The Rockin' Ramrods
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | Bill Linnane, Vin Campisi |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, singles |
The Rockin’ Ramrods were a garage rock ensemble originating from Boston, Massachusetts, who were active during the 1960s and into the early 1970s. Alongside contemporaries such as the Barbarians and the Remains, they ranked among the most favored Boston bands of their era. While they did not attain widespread national commercial acclaim, their recordings have retained significant influence within the garage rock collector community. Their most notable work is the 1964 protopunk classic "She Lied." The group also released music under different aliases, including one single credited to the GTO's.
History
The band was established in 1962 under the name Ramrods Four by Boston locals Bill Linnane and Vin Campisi. Initially, their focus was on surf rock instrumentals before transitioning into what became known as the Rockin' Ramrods. The founding lineup consisted of Linnane handling guitar and keyboards, Vin Campisi on guitar, Bob Blake playing bass, and Butch Holmes on drums. In 1963, Bob Blake was succeeded by Ronn Campisi on bass, while Bob Henderson replaced Holmes on drums; both would remain integral members for several years. Their first single, "Jungle Call" backed with "Indian Giver," was issued by Explosive Records toward the end of 1963.
By 1964, adapting to changing musical trends following the British Invasion, the band began incorporating vocals into most tracks, with Ronn Campisi taking lead vocals alongside drummer Bob Henderson. That April saw the release of "She Lied," a high-energy protopunk piece co-written by Linnane and Ronn Campisi, through Bon-Bon Records. Linnane’s contributions on guitar and keyboards were central to shaping their early aggressive sound.
In the autumn of 1965, the Rockin' Ramrods gained regional prominence by opening for the Rolling Stones. Earlier that year, they recorded a rendition of Lennon-McCartney’s "I Wanna Be Your Man," a song previously released as a Rolling Stones single and later by the Beatles, featuring "I'll Be on My Way" as its B-side. Later releases included "Wild About You" with "Cry in My Room" on Southern Sound, as well as a single under the name the GTO's: "Don't Fool With Fu Manchu" backed with "Tears in the Stones," released through Claridge Records. The band also appeared in the 1965 film Disk-o-Tek Holiday during Scott Curtis’s period as keyboardist; Curtis was subsequently replaced by Lenny Cirelli.
Their legacy has been preserved through various compilations: in 1983, French label Eva Records released I Wanna Be Your Man; Big Beat Records issued The Best Of The Rockin' Ramrods in 1995; and Italy’s Akarma Records put out a similarly titled collection in 2000.
Around 1963
- Bill Linnane (guitar, keyboards)
- Vin Campisi (guitar)
- Bob Blake (guitar)
- Butch Holmes (drums)
Around 1964
- Bill Linnane (guitar, keyboards, vocals)
- Vin Campisi (guitar, vocals)
- Ron Campisi (guitar, vocals)
- Bob Henderson (drums, vocals)
Around 1965
- Bill Linnane (guitar, keyboards, vocals)
- Scott Curtis (organ, vocals), replacing Linnane
- Vin Campisi (guitar, vocals)
- Ron Campisi (bass, vocals)
- Bob Henderson (drums, vocals)
Around 1966–1967
- Vin Campisi (guitar, vocals)
- Ron Campisi (bass, vocals)
- Lenny Cirelli (organ)
- Bob Henderson (drums, vocals)
Around 1968
- Vin Campisi (guitar, vocals)
- Ronn Campisi (bass, vocals)
- Lenny Cirelli (organ)
- Bob Henderson (drums, vocals)
- David Allen Ryan (bass, lead vocals following Ronn’s departure)
- Jim Mandell (vocals, keyboard; succeeded Lenny Cirelli)
Singles (under the name the Rockin' Ramrods)
- "Jungle Call" with "Indian Giver" on the B-side (Explosive #F-102, 1963)
- "She Lied" backed with "The Girl Can’t Help It" (Bon-Bon 1315, April 1964)
- "I Wanna Be Your Man" paired with "I’ll Be on My Way" (Plymouth 2961/2962, December 1964)
- "Wild About You" coupled with "Cry in My Room" (Southern Sound 205, July 1965)
- "Don’t Fool with Fu Manchu" alongside "Tears Melt the Stones" (as the GTO's) (Claridge 301, November 1965)
- "Play It" accompanied by "Got My Mojo Workin'" (Claridge 317, April 1966)
- "Bright Lit, Blues Skies" featuring "Mister Wind" (Plymouth 2964, July 1966)
- "Flowers in My Mind" with "Mary, Mary" on the flip side (Plymouth 2965, 1967)