West Michigan Mid-Sixties Bands
Pedestrians
Grand Rapids
Fenton, Atco
A message from Kim Weighous, lead guitar player of the Pedestrians, August 2001
This is Kim Weighous, lead guitar player of the Pedestrians. What a great site. Sure brings back lots of memories for me. I wanted to tell you that the "Buyit" label was strictly a brainchild of Tony Cooper as he had aspirations of starting his own label with what was supposed to be the follow up to "Think Twice." WLAV and WGRD both initially agreed to air "It's Too Late," but then wanted to play the B side (which I sang, with a terrific head cold). The ensuing confusion led to WLAV only playing the "It's Too Late" once or twice, then dropping it. WGRD never played it. "Think Twice," after being #1 for the year 1966 in Grand Rapids, was rereleased in a version with dubbed in bells and strings in Orlando, Florida, where it went to #1. Tony Cooper's folks were from down South. I had a few copies of this which may still be at my mom and dad's house in Grand Rapids. The four of us, Tony Cooper rhythm guitar and vocals, Billy De Young, bass, Jay Kay (Kilpatrick) Drums, and myself signed a contract with Atco (I was only 14, everyone else 17) and we thought we were headed for the big time, but they never did anything with our song. We wrote them a letter asking why they did not do anything and they sent us back the contract.
By the way, we were the only band in Michigan ever to beat the Soul Benders in a battle of the bands at "The Place" in 1966. We did not participate in any more battles after that so we could keep bragging rights.
I played with Don Henke at his night club at Turk Lake out by Greenville for a couple of years. I noticed his record with Don Henke and the Echomen on the Fenton list. Don had this great voice like Bill Medley. That was fun, too.
In looking around the site some more, I noticed on Aris' site that Dave Kalmbach stopped by a recent session with Aris. Glad to here he is still around. The recording studio was set up in an old theater in Sparta. In later years with the club band, Flyin' Home, we recorded what turned out to be pretty much a dud, "The Flyin' Home Boogie," at that same studio. WLAV played it, but it only went to #35. This was in about 1973, I think, so the studio was still active at that time. We went outside the studio and took publicity photos. I don't know how much longer he operated the studio after that.
Do you have any information on The Barons? This was Dick Stiemli (later with Soulbenders) on guitar, Dave Rutkowski on keyboards and vocals, Bill McNamara on bass, and I don't recall the drummer's name. They were the best band in GR from about mid 1964 to 1965, in the very early days of dance bands in that period. They played the Grand Valley Armory, the forerunner of The Place. I saw them there several times and idolized Dick, and copied a lot of his riffs. Dave was later in the Pedestrians briefly before they disbanded. If you can get ahold of Jim Kemp (whose nickname was "Jafes," the label name for the Baron's songs) the manager of the Pedestrians and The Barons, he would probably have a lot of information about that period and be able to refer you to a lot of good sources.
Last updated on May 17, 2004.I WAS 14 WHEN i FIRST HEARD tHINK TWICE.
i THOUGHT IT WAS SO COOL THEN AND, i THINK IT IS SO COOL NOW.
I HAVE A COPY OF YOUR SONG ON A TAPE AND i NEVER STOP PLAYING IT.
dO YOU HAVE THE GUITAR CHORDS AND LYRICS YOU COULD E-MAIL ME?
tHANKS
I'm Tony's cousin. I remember when you guys practiced in my dad's barn when you visited south Alabama. I can still remember the melody and some of the lyrics to "Think Twice." It was a neat song.
Posted by: Clay at December 25, 2004 10:58 PMKIM ---I'VE READ YOUR INTERVIEW ON THIS WEBSITE &
WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU STATED
THAT ATCO NEVER RELEASED "THINK TWICE". SOME YEARS AGO, I FOUND A "STOCK" COPY OF THE RECORD
ON ATCO WHILE LOOKING AT SOME RECORDS AT A RECORD SHOW. SO SOME MUST HAVE GOTTEN OUT THERE.
