The Modds
| The Modds | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Miami, Florida, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1965-1965 |
| Associated acts | The Deltonas, The Monells |
| Past members |
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The Modds were an American garage rock band from Miami, Florida who were active in the mid-1960s, and briefly re-united in 2002. Though they did not release a record during the 1960s, their work has been posthumously compiled. Today they are best known for the song "Don't Be Late."
The band would be formed in early 1965 in Miami, Florida by guitarist John Mascaro, bassist Don Ricketts, and drummer Dewey Bond, all of whom had recently played in local band, the Deltonas. All were students at Southwest Miami Senior High School, which was also the high school of several other noted bands from Miami at that time, such as the Montells, who have sometimes been mentioned as rivals, and Evil. John Mascaro was originally from Rochester, New York, but his family had moved to Miami in 1958. He began playing guitar in 1962. His first band was the Crystals, who were together only briefly. He later joined the Surfin' Vibrations. He co-formed another group, the Intruders, with Chuck Guy, who had been the lead singer for the Intruders. Don Ricketts would also join that band, but the Intruders folded shortly thereafter. In 1964 Mascaro and Rickets joined the Deltonas, who had been around since 1961 and whose first drummer, Dewey Bonds, had been one of its founding members. The Deltonas broke up shortly after Christmas, 1964.
In 1965 Mascaro, Rickets and Dewey Bonds assembled the Modds and recruited Dean Laipis on lead vocals, and Bob Nimer on lead guitar. Dennis O'Barry later succeeded Nimer on lead guitar. The band was highly influenced by British Invasion, citing the Beatles' February 9, 1964 performance of the Ed Sullivan Show as a major influence. They would be one of the first local bands to cover the Rolling Stones' 1965 hit song, "Satisfaction" in live performances, however, their repertoire also reflected the influence of American R&B and soul acts such as Sam Cooke. The band's name was influenced by the popular mod movement going on in England at the time, but the band added an extra "-d" to the end of the name. Most of their rehearsals were conducted at Mascaro's or Dewey's houses. The band would play frat parties, local dance halls, such as the PAL (Police Athletic League), usually averaging $3.00 to $10.00 per member each night, but would occasionally play for free. With the help of their science teacher at Southwest High, Ray Skopp, who became their manager, the band would eventually be able to land gigs at posh Miami Beach hotels such as the Americana, the Fontainebleau, and the Deuville, where the Beatles appeared for their second Ed Sullivan performance.
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