~ Boston and The Bits ~
The year was 1986. The Naughty Bits had just begun what would turn out to be a 7 year journey. Never having received the national exposure they deserved (except for being the featured band on an episode of MTV's "Totally Pauly" with Pauly Shore in the early 90's) the Bits were a staple on the Boston music scene from 1986 - 1994. On any given night you could find them performing at The Channel, The Rat, Bunratty's, The Paradise, The Middle East, Avenue C, Club 3, Jumbo's and every other club in Boston, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island. They were not a household name and not everyone from that time period or scene were familiar with them, but those who did get to see their live shows experienced the raw, high energy 45-60 minute set that earned them their own niche. Fueled by the energy they absorbed listening to the "Beatles at the Star club" in hamburg germany album, they set out to produce the same kind of energy that oozed off that album. In 1986 - 87 the Bits were pumping out, floor shaking, crowd sweating, ear pulverizing, chair throwing hyped-up Rock-a-billy. Unfortunatley, because it was mostly obscure covers from the 40' and 50's the Bits never actually recorded that material. There is some live material around from those early shows which I will try to obtain and eventually post. By 1988-89, the Bits wanted to do some recording and the songs on this page are mono versions of three original songs that appeared on their first studio release. The band at that time consisted of original members: Joe Coughlin / Charlie DeYoung / John Johnson & Mark Johnson. The line-up would change a couple of times over the years ( bass & drums). Pic below is from The Paradise 1993.
( use your back button to return here after each song )
~ Changes ~
Towards the end of 1990 The Bits started drifting away from the rock-a-billy flavored sound as they focused more on originals, although you can hear echos of their rock-a-billy roots in just about all their later material. This picture on the bottom left (at the Edge,which was behind The Channel) is one of the last pics with the Bits original line-up.......By late 1991 Mark Johnson/drums had departed. Eventually he was replaced by Bob Estock from Los Angeles. By the end of 1993 John Johnson/bass departed and was replaced by Erol Denizkurt. Their 1992 release of the " Helplessly Shaking " CD got them a good amount of prime time air play. That CD is a gem...its one of those CD's that stand the test of time, because it captured exactly what the band was emitting at the time without all the usual production over kill. That CD sounds like it came out today. As a matter of fact, one song that was from that session but did not appear on the album was recently used on an episode of an NBC TV series 12 years after the song was written. The Bits were not a "jam band" they kept it tight. What you heard on the album is what you would hear if you saw them live..not some sloppy jam. Tightly executed 3-5 minute songs played with precision. That "Helplessly Shaking" CD is still available (a copy) on a site called "The Indie Band Vault" which is the site of the official "Bits" page. It has some cool pics and a lot of songs from the 1993-94 era. The Bits came to an end as 1994 came to a close, It was a great time while it lasted. It was a time when the Boston music scene was going through one of its most exciting times musically and as always, its a cycle, and The Naughty Bits were a part of that cycle that makes Boston, Ma. such a great musical mecca.
The End.......
The Band
John
Charlie
Joe
Check out Charlie and Joe's new Project. "I'LL QUIT TOMORROW" They are still rocking... on MySpace.
© 2008 Norwood 7 Productions / Pics and songs © 1987-04 The Bits
