The Hangmen (Washington, D.C. band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Rockville, Maryland , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, albums, singles |
The Hangmen were a rock band originating from Rockville, Maryland, active throughout the 1960s. To capitalize on the British Invasion craze, they added Scottish singer Dave Ottley to their lineup. Their regional hit "What a Girl Can't Do," released through Monument Records, made them the leading band in the Washington, D.C. area. This track was initially recorded by an earlier local ensemble called the Reekers, which featured future Hangmen members Tom Guernsey and Bob Berberich, although the single was ultimately credited to the Hangmen.
The song's success sparked a fan frenzy comparable to "Beatlemanic" excitement and nearly incited a riot at one event. Their next release, "Faces," introduced a tougher sound. Shortly thereafter, Ottley departed and was succeeded by Tony Taylor.
With Taylor on vocals, the group produced the album Bittersweet in Nashville, demonstrating a more diverse and laid-back approach, including a spirited rendition of Van Morrison's "Gloria." The album opened with "Dream Baby," distinguished by sitar accents, which was also issued as a single. After personnel shifts, the band rebranded themselves as the Button, recording an unreleased session for RCA Records in New York before evolving into Graffiti, with a brief recording stint at ABC Records.
Origins
The Hangmen were formed in 1964 by bassist Mike West and rhythm guitarist George Daly while attending Montgomery Junior College in Rockville, Maryland. In 1965, they expanded their lineup by incorporating guitarist Tom Guernsey and drummer Bob Berberich from the band the Reekers, which had gone on hiatus due to members leaving for college. Guernsey, who had led and written songs for the Reekers, was initially reluctant but eventually joined The Hangmen.
To enhance their appeal during the British Invasion era, George Daly sought a British frontman and contacted the British Embassy. This led to meeting Dave Ottley, a Scottish hairdresser from Glasgow who had been residing in the U.S. for two years. Some media outlets incorrectly reported Ottley as hailing from Liverpool to associate him with the Beatles' image.
The band's first press coverage appeared in the Washington Evening Star on April 3, 1965, highlighting their participation in a battle of the bands contest where they were defeated by local group the Shadows.
Contract with Monument Records
In early summer 1965, managers Larry Sealfon and Mike Klavens presented "What a Girl Can't Do"—a track originally recorded by the Reekers and penned by Guernsey—to Fred Foster of Washington, D.C.'s Monument label. Reekers’ manager Lillian Claiborne released Guernsey from his prior contract, allowing Foster to sign him. Monument issued both "What a Girl Can't Do" and "The Girl Who Faded Away" under The Hangmen's name despite these recordings being made by the Reekers. While some attribute "The Girl Who Faded Away" to The Hangmen, evidence indicates it is actually an original Reekers recording with an edited fade-out; The Hangmen later recorded their own version for their 1966 album Bittersweet. It is believed that only Guernsey and Berberich from the Reekers performed on these tracks since other members had departed before sessions at Edgewood.
In 1965, attorney Arnold Stahl teamed up with Mike Klavans of WTTG to establish 427 Enterprises for managing The Hangmen’s career, significantly enhancing their promotional efforts. Their industry contacts secured performances at embassies and garnered coverage in Newsweek magazine. At Ethel Kennedy’s request, they performed privately for Robert F. Kennedy’s family at Hickory Hill in McLean, Virginia. Despite these prestigious appearances, The Hangmen primarily remained a suburban act playing parties and shopping centers rather than penetrating Washington’s club circuit dominated by bands like the British Walkers and Chartbusters. As "What a Girl Can't Do" climbed to number one on local charts, The Hangmen solidified their status as Washington D.C.’s top musical act.
Regional achievements
The Hangmen experienced a swift surge in regional acclaim, which led to several memorable events. On February 19, 1966, Billboard highlighted a "Beatlemania"-like scene at the Giant Record Shop located in Falls Church, Virginia, where a large group of teenagers assembled to listen to the band. After about fifteen minutes, authorities intervened to disperse the crowd due to fire safety regulations triggered by traffic congestion. The band was escorted from the premises, and an almost riotous situation unfolded as fans began breaking display cases. Store owner Jack Shaver reported selling 2,500 copies of "What a Girl Can't Do" that day. The early dismissal of a nearby high school because of snow contributed to approximately 400 people inside the store and up to 1,500 gathered outside attempting entry. Shaver remarked that although he had previously hosted artists like Johnny Rivers and Ramsey Lewis, none had provoked such disorder.
