The Nightcrawlers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States |
| Founder | Tommy Ruger, Rob Rouse, Charlie Conlon, Sylvan Wells, Pete Thomason |
| Defunct | 1970 |
| Headquarters | Daytona Beach , United States |
| Products | Music recordings and performances |
The Nightcrawlers emerged as an American garage rock ensemble originating from Daytona Beach, Florida in 1965.
Their most notable achievement was the single "The Little Black Egg", composed in 1965 specifically for an Easter show where they opened for The Beach Boys. After being reissued three times, the track peaked at number 85 on the US charts and reached number 74 in Canada by 1967. In addition to this hit, they issued three other singles titled "Cry," "A Basket of Flowers," and "I Don't Remember." The founding members were Tommy Ruger on drums, Rob Rouse handling vocals and tambourine, Charlie Conlon playing bass and providing vocals, Sylvan Wells as lead guitarist and harmonica player, and Pete Thomason on rhythm guitar with vocal duties.
Their musical style was characterized by a minimalist folk rock approach, drawing inspiration from groups such as The Byrds and The Beau Brummels. Although they released a single album under Kapp Records, the band dissolved in 1966 prior to the official release of "The Little Black Egg." After reuniting, the Nightcrawlers produced one additional single called "My Butterfly," penned by Sylvan Wells and Rick Hollinger, which showcased a more robust rock sound before disbanding once again. Charlie Conlon later brought back the group under the name "Conlon and the Crawlers," but no further recordings emerged following 1967. The band persisted with various personnel changes until ultimately disbanding in 1970. A compilation CD featuring 24 tracks recorded by the original lineup was issued in 2000 through Big Beat/London.
Although they never achieved widespread fame, "The Little Black Egg" became a classic that many garage bands covered over the years, including notable versions by The Lemonheads and The Cars. The documentary film Cracking The Egg: The Untold Story of The Nightcrawlers debuted at the 2008 Daytona Beach Film Festival. Irwin Chusid, known for his work with outsider music, attributed his fascination with unconventional sounds to this song.
In response to a request from Ajaye Agency based in Cincinnati, Rick Hollinger reassembled the Nightcrawlers in Tallahassee in 1968 to leverage the renewed interest in "Little Black Egg." This formation featured Gary Sockwell on drums, Eddie Everette as lead guitarist and vocalist, Rod Vaillancourt on keyboards and vocals, and Steve Flacy playing bass. While they performed locally, no new recordings were produced. Subsequently, Vaillancourt and Flacy collaborated with Adrian Belew in the band Sweetheart; Vaillancourt also worked alongside Artimus Pyle.
Original drummer Tommy Ruger (born November 30, 1946) passed away at age 67 on December 11, 2013 in Port Orange, Florida due to complications related to diabetes.
Original bassist and vocalist Charlie "Chuck" Conlon (born February 23, 1947) died at age 76 on August 22, 2023 in Kirkland, Washington from complications associated with a stomach ulcer.
External links
- Unterberger, Richie "[ The Nightcrawlers Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- Unterberger, Richie "[ The Little Black Egg album review]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- Head Heritage review of "Little Black Egg"