Chuck Isquith
Ratta, tat, tat, tat, splash…and now…revisiting Chuck Isquith – my former student who sat in for the BALANCE sessions when he was just 18-years-old…I hope and pray that he’s gone on to a long, glorious career: cuz he was good!
Even The Watchman gave Chuck I. his props – as Chuck only listened to the tapes we had made with SEVENTH STAR for 3-4 weeks before he had to come in for three days worth of sessions. Chuck I. gave our music more of a driving rhythm than what we had experienced with the-one- and-only Bob Ogle (See below).
As my student at John F. Kennedy H.S. – Chuck I. was already in a band that featured a blind guitarist (yes, very similar to the man himself: Jeff Healey) – and a singer who was the closest thing to a female Ian Gillan whom I’ve ever heard. The night I watched them at the Whiskey – I was mightily impressed! Chuck seemed a young Neil Peart; the blind guitarist was way cool; and, this female vocalist (whose name I have very much forgotten) was a cross between Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, and, goddammit, Ian Gillan. They were pretty powerful.
Ron and I pounced on the singer, recognizing her as a monster talent, but she turned out to be a junkie. Still, we got to do a “Child in Time” jam with her in Bob O.’s basement which, for me, remains unforgettable.
Chuck I.’s life, however, always seemed to have a tragic bent to it. His step-brother and half-sister died in a fiery car crash. Chuck and his girlfriend became pregnant when Chuck was a mere 19-years-of-age, and, the last time I spoke with him (circa 1988) – he and his girlfriend were headed North with the baby. If you’re not playing in a major band, Chuck, check out the BALANCE recording that is “out there”; if we ever make any money – we’ll cash you in!
Bob Ogle
I met Bob O. “swimming” in the Los Angeles Unified substitute pool in late August of 1984. When Ron arrived in L.A. in November and wanted to get a band going – I remembered Bob telling me that he was a drummer; and he was, just not quite a drummer that you’d ever relate to music you’d heard or seen. Bob was unique because he essentially drummed in isolation – drumming along to songs by himself: he simply hadn’t jammed with alotta people.
But when the The Watchman brought THE SEVENTH STAR sound back into my consciousness – I found Bob’s “giddyap” style quite interesting. He put a “bounce” into what was supposed to be more of a dark and menacing sound.
SEVENTH STAR might have gone on to be an interesting force in the 1985 L.A. music landscape — except for Bob’s girlfriend, Amber — who had lead singer aspirations that Bob supported. She hit too many wrong notes for-the-rest-of-us to hang around: I gather that the-two-of-them also got married.
Still, practicing in Bob’s parents’ attic, of that cool, old, Burbank house — generated some interesting interpretations of NECRONOM, and, provided the inspiration for BALANCE. Wow! We did plenty of space truckin’ in those “songs from the attic.” Even when we were moved to the basement – with its rolls of my beloved Times providing the sound dampening (I guess the whole neighborhood could hear us in the attic) – we had a pretty loud time.
I’ve gotta hope that Bob O. is still drumming somewhere on Friday and Saturday Nights…