If there was ever a Chicago band that defined “Power Pop” it was Pezband.
Formed in 1971, the Oak Park quartet included Mimi Betinis (guitar, lead vocals), John Pazdan (guitar), Mike Gorman (bass) and Mick Rain (drums). The quartet grew up blocks from each other, although didn’t really know each other until they started playing together. Over the next few years, while they shuffled through some minor personnel changes (Cliff Johnson coming on to handle vocals for a couple of years before splitting off to form d’Thumbs, and then in 1976 to form Off Broadway, and guitarist Tommy Gawenda stepping in to John Pazdan’s guitar role for a couple of years when Pazdan also moved to Off Broadway), the core quartet became one of the top draws on the Chicagoland club scene thanks to their “great songs, great chops and good looks,” wrote one critic, along with their dynamic performances.
Pezband practically defined the power pop format; after some national showcase appearances they signed to management with NRBQ manager Mike Lembo and inked a deal with Passport Records. Relocating briefly to the label’s hometown in New Jersey, the foursome headed into the studio and, supported by renowned session players Clarence Clemons (sax), Larry Fast (synthesizer) and Randy Brecker (trumpet), the label debuted the band with the single “Baby It’s Cold Outside” https://youtu.be/Rgu2s4a7fsoin 1977 and followed shortly thereafter with “Stop! Wait a Minute” https://youtu.be/8yl9IETeBN4.
That sound, coupled with their live performances propelled the band, both on U.S. and U.K. shores. In the U.S., a six-song EP Thirty Seconds Over Schaumburg on Passport’s sister PVC label captured the band live at B. Ginnings in Schaumburg, while Passport followed up their singles with a four-song EP Too Old Too Soon that was actually recorded live at London’s Dingwalls club.
Pezband would go on to tour extensively, even dates in Japan, opening for the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Supertramp, the Ramones, Kiss, AC/DC and others, but were never able to move into a national headlining role. The Passport and PVC labels were owned by JEM, which was more of a distributor than it was a label. They even headed to London to record their second album Laughing in the Dark at Jethro Tull’s Maison Rouge Studios. While they had a distribution agreement with Sire, when that ended in 1977, the label lacked the strength to launch Pezband to the next level. Shortly after the group’s 1979 album Cover to Cover, and with the power pop genre waning, the label dropped the band.
Over the years, the Pezband lineup changed.
Pezband (1971-72) Mimi Betinis (guitar, vocals), Mike Gorman (bass), Cliff Johnson (lead vocals), Mick Rain (drums), John Pazdan (guitar, keyboards)
Pezband (1972-76) Mimi Betinis (guitar, vocals), Mike Gorman (bass), Cliff Johnson (lead vocals), Mick Rain (drums), Tommy Gawenda (lead guitar)
Pezband (1976-79) Mimi Betinis (guitar, vocals), Mike Gorman (bass), Mick Rain (drums), Tommy Gawenda (lead guitar), Wes Davis (lead vocals)
Pezband (1979-80) Mimi Betinis (guitar, vocals), Mick Rain (drums), Wes Davis (vocals), Cliff Johnson (vocals), John Pazdan (bass)
Pezband (2006-2018)Mimi Betinis (vocals, guitar), Mick Rain (drums), John Pazdan (bass, guitar)
Interest in Pezband has always been there. In 1995, four songs taken from a rediscovered 1974 master said to be studio recordings of the original lineup was released as the independent project 4 Song EP. In 2016 the lineup of Betinis, Rain and Pazdan issued the four-song EP Women & Politics. And as their popularity in Japan never waned, a 2CD set Pezband: 40 Years Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Wasabi) was issued in that country including a bonus disc featuring 12 tracks of early 1972 and 1974 demos.
