West Michigan Mid-Sixties Bands

The Psychotics were from Coopersville, the group was (as I remember) Roger Bliss-keys, Scott Leonard-bass, Jeff Moore-guitar, Tom Dedinas-drums and Blake Bylenga??-lead guitar. They had one record at least "School Boy Blues b/w If you don't believe me, don't". I bought Scott's 62 bassman from him around 72-73. Sold it for a small box 50 in '75 and just bought another on Ebay for $2000! They were a great band... Roger, Blake and Scott were excellent players!

Bob Reister from Ottawa Hills HS was also in this band. That's who I bought my copy of their record from. He played keyboards.

Wow, it's nice to see that anyone cares about the Psychotics. And yes, the line-up in your "comments" is correct. I joined the band as they were dropping the Psychotic name and adopting Warren Peace. The band recorded School Boy Blues before I joined, but we recorded another record after that. One side was "Second Annual Nothing" and right now I can't think of the other side! Obviously, I don't have a copy. Roger Bliss used to do a great job of hanging onto the old band stuff, including the 100's of band photos that we used to plaster all over the backs of his Leslie organ speakers. Tom picked most of our material and stuck with pretty tasteful stuff / BB King, Percy Sledge, Santana, Crosby Stills and Nash...nothing cheesy. We played out a lot / the Grand Haven Beach Bash used to be our favorite gig. Jeff did our lead vocals and had a great voice. Roger was the best musician in the band, but my recollection is that none of us were stand-outs, but band had its own identity and had a good sound. I continued to play in other bands after we broke up, but never really had a band "gel" like Warren Peace did (better bands, but not the comraderie WP had). Uh oh, getting misty eyed here. I ran into Scott around 1997?, other than that I haven't seen the guys in 20+ years. Hey, you guys ready for a reunion? Roger continued with other bands,as did Tom. I don't know if Scott and Jeff did. Regarding the Van Ess posting, I cannot confirm that Bob Reister played in the band. It's possible he played early on.

Hey Blake,
Shawn Bryant here...don't know if you remember... but you and I, a drummer named Larry Buzas and a bassplayer named Al Kaufman jammed at your house in Eastmanville??Allendale??a couple of times, probably during the 71-72 school year??
I was a year or two behind you ('73) at C'ville. I always wondered if you kept playing after H.S.
I went to Los Angeles in 1980 and have had a nice career playing bass and guitar....mainly bass.
Lots of touring and some recording, Rubinoos,Chubby Checker, Roger McGuinn, Marvin Etzioni,Jan and Dean, Duane Jarvis among others..jammed with Delaney Bramlett , Billy Bremner.
Anyway, glad to hear you enjoyed my comments about
Psychotics/warren Peace! I remember you were a fine player and a really nice person..you ever pickup the guitar these days??
We played "thrill is gone", "I aint got you" for sure and
I think "bell bottom blues" in a little pool house behind your house...pretty sketchy memories, but fond ones!!
Shawn

Shawn!
If you visit this site, email me at blake.816@hotmail.com
Just leave me your email address and I'll get back to you.
Blake

I played with both Tom Dedinas and Blake around 70-71. I played (sang with) a group called Bad Manor, and jammed with Blake. He lived on the Grand River in Lamont, I believe. Best wishes to these guys. Would love to talk to you both.
Kim

Tom Leonard also play is this band he was Scott older brother and he play lead saw them play at the Place in a Battle of the Bands. Last saw Tom Dedinas back in 75, lives in Southeast Michigan. Tom/Jim Leonard lives in G.R. still. Kim Rush is a next brother in-law, have lot of them now ( great guy)

I married the drummer 30 years ago and he is still playing with his drums, and is still great.

