Unbelievable Uglies
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1963 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, United States |
| Founder | Dave Hoffman, Dave Prentice, Gregory J. Paul, Bob Eveslage, Mike Shannon |
| Headquarters | Detroit Lakes , United States |
| Products | Rock, soul, rhythm and blues music |
The Unbelievable Uglies are a band specializing in rock, soul, and rhythm and blues, originating from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota in 1963. The founding lineup featured Dave Hoffman (also known as Winston Fink) handling vocals and upright bass, frontman Dave Prentice on guitar, Gregory J. Paul as lead guitarist, Bob Eveslage (Robby Jay) providing vocals and keyboard skills, along with Mike Shannon on drums.
History
Distinguished by their dynamic stage presence, the group achieved notable regional acclaim throughout the upper Midwest. Their inaugural single, "Judy Angel" backed with "The Log," was released in 1964 under the Music Masters label.
Bob Eveslage temporarily departed to embark on a solo venture in Seattle, adopting the moniker "Robbie Jay." During this period, he issued "The Days When I Knew Judy" via Panorama before rejoining the ensemble in January 1967. At that point, the roster consisted of Hoffman, Prentice, Al Spears, Paul, Shannon, Lidstrom, and Eveslage. The band secured the National Ballroom Owners Association (NBOA) accolade for three consecutive years.
Record contract
Following the release of "Off My Hands" through Cardinal Records, the Unbelievable Uglies signed with Soma Records and issued "Keep Her Satisfied." Their success with regional radio airplay paved the way for a contract with Liberty Records; early in 1967 they debuted their major-label single "Sorry," produced by Bobby Vee. They subsequently released "Spider-Man," written by Spears and Eveslage.
In November 1967, the band served as opening act for The Who during their initial U.S. tour stop in Fargo, North Dakota. This performance attracted national media coverage after Fargo’s mayor accused both bands of provoking a teenage riot and imposed a temporary performance ban—later rescinded.
Additional tracks recorded include "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore," featuring Winston's vocal lead, alongside "The Tin Drum," and a prominent rendition of Spirit's "Mister Skin." In 1968, Dale Sheldon briefly joined while the original drummer toured Europe.
By 1972, original members had moved on to separate ventures. Subsequently, three local groups performed under the name "Uglies," with the most prominent lineup from 1972 to 1979 including Mike Bullock, James Klein, Mike Stice, Larry Stock, Tom Carvell, and Andy Baily. This formation disbanded when Bullock and Klein went on to establish The Michael James Band.
Reunion
In 2005, the original Unbelievable Uglies were inducted into the Rock and Country Hall of Fame located in Medina, Minnesota, leading to their reunion as "The Original Unbelievable Uglies." They released a new album and embarked on a regional tour to promote their first fresh material in over thirty years. Winston appeared with them live during summer 2005 but suffered a severe stroke later that fall which ended his performing career; nonetheless, he remained active behind the scenes through booking, songwriting, recording sessions, and production work.
Founding members Dave Hoffman and Al Spears died in 2008 and earlier that same year respectively; original drummer Mike Shannon passed away in 1999. The band continues to perform reunion concerts featuring Jerry Uchanski (vocals and guitar), Gregory J. Paul (lead guitar), Paul Lidstrom (bass), and Bob Eveslage (keyboards and vocals). Dave Prentice occasionally joins these performances.
Apart from their 2006 self-titled album release, the Uglies have contributed to compilations such as The Lost Generation, Vol. 2, Mondo Frat Dance Bash a Go Go, and The Big Hits of Mid-America: The Soma Records Story.