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BIG BLOCK BIO
Part one: THE DEATHROW BODINES
As a veteran of Atlanta's Hair-metal decade, TIM CABE slung guitar and sang for such local heroes as REDD THREAT, KINGPIN, and SNAKE NATION. But it was his session work that brought him to the attention of THE OUTLAWS' management, and in the mid 90s, he was invited to join the southern rock icons for a US/European tour. Along with Tim and founder HUEY THOMASSON, the band’s lineup featured the smokin’ vocals and guitar work of CHRIS HICKS, EAN EVANS on bass, slide guitar, and vocals (who would later, on Huey’s recommendation, join the re-animated LYNYRD SKYNYRD), and drum-meister B.B.QUEEN (famous founding member of MOTHERS FINEST, and later with MOLLY HATCHET, among others). The tour allowed Tim to share the stage with scores of rock’n’roll luminaries, from the MARSHALL TUCKER BAND to LESLIE WEST.
But after two years of green grass, high tides, and travel, Tim was road-weary and homesick. And so, he resolved to form a local band for fun and occasional profit. Tim's longtime friends BRIAN “WAX” WILLIAMS and PETER HARTBARGER (from local original bands SO BE IT and SCISSORS) were conscripted on bass and drums, respectively. Although Brian was and is a monstrous guitarist, and Pete was primarily a keyboard player, each agreed to take up a secondary instrument, rather than putting Tim through the torture of searching out and auditioning strangers. This trio became known as THE DEATHROW BODINES, “the band what rocks,” bar-blasters of Atlanta’s south side.
Then, after the mysterious disappearance of Wax in 2001, Pete's brother, STEVE HARTBARGER, was recruited as new bassist (the three, Steve, Brian, and Pete, having all played and recorded together as PERPLEXITY). This lineup remained in place through the first half of 2005.
Part two: HISTORICAL FLASHBACK
STEVE HARTBARGER’S first rock’n’roll band was called ROLLING THUNDER, with guitarist/mentor TERRY HICKS, and Steve’s best friend MATTHEW “DUTCH” SINYARD on drums. At 16, Steve and Dutch played out several nights a week, often showing up at school the next day flush with cash, and a little hung over.
The two began to build frightening chops, and gradually moved more towards original music. When, in the mid 80s, they hooked up with WAX WILLIAMS, the mother lode of instrumental rock was struck. And under the names HAVICK, GOTHAM CITY, and HEAVY METRICS, the three created a mostly vocal-less, complex, yet heavy sound.
Steve’s older brother PETE HARTBARGER, meanwhile, had been living near Nashville, playing hard 70s fusion on keyboards. He achieved great artistic satisfaction (playing with his own ensemble, SPRING STREET, at the famous Exit/In, recording with BILLY COX and MAC GAYDEN), but little financial reward. And so, he decided to join his family in Georgia, and try to get a mindless, yet profitable, copy gig. However, despite the steady income he discovered in everything from Top 40 to piano bar work, he found his brother’s more experimental music irresistible, and, in the late 80s, lobbied to join on keys and lead vocals.
Their four-piece was first known as SO BE IT, and later, BLOTTER ACID RAIