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The purpose of this website is to help expand and celebrate appreciation for
the art and music of THE RASCALS. To remind the world how tremendous a
musical force they were. What uniquely gifted musicians they are. And to bring
to light some examples of the magic that made them so absolutely dynamic.
It is also both an archive and preservation society, seeking to
salvage, uncover and restore potentially lost performances and career moments
so they may be made available for future retrospective projects and for
future generations. This website, a work in progress, is just one bi-product
created from over 25+ years of these preservation efforts.
Over the last 40+ years, precious little on this amazing band has ever been
available to the public outside of their officially released studio
recordings, several video clips and some vintage teen magazine articles. This
is largely due to the fact that during the band's tenure as one of the most
successful groups of the era, the Rascals' organizers and management never
sought to officially record or visually document the band's career. As a
result, there is no group ownership of performance films, television
appearances, live recordings or other such materials required to stay
competitive in today's high-tech world of high resolution audio and media
technology. The major goal of this website is to utilize surviving materials to
inform and enlighten enthusiasts of The Rascals, and to promote and
perpetuate their contribution to music.
The Rascals relevance has managed to survive the ages with virtually no media
attention, record company promotion or public relations. They also have never
received any tributes or career retrospectives like similar classic rock bands
of their stature and importance. Their legacy has somehow
existed within the cracks of rock history over the decades, kept alive by the
sheer inertia of their brilliant and timeless music, and a dedicated legion of friends and fans.
Regardless, the Rascals have always been revered and respected among fellow
musicians and music industry peers, so it is no surprise they were inducted
into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997 where they (finally!) reunited
onstage together (the first time since 1970) in Cleveland for their
televised induction and live performance. An honor they richly deserved, but
ultimately has done little to create any notable resurgence.
The Rascals started out very much as a "home-made" group, and in many ways
have remained a grass roots-level phenomenon until today. From 1965 to 1970,
they scaled the heights of pop music success and achieved all it's
rewards, but their sterling reputation as a powerhouse live band (one of THE
greatest, I'm convinced) and their individual talents as songwriters and
performers have largely been overlooked by at least several generations.
This is understandable considering that, aside from their original albums
being released on CD, no biographical or visual retrospective of their work
has ever been produced. During their entire career there has never been a
published biography. No TV special or movie. No documentary or long-form music
video to introduce them to new audiences and make them aware how thrilling
and uplifting the Rascals were. No definitive source to view vintage
performance footage or live recordings and photos. Remarkable, considering
how riveting and amusing they are as personalities. And few bands have ever
matched the frenetic and visual excitement of The Rascals when they got
cooking "live".
While contemporaries like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Jimi
Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and even The Monkees have all enjoyed
large-scale revivals and tributes, The Rascals' musical legacy has been
confined mainly to radio, commercials utilizing their classic hits or live
performances by various factions of the original members. Similar classic
rock bands from the era have countless special interest products to keep the
public interested and aware of their career legacy . However the Rascals have
virtually zero. It's a shame that most of their career highpoints and the
vitality of their live performances exist mainly in the memories of the first
generation fans who bought their records, viewed them on TV and attended
their concerts in the sixties.
The concern now is how does a band that has not existed since the early 70's
maintain a level of public awareness without the advantages enjoyed by their
classic rock competitors? The ultimate answer hopefully begins with this
website. It is my hope this website will help allow me to make the proper
connections necessary to finally see some of my Rascals project ideas realized.
As for myself, I have dedicated a generous portion of time over the last 26+
years organizing, locating, salvaging and archiving the scattered remains of
the Rascals history. Briefly, I'm sure part of it is because of a close
personal attachment that started when I was quite young. I grew up in the very
location they started (Garfield, NJ). They were my heroes growing up,
and members of my family had links to the Brigati's. In fact, my Aunt Dee
who worked at the Choo Choo Club in Garfield, knew The Rascals from the day
they started in February 1965. In one way or another, they have always been a presence in my
life.
The seed for what has now become this website was started sometime in the
late 70's. Then Eddie Brigati became directly involved and lent his generous
support along with Dick Hollaert, a former Rascals employee and life-long
friend of the Cornish family. David Brigati and the other three Rascals as
well as family members, former associates, fans and friends have also
supported and contributed greatly to the project over the years.
Suffice it to say that the Rascals, and most importantly their music, have
made a tremendous impact on my life. I dedicate this website to
Eddie, Felix, Gene Dino (and David), and to all the unsung individuals who
assisted them along the way, especially Dick Hollaert who passed away in
February of this year, as a tribute to the spirit and joy they created
together. My sincere hope is that this website will act as a catalyst to
spark interest, rekindle and perhaps continue the music, magic and spirit of
THE RASCALS.
—Joe Russo, November 2006 |
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