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The Atomics was a rock and roll band in Gainesville, Florida, around 1980-83, at the start of the undergound scene there. Although the Atomics was a cover band, we played a wide variety of songs, including many punk and new wave songs, by such bands as the Ramones, Nine Nine Nine, Talking Heads, Joan Jett, Gary Numan (and no, we didn't play "Cars"), Bowie, Devo, the Cars, the Romantics, and the Records.
The Atomics was founded by two University of Florida students, Jon Dobson and Brian Kruger (aka Krashpad). Jon and Brian were both from Neptune Beach, Florida, and had gone to the same high school there, although several years apart. After jamming together, the two decided they should start their first band, despite that they were both mediocre (and I'm being kind) singers.
The rhythm section was comprised of drummer Chad Salter and Frank Mullen. Chad was only about 16 at the time, but had already played in another local band, the Bazookas. Frank played bass in the Bazookas too, and also played drums in Roach Motel, another local punk band (whose members also included guitarist "Furious" George Tabb of MaximumRockNRoll fame), while Frank was also in the Atomics. After Frank retired from the band to get married, 'Dug' Keesecker, a soccer buddy and housemate of Brian's, took over on bass. Since Brian and Jon recognized their limitations as singers, numerous singers also sang with the Atomics. At the band's first show, Brian's younger brother Kerry Kruger and Kerry's friend Mike Alford sang on numerous songs. Later, both Rick 'Stick' Greene and Michelle Steinau sang with the Atomics, often together. Rick was one of the first and few Black guys on the underground scene at the time, while Michelle was a very attractive Pat Benataresque little belter. Towards the end of the band Jose LaTour took over lead vocalist duties. So, although it never even occurred to us at the time, our three main lead vocalists were a woman, an african-american, and a hispanic-american!
The Shows
The Atomics' first show was to have been at Lake Wauberg, a receation area for the University of Florida located just south of Gainesville. We agreed to play for free (as was true of almost all our shows) since there would be food and beer at this party hosted by some law school group. After schlepping our PA to the hall, tearing through our soundcheck ending with our deconstruction (most Atomics songs were deconstructions, as we seldom if ever attempted note-for-note covers, and hadn't any keyboards despite that numerous songs we covered did!) of Led Zep's "Rock and Roll," the noise complaints from the rich folks living on the other side of the lake began pouring in.
We were unceremoniously asked to leave. Chad and Frank both wanted to commit a little mayhem in return for such shabby treatment, and in retrospect, that's exactly what we should've done. But Brian prevailed on them to simply eat and drink as much as we could during an extended load-out.
The Atomics' debut came a month or so later at another kegger, this time at an apartment complex then called Maracaibo Manor. We played 4 sets, marred only by Brian's vocal mangling of the Records' "Starry Eyes." Brian's brother Kerry and Kerry's friend Mike both sang leads on several songs. People danced and had a good time, and George Tabb and Bob Fetts of the Roach Motel slammed to our rendition of the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated."
After we ran out of material, George Tabb somewhat sheepishly approached Brian and asked if Roach Motel could play a set on our equipment. Frank vouched for them so we said OK. They played a short set of 5 or 6 songs including "Burger King Is Dead" and "Brooke Shields Must Die." Their line-up that night was George, Bob, Frank, and a female bass player.
After that the history of the Atomics is somewhat clouded by the lack of any accurate records or diaries, the passage of a long period of time, and, well, the consumption of rather a lot of beer.The following is what I can recall of the 9 or 10 shows we did in the following couple of years, in very roughly chronological order.
Alachua K-12 show:
Never let it be said that the Atomics weren't innovators. This may've been the first all-ages show by a Gainesville underground band. This show was held at a private school's gymansium in Alachua, a small town north of Gainesville. Our backing vocalists that night were dubbed the Sub-Atomics (thus saving them the ignominy of offical Atomics membership), comprised of Frank's girlfriend Carrie Surfus and her sister Bonnie. There were about a dozen kids in attendance, I doubt anyone over the age of 15. I remember we covered Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" that night. Probably this was also the night we all stopped at Skeeter's (an all-night restaurant then located on NW 13th Street in Gainesville) on our way back into town and were escorted to a big booth way in the back because we looked weird.
