The Gaunga Dyns
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Defunct | 1968 (initially) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 1968; reunited in 2013 |
| Headquarters | New Orleans , United States |
Area served | United States, especially Louisiana and Gulf Coast region |
Key people | Steve Staples, Beau Bremer, Mike King, Bobby Carter, Brian Collins, Ricky Hall |
| Products | Singles: "Rebecca Rodifier" / "Stick with Her" (1967), "Clouds Don't Shine" / "No One Cares" (1967) |
The Gaunga Dyns are a rock group originating from New Orleans, Louisiana, active initially between 1965 and 1968 before reuniting in 2013. In 1967, they released two singles, with "Stick with Her" becoming a regional success. Their catalog has attracted interest among garage rock collectors, especially for tracks like "Rebecca Rodifier," recognized as one of the earliest rock songs to confront the subject of abortion, and "No One Cares," noted for its unconventional time signatures and shifts. The band reunited mostly with original members for the Ponderosa Stomp festival in 2013 and have performed sporadically since, featuring musicians such as guitarist Steve Staples and vocalist Beau Bremer.
Origins
Formed in 1965 within New Orleans’ Algiers district, The Gaunga Dyns were primarily made up of students from Behrman High School and other local schools. They eventually combined forces with another local act, the Twilights, to establish the lineup that became best known. The Twilights contributed three members to the new ensemble: lead vocalists Beau Bremer and Neal Lundgren along with guitarist Steve Staples. The original Gaunga Dyns lineup included Bobby Carter on bass, his brother David on guitar, and Johnny Baker as vocalist. Their name was a play on Rudyard Kipling’s poem "Gunga Din" and a nearby Bourbon Street club called the Gunga Den; reportedly, Staples’ grandmother coined the name during a rehearsal session.
The merger occurred after dissatisfaction with the Twilights’ bassist and following the departure of two guitarists who graduated high school. The resulting Gaunga Dyns lineup featured Bremer and Lundgren on vocals, Staples handling rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Mike King on lead guitar, Bobby Carter on bass, Brian Collins playing organ, and Ricky Hall on drums.
Despite their young age, the group secured bookings throughout New Orleans, including teenage venues such as the Hullabaloo in Metairie that catered to underage crowds. They also served as backing musicians for prominent New Orleans R&B performers like Ernie K-Doe, Irma Thomas, and Benny Spellman at locations including Your Father's Mustache and various VFW halls. Their touring extended regionally across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and along the Gulf Coast.
The Gaunga Dyns rehearsed daily after classes and performed on weekends. Their big break came when Jeb Banashak—son of Joe Banashak, a key figure in New Orleans’ music industry who co-founded Minit Records and Instant Records—offered to manage them. These labels had produced hits for leading R&B artists arranged by Allen Toussaint. Additionally, Jeb’s ties to WNOE-FM DJs Tom Collins and his twin brother provided crucial industry connections for the band.
Recording
In 1967, Banashak founded the Busy-B label and signed The Gaunga Dyns as one of its acts. Their debut single "Rebecca Rodifer," penned by Staples and lead guitarist King, was recorded at Cosimo Matassa’s famed studio in the French Quarter. The song tells a fictional narrative about a woman dying following an illegal abortion. Staples noted that although controversial within his family, the subject reflected genuine risks faced by young women during that era.
The single’s B-side was “Stick With Her,” a cover of a track by Houston band the Glass Kans chosen due to personal connections among members. Later that year, they recorded their next single again with Matassa’s engineering expertise. Beau Bremmer sang lead on all four releases under Busy-B while Staples provided harmony vocals. Their subsequent single featured "Clouds Don't Shine" backed with "No One Cares," which they self-produced. Staples wrote "Clouds Don't Shine" inspired by a painful breakup; meanwhile, King’s signature guitar tone—created using dual distortion pedals on his Gibson ES-330—gave the song its distinctive character.
On the flip side, “No One Cares” showcased an improvised drum solo by Ricky Hall whose skill earned him opportunities to tour Europe in the early 1970s with a band supporting Steppenwolf.
Breakup
Following bassist Bobby Carter’s relocation to Connecticut, the group insisted that Staples take on bass duties—a position he accepted with reluctance. Staples found little satisfaction in this new role, which led to internal conflicts. Although he was hesitant about learning the bass line for the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna,” the band pushed to include it in their set. Frustrated, Staples exited the stage mid-performance and did not come back. He later reflected on being dismissed from the band despite having composed three of their original tracks. The ensemble carried on under the name Gaunga Dyns but ultimately dissolved by mid-1968 as members departed for college.
Later developments and reunion
Since the early 1990s, Staples has managed International Vintage Guitars. The Gaunga Dyns reassembled for the 2013 Ponderosa Stomp festival after its organizer convinced Staples to revive the group. An unplanned meeting between Staples and lead vocalist Beau at a local venue sparked renewed efforts to reunite.
The reunion lineup included bassist Bobby Carter and organist Brian Collins. However, former lead guitarist Mike King and drummer Ricky Hall were unable to join; Hall was recuperating from back surgery. Drumming duties were assumed by Robert Hale from Staples’ band, the Avon Suspects, while Staples’ wife, Ashley Hewitt, contributed rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Since then, the Gaunga Dyns have remained sporadically active with various configurations featuring Staples and Bremer.
1965-1966
- Beau Bremer (vocals)
- Neal Lundgren (vocals)
- Steve Staples (rhythm guitar, backing vocals)
- Mike King (lead guitar)
- Bobby Carter (bass)
- Brian Collins (organ)
- Ricky Hall (drums)
1966-1967
- Beau Bremer (vocals)
- Steve Staples (rhythm guitar, backing vocals)
- Mike King (lead guitar)
- Bobby Carter (bass)
- Brian Collins (organ)
- Ricky Hall (drums)
1967
- Beau Bremer (vocals)
- Mike King (guitar)
- Steve Staples (bass)
- Brian Collins (organ)
- Ricky Hall (drums)
Discography
- "Rebecca Rodifier" b/w "Stick with Her" (Busy-B, 1967)
- "Clouds Don't Shine" b/w "No One Cares" (Busy-B, 1967)