Pezband has been inducted into the Power Pop Hall of Fame https://powerpophalloffame.com/portfolio-posts/pezband/and was recently included representing the Power Pop genre in the Illinois “The State of Sound” exhibit in Springfield. More of the history and whereabouts of Pezband can be found on their website http://pezbandofficial.com/
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
After Passport dropped Pezband, bassist Gorman left, moving over to join Cliff Johnson in Off Broadway. Betinis attempted to continue on, with the band reuniting briefly to record some additional material in Los Angeles for producer Paul Broucek. Unfortunately, their recording deal failed to materialize and the band called it quits. Gorman then went on to team with former Trillion guitarist Frank Barbalace, Off Broadway drummer Ken Harck and vocalist Renee Varo in Wild Blue, releasing No More Jinx in 1986 on the Chrysalis label. A second album was hinted but never saw the light of day. In 1991, Harck and Gawenda released Wanderlustby TAMI Show, featuring Claire and Cathy Massey on vocals. These days, Gorman can still be found playing in the Chicago area, currently in the Outfit and working with the Redmonds.
Betinis stayed in Los Angeles working with original Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson, who had taken a sabbatical from that group. He subsequently returned to Chicago and formed Black and Blonde, teaming again with Cliff Johnson; they later recorded a holiday tune, “Christmas Everyday,” released on Tizzer Records. Cliff put together a project called the Johnsons in April, 1986, among others.
Since that time, Betinis has continued to work on keeping Pezband music alive including the release United Technique 1972, the very first time Pezband was recorded on acetate, and has recently had the unheard Broucek sessions released as a limited-edition vinyl pressing Women & Politics.
Betinis has also continued working on his own projects. In 2010, he released his first solo album All That Glitters, which some have said is a long-lost fourth Pezband album, although in reality it is a three-decade evolution of Betinis’ creative juices. In 2017, Betinis and Gorman teamed for the project Dangerous People (Mimi-Tone). In 2019 Mimi licensed the Cover to Cover album from Jem, and had it remixed and remastered by co-producer John Pavletic. Other Betinis projects include the self-released Music Sound and Basement Tapes Vol. 1, and most recently an updated version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with the Flashcubes (Big Stir Records).
Pazdan had returned to Pezband in 1979, remaining with the band’s revivals until they finally came to an end in 2016. He also remained active in music, forming a series of roots-rock oriented outfits including the Insiders and Big Guitars from Memphis. There was a later duo, 2, with John Duich. He also worked as a session bassist and returned to Off Broadway when they started playing again as the Pezband era came to an end.
Gawenda joined the short-lived U.S.S.A. with Pete Comita, who had recently left Cheap Trick; ex-Montrose vocalist Bob James; drummer Randy Castillo, who went on to work with Lita Ford and Motley Crue; and ex-Wumblies bassist Rick Wilson. What appeared to be a potential superstar lineup lasted a mere seven months in 1982. He currently works as an audio-video consultant in the Chicago area.
Rain moved to Florida in the mid-‘80s, where he formed a band called the Tantrums. Pazdan actually headed south with him, joining that lineup. Mick had continued to play, and even reunited with Betinis and Pazdan in 2006 and revived Pezband as a new generation was discovering the power pop genre. Sadly Rain passed away last year.
Discography
1977 Pezband – Pezband (Passport 9821)
1977 Pezband – Baby It’s Cold Outside b/w Princess Mary (Passport 7909)
1978 Pezband – Stop! Wait a Minute b/w Black Magic (Passport 7913)
1978 Pezband – Thirty Seconds Over Schaumburg (PVC 3901)
1978 Pezband – Two Old Two Soon: Live at Dingwalls! (Passport FAKE 2) UK release
1978 Pezband – On and On b/w I’m Leavin’ (Radar ADA 6) UK release
1978 Pezband – Laughing in the Dark (Passport 9826)
1979 Pezband – Cover to Cover (Passport 9837)
1995 Pezband – 4 Song EP (Not Lame)
2013 Pezband – Dangerous People (Air Mail AIRCD-115) Japanese release
2016 Pezband – Women & Politics (Frodis FRO-003)
2017 Pezband – Pezband: 40 Years Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Wasabi WSBAC 0067/8)