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The World Famous Gashouse Gang
The History of
The World Famous Gashouse Gang
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Every
great thing begins with a great idea: the wheel, the computer,
TiVo, and yes, toilet paper! The idea for The World Famous Gashouse
Gang (GHG) was no exception. The band was the brain child of Odell
Mickens, a bass player, who at the time was playing for
Earl Young and the Tramps, of “Disco Inferno” fame.
Odell needed something he could call his own, so in 1999 he started
assembling members of the group that was to become the first incarnation
of the Gashouse Gang. The group’s vision was to play the
best hits from multiple genre’s and decades of popular music,
specializing in oldies, doo-wop, R&B, jazz, fusion, funk,
Motown, blues, & classic rock. The signature sound of this
band was to be it’s beautiful 4-part vocal harmonies, backed
by talented and seasoned instrumentalists.
He first found a talented keyboard player/singer in the form of an old childhood friend, Eddie Shivery. Having played together in various bands in the past, Eddie proved to be a great acquisition, with his strong piano/keyboard skills and his deeply powerful voice. Hearing Eddie sing Larry Graham’s “One In A Million” brings tears to ones eyes! Another old friend, James Wiggins, who had also played with Mickens and Shivery was the next choice for the GHG. Wiggins was a horn player/guitarist /vocalist/actor who had been in Smoking Joe’s Café, The Buddy Holly Story and Good Fellas. James would turn out to be one of the front men for the unit. Then they needed a sax player because all the tunes that were great back in those days had an awesome sax in them, so he enlisted the talents of Kevin Michaels. Kevin had played in various bands with Mickens, Shivery and Wiggins, but also played the music circuit with different oldies bands, doing shows for the legendary Dick Fox . Next, a guitar player was needed. Odell had a job working at Rutgers University, which is where he found his guitar player, Mike Lorenz. Mike was playing rock & roll in bands in the flourishing New Brunswick, NJ music scene and had never played this type of music before, but he decided to go ahead and give it a try. Darren Yengst, also a Rutgers employee, was recruited to play drums, as he had great timing and meter, and had played for a successful local band called Sloppy Joe. Another front man was needed to complete the lineup, so GHG turned to another Rutgers employee, Danny Mecca. Dan was a vocalist/percussionist/entertainer and had been playing music professionally since age 13, opening for bands like the Duprees and Larry Chance and the Earls. Dan also sang in rock and heavy metal bands in the tri-state area. With the Gashouse Gang’s lineup complete, their first public performance was at a local benefit (why not!) called Cliffstock in the summer of 1999 (http://www.cliffstock.org). The band hit the stage on a very steamy August day and turned up the heat even more as they wowed the crowd with their unique mix of oldies, R&B, soul and rock. People danced and went crazy and all had a great time. A local bar owner heard the band and gave them their first paying gig at Zupko’s Tavern in Dunellen. From there, the band gained momentum, developed a loyal fan base, and began playing all over New Jersey and Philly. They played corporate gigs, the Mayors Ball in Union, NJ, weddings, clubs, bars and all types of functions at various venues throughout the area . Now entering their
tenth year, The World Famous Gashouse Gang is stronger than ever.
They have changed members throughout the years, but never did
the band's quality and attention to detail diminish. Gashouse
Gang performances still pack the zest and appeal that made them
the hard working band that they are. Most of the original players have moved on to other endeavors, except for Danny Mecca, now leading the band, and Eddie Shivery, the heart and soul of GHG. The band has kept the original Gashouse Gang vision intact, playing all the great tunes from yesteryear with their impressive 4-part harmonies and fluid melodies. However, GHG now incorporates a full horn section to spice up the band, allowing it to enter into new and exciting musical territories. To find out more about our new and exciting line up, check out the individual band member bios and venture to the rest of the site.
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