEST BAND ROOMS.


2008 -2009
In the early months of 2008, Eric Brown encouraged me to start playing music again. The two of us were now managng the band rooms and things were going rather smoothly. I had written a new song dedicated to the memory of Tom Krpata and TJ Szymanski, Life Is. The song was very different from stufff I had written before. Soon after came the songs No Reply Required & I'm Still Waiting.

I really had thought I was done with playing music but thanks to Eric, I was on a role. Eric had some recording gear and so we started messing around with the stuff and realised we were producing some quality recordings. I recorded 2 older songs, Rubber Room and Stown Away. I played and sang all the parts on Rubber Room and Eric played drums on Stown Away.

Eric and I decided to try and find an available bass player among the band room tenants and so beganThe Rubberband Band

More about The Rubberband Band and Dire Corner Deal soon.

HIPI JEY PUBLISHING
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