By February 1966, "What a Girl Can't Do" had overtaken the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" / "Day Tripper" on Arlington's WEAM charts. Despite strong expectations, Monument Records confined promotional efforts to the Washington, D.C. region, hindering national exposure. In late 1966, Tom Guernsey left college due to a clash between final exams and a scheduled appearance on the Jerry Blavat TV show, where the Hangmen performed their hit and supported the Impressions on "Money." The group extensively toured along the East Coast, opening for notable acts such as the Animals, Martha Reeves, the Yardbirds, Count Five, Dave Clark Five, and the Shangri-Las. Guernsey recalls Link Wray joining them onstage for an extended rendition of "Jack the Ripper." On May 8, 1966, they were profiled in the Washington Evening Star’s Sunday magazine and secured an endorsement deal with Mosrite guitars and amplifiers despite their preference for other equipment brands.
Following Mike West's departure, Paul Dowell joined as his replacement. The Hangmen recorded a more intense follow-up single titled "Faces," produced by Fred Foster. This track featured Ottley's snarling vocals alongside a sharp fuzz guitar riff and was backed by "Bad Goodbye," which included harmonica contributions from session musician Charlie McCoy. Monument heavily invested in promoting this release through full-page advertisements in national trade publications.
Bittersweet LP
After releasing this single, lead vocalist Ottley relocated to London and was succeeded by Tony Taylor. In late 1966, the Hangmen recorded their album Bittersweet at Monument Studios in Nashville under the direction of Buzz Cason. Guernsey described Cason as meticulous and involved; he required the band to demo all potential tracks and experiment with various chords, harmonies, and instruments before recording on a three-track system. The album presented more restrained versions of "What a Girl Can't Do" and "Faces." Monument encouraged a sitar- and fuzz-infused rendition of "Dream Baby", which became the A-side of their November 1966 single and was included on the album. Bittersweet showcased a softer, folk-inspired sound reflective of the psychedelic era but concluded with an energetic take on Van Morrison's garage classic "Gloria." Guernsey believed the band could have produced a stronger record but admitted they approached the Nashville sessions with less seriousness than needed, spending more time socializing than recording. The album's cover displayed an eerie photograph taken at Guernsey's apartment.
Subsequent changes and later developments
Following the departures of Paul Dowell and George Daly, Alan Flower, previously with the Mad Hatters, took over Dowell's role, while George Strunz succeeded Daly. By May 1967, the ensemble adopted the name the Button as they shifted toward a psychedelic sound. In June 1967, Tom Guernsey exited the group and was replaced by John Sears. The Button moved their base to New York City, where they recorded a session for RCA that was never released and performed at venues such as Steve Paul's club the Scene and Cafe Au Go Go. Shortly after, Bob Berberich left, leaving Tony Taylor as the only remaining original Hangmen member. The band then changed their name to Graffiti and secured a contract with ABC.
Tom Guernsey went on to produce singles for Washington, D.C.'s Piece Kor ("All I Want Is My Baby") and Montgomery County's Omegas ("I Can't Believe"), contributing guitar and piano on the latter track. He also produced records for various United Artists artists and other musicians before transitioning into composing and scoring for commercials and television. Additionally, he collaborated on projects with Florida’s TK Records, including work with K.C. and the Sunshine Band and other R&B performers. Bob Berberich joined forces with George Daly and Paul Dowell in Dolphin, the band led by Nils Lofgren; later, Berberich became part of Grin, while Dowell took on the role of equipment manager for Jefferson Airplane. Meanwhile, Daly progressed into executive positions within the music industry, working as an A&R representative at Elektra Records.
Tom Guernsey (born July 5, 1944) passed away on October 3, 2012, in Portland, Oregon, at age 68. Two months later, David Ottley died on November 27, 2012.
Early to mid-1965
- Dave Ottley (lead vocals)
- Tom Guernsey (lead guitar, backing vocals)
- George Daly (rhythm guitar)
- Mike West (bass)
- Paul Dowell (bass)
- Bob Berberich (drums)
Mid-1965 to mid-1966
- Dave Ottley (lead vocals)
- Tom Guernsey (lead guitar, backing vocals)
- George Daly (rhythm guitar)
- Mike West (bass)
- Paul Dowell (bass)
- Bob Berberich (drums)
Late 1966 to mid-1967
- Tony Taylor (lead vocals)
- Tom Guernsey (lead guitar, backing vocals)
- George Daly (rhythm guitar)
- Paul Dowell (bass)
- Bob Berberich (drums)
Mid-1966 to late 1967
- Tony Taylor (lead vocals)
- George Daly (rhythm guitar)
- George Strunz (guitar)
- Alan Flower (bass)
- Bob Berberich (drums)
Singles
- "What a Girl Can't Do" b/w "The Girl Who Faded Away" (Monument 910, November 1965)
- "Faces" b/w "Bad Goodbye" (Monument 951, June 1966)
- "Dream Baby" b/w "Let It Be Me" (Monument 983, November 1966)
Albums
- Bittersweet (Monument SLP 18077, 1967)