Please have Tom contact me, Denise, if you would? I'd like to ask him some questions about Bad Manor. Kim Rush; kim.rush@spectrum-health.org

YOUR INFO ON THIS BAND IS WRONG1 TOM/JIM LEONARD WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE BAND AND CO WROTE ALMOST ALL OF THEIR ORIGINAL MUSIC WITH ROG BLISS. THE BANDS HISTORY HAS BEEN DISTORTED BY ROG AND HIS BROTHER SCOTT TO TRY TO WRITE JIM'S CONTRIBUTION AND SIGNIFINANCE TO THE BANDS FORMATION AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOCAL ROCK SCENE OUT OF THEIR HISTORY. I'VE KNOWN JIM/TOM SINCE BEFORE HE, TOM D. AND ROY S. FORMED THE AND AND WANTED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. SCOTT AND ROG HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FORMING THAT BAND AND ONLY CAME IN LATER AS REPLACEMENTS!!!!!!!!!!

Had the pleasure of meeting Tom DeDinas of the Psychotics Saturday Night November 6 2010 while I was listening to the Eschelons play at the Boat & Canoe Club in Grand Rapids. It turned out that his group of friends needed a place to sit & We had some extra room. As the night wore on We started a conversation on Music and it went on from there. He still plays once in a while and lives in Tecumseh, Michigan. He is a nice guy with a good wife & friends and I enjoyed the time I got to spend with them.

We're looking for photos or more info on this band to add to the bio on techwebsound.com (60s Psych Internet Radio) - (www.techwebsound.com/playlistdetail.cfm?next=441)... please e-mail anything you have...thanks!

WOW!!! Kicking back on a Friday nite, instread of doing house chores, krusing the internet. Low & Behold, I search out the Psychotics Band. My favorite 45 of all time, for obvious reasons!! My brothers have had this arguement going for 40 plus yrs!!! Who did this, who played that, who was better musically, trust me it got really OLLLDDD 39 yrs ago!! Anyways, being a younger sibling I was always proud of my brothers' acomplishment(s) what ever they did. I remember being a "lil shit", and banging away on Tom ( DeDinas) drums, until Scott caught me... he wasn't impressed!!! If I recall correctly Roger Bliss took my ma's upright piano, performed some wizardry & turned it into a organ of sorts...Jamming out in my parents basement on W. Randall, Coopersville. Aah the memories, well if Tom DeDinas, or Roger Bliss would like to get a hold of me, I can be reached at email address jpleonard66@yahoo.com. Thanks for allowing me to share.

Tom Dedinas is alive and well working as the Executive Chef for Dow Corning Corp. in Midland. I recently met him through his wife Denise who I grew up with in Muskegon.....Small world.

Wrong imfo. Founding members were Roy Sorensen, Don Bush Tom Dedinas Tom Leonard and Scott Leonard. I was there.

Does anyone know any more information about the band's guitarist Jeff Moore? When I was about 5 or 6 years old (1967-68) I had a cousin named Jeff Moore who lived near Coopersville. He was much older than I (in his 20s) and I remember he was in college, played guitar and had a record made. This is all I remember about him (he was so much older than I). One of his two sisters was named Geri (about his age).
Any info would be appreciated.

Ray,

Jeff is living in Loveland Ohio. He no longer plays guitar...but perhaps plays a little golf.

Cousin Ed

The band had a hit record 40 years ago called "If ou Don't Believe Me Don't" they just performed it again at a concert in Grand Rapids on May 5th. To watch this just go to Bad Manor May 5, 2013 and this will take you to the site to watch them perform this and a few other songs. Great concert.

Hi,
Looking for any info on Ted Jones member of The Frogs a GR band late 60's early 70's, he ran a underground radio station and a recording studio with friends who played and practiced at a downtown church lots of members and groupies. Looking for his Les Paul.

somebody posted our top 40 hits School Boy Blues check it out on YTUBE, Psychotics School Blues

I meant to say you need to type in on UTUBE
Psychotics School Boy Blues

If any Psychotics member has ANY extra unreleased recordings (anything at all (even breathing into a microphone)), contact me at backley138@gmail.com. I think that if the Psychotics had more songs they'd be one of my favorite bands of all time!