House of Death show:
A kegger at Frank and Carrie and Bonnie's house, a place subsequently made infamous in George Tabb's "Take My Life, Please" column in Maximum Rock and Roll. Roach Motel also played that night, I remember being impressed by their hilarious punk cover of BTO's "Takin' Care of Business." The Atomics covered 2 Thin Lizzy songs, "The Boys Are Back In Town" and "Jailbreak," which were particularly well-received. A third band called the "Swinging Diamonds" may have played. This also could've been the night that the house's rugs were going to be replaced, so the existing floor coverings were redecorated with spray paint. But don't hold me to that.
Carport Show:
Frankly I have no independent recollection of the Atomics line-up that night. Another kegger, this one in the carport of a house on NW 34th Street, just a few houses down from University Avenue. Of course, playing outside within a block of the intersection of 2 of the town's major traffic arteries was asking for trouble. We got a set or so in before being shut down by the cops.
Law School keg party:
At Brian's schoolmate's Dave Ehler's house in a neighborhood off of Williston Road. By this time Frank had left and Dug Keesecker was in on bass. Michelle Steinau sang at this show. Memorable to me because it was the first time I ever played bass in public, subbing for Dug while he stood in the keg line. I thumped out all 3 root notes to Flock of Seagull's "I Ran" while jumping around like an idiot, not having the slightest idea how to really play bass. After which a comely co-ed, no doubt duly impressed by the aforementioned idiotic jumping around told me what a "great bass player" I was. It was then I knew I'd always play rock and roll. Heh heh.
Decadance House Party:
Yet another kegger (see a theme developing yet?), this one at the huge blue old Victorian that used to sit about a block away from Alachua General Hospital. The house has since burned down. This was a particularly loose show, it featured Michelle and Stick on vocals. At one point Chad got from behind the drums (my guess is he traded places with Jon, as Jon has always been a passable drummer) and played guitar. I vaguely recall having a bit too much beer and getting halfway through Nine Nine Nine's "Homicide" before I realized I was playing it in the wrong key. Needless to say a great time was had by all.
Surf Club St. Ostlund's Day Party:
Kegger up on the north edge of town in a neighborhood located off of Route 441. Michelle and Stick on vocals. I remember doing some windmills a la Townsend, again everyone had a very good time. Jon and Stick and Brian and Brian's girlfriend Shawn ended up in the pool at the end of the night.
Reality Kitchen:
An actual club show from the Atomics?!? Yes, boys and girls, it really happened. Again with Michelle and Stick on vocals. This was at the incarnation of Jim Evangelista's club located on the block directly behind what is now University Club (other locations of the roving club were the current Gruv and behind some industrial center down on South Main Street).
High point for me was a sped-up version of the Stones' "Brown Sugar" with Jon and Stick trading vocals. For reasons I'm not sure even we understood at the time (and I still don't, though I think it was my idea), we billed ourselves as "Wally and the Beavers" on the fliers for this show. Roach Motel also played this show, I recall thinking it was very nice of George to compliment me on my Chuck Berry licks afterwards.
Ralph Fisher House Party:
Back to the keggers, this one was at Brian's law school buddy Ralph Fisher's house, held as the kick-off for Ralph's brother's run for UF Student Government Treasurer (which I recall he actually won!). Jose LaTour sang lead vocals with us by then. We all ate some secret ingredient brownies beforehand and as a result recollections of the show are hazy at best. The show was at Ralph's place in a trailer park on north 13th Street just north of where Sam's now is. A bunch of his white trash neighbors came over and stood very menacingly right in front for the whole set. I remember breaking a string on the opener (Zep's "Rock and Roll") and being very paranoid for the rest of the set.
Rathskellar, UF Campus:
The Rat was the place to play on campus during the early 80's (it's since burned downed), I saw other shows there with Nine Nine Nine, U2, and the 10,000 Maniacs. Other locals that frequently performed there were the Irritations, 29:02, and the Bubbles. The night we played Jose sang, some other locals also played (probably either the Bubbles or 29:02) Dug remembers Jose wearing canary yellow pants.
The Pit:
Less well known as 1930 NW 4th Avenue, the home of both Brian and Dug. Needless to say, a kegger. So far as I know there were no guest vocalists for this one, just the four remaining core members, Jon, Brian, Chad, and Dug. Also playing that night was Special Guest, another undergound covers band that also contained Brian and Dug.