HAVE SEEN MANY PROMO COPYS ON ATCO, BUT ONLY THE
1 STOCK COPY. THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE OUT THERE.
I'VE ALWAYS PREFERRED THE FENTON VERSION OF THE
RECORD OVER THE "BUYIT/ATCO" VERSION.
Hi I just pickup this site and I want to say hello to all my friends
this site brings back a lot of wonderful memories
I still think about you guys and gals and the fun we had
I would love to hear from you
By the way, I am still in music and ready to release a new album
I still have copies of the original Think Twice
Bye 4 now
Tony Cooper
didn't bobby speak play keybords in the pedestrians ?
Posted by: bob d at February 11, 2006 06:46 PMI just happened to see this web site on the Pedestrians, a band I remember very fondly and noticed that Kim Weighouse, a fellow Northview graduate I believe (one year ahead of me) was in the band. I enjoyed the music and would love to get a hold of the song "Think Twice" If you get this message Kim, send me a message back? Take care!
Ron
Posted by: Ron at July 25, 2006 05:50 PMI have a couple copies of The Pedertrians "Think Twice", one on the original label and one on the WLAV Memory Pack, but they are both scratchy. How can I get a clean copy? I don't find it on any P2P. It was a huge hit in the Grand Rapids area. It would be nice to circulate it again.
I dj'ed at wlav and wzzr/wzzm for many years, and would like to obtain a clean copy for personal use. Maybe in mp3 format?
I rememeber going over to Kim Weighous's house when I was in high school (maybe 66-68). I think they were looking for a singer (maybe had an add at Middleton's music) and I wanted an audition. I probably told my Mom that I was going to Arlan's to shop for records and snuck over there. I don't think anyone ever set up their amps and drums and I know I never sang for them. I was intimidated to beat the band, but so impressed with Kim's string-bending I wanted to be part of that sound. Thanks for the memories...I didn't know Kim was in the Pedestrians. Wish more people would offer their memories on this wonderful website!
Posted by: kim rush at October 18, 2006 12:27 PMBaron's drummers name was "Mandrill Fern". That has to be contrived, huh?
The group did a gig or two at the old Grand Haven Roller Rink & Ballroom too in the spring of '65.
Manager Jim Kemp died in July 2006.
Posted by: Tom Olejniczak at March 20, 2007 01:12 AMHey, maybe somebody could upload Think Twice by the pedestrians onto YouTube..it'd be a great way for lots of us who don;t have copies of the song to hear it once again...whatt'ya think..anybody?
Posted by: richie at May 25, 2007 03:39 PMI JUST put my 45 of Think Twice/Its Too Late on CD. Think Twice is an amazing song. Riddled by warning bells, the vocalist warns of bleakness if you don't think about what you have. At the very end the bell rings, and the song fades to black.
My copy (on atco) is scratchy but it does not skip! I remember when my parents gave me a whole bunch of 45s (this was one of em) as a kid when I got my first turntable I was in awe of "Think Twice"--it was such a good song--and it ended very oddly. I still think its great--its even better now--and "Its Too Late" is a great tune too. Someone tell me how to upload it to this. Music this good needs to be heard.
Posted by: wayved at July 1, 2007 01:22 AMHey Kim!
If you ever visit grandrapidsrocks again, we must hook up. We rocked together in the best band either of us was ever in - DOG BREATH. We must get the grrocks to include it on the list of bands. As well as Albert Smith Group, and Flyin' Home.
So glad to see all my friends checking in - only one thing - nobody left an email address. Here is mine - I would love to here from all of you. Here is my email: nulife02@charter.net. Tony, my sister talked to Billy DeYoung a couple times - He is back in GR. Jay lives in Traverse City last I heard. It would be great to do a reunion some time. I've been playing quite a bit - shred style guitar (Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert). Drop me an email - Lyle, you rock! Email me.
Posted by: Kim Weighous at November 14, 2008 09:54 PM
