The Unrelated Segments
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Taylor, Michigan , United States |
| Products | Music recordings |
The Unrelated Segments were a garage rock ensemble originating from Taylor, Michigan, active between 1966 and 1969. They achieved notable regional success in Michigan with their popular track "Story of My Life".
History
Lead singer Ron Stults and lead guitarist Rory Mack, who had previously collaborated in The Village Beaus, established the group. Following a jam session, they were joined by rhythm guitarist John Torok, bassist Barry Van Engelen, and drummer Andy Angellotti. By their second rehearsal, Stults and Mack had composed "Story of My Life". The band officially formed within a fortnight and commenced performing locally.
Their initial single was recorded on November 26, 1966, at United Sound studio, featuring "Story of My Life" with "It's Unfair" as the B-side. Released in February 1967 under the HBR label, the single gained significant airplay on Detroit stations such as WKNR and climbed regional charts, including reaching the top ten in Toledo, Ohio. Despite this success, the single did not achieve national chart recognition due to limited promotion and distribution.
The summer of 1967 saw their follow-up single "Where You Gonna Go?" attain local popularity, which led to live performances at the Grande Ballroom supporting prominent acts like Spirit, Spencer Davis Group, Jeff Beck Group, The Who, and MC5. Their 1968 release "Cry, Cry, Cry" experienced less commercial impact; around this time, Ron Fuller replaced drummer Angellotti, bringing a vibrant style influenced by leading British groups.
In early 1969, after Van Engelen was drafted into military service, Darrell Gore joined as guitarist while Torok transitioned to bass. The band adopted the name U.S. and recorded several tracks that remained unreleased before disbanding later that year. Subsequently, they reassembled as Lost Nation and produced recordings for Motown's Rare Earth label. A thorough anthology titled Where You Gonna Go? was issued by Cicadelic in 1998.
Discography
- "Story of My Life" b/w "It's Unfair" – HBR 514 (1967)
- "Where You Gonna Go" b/w "It's Gonna Rain" – Liberty 55992 (1967)
- "Cry, Cry, Cry" b/w "It's Not Fair" – Liberty 56052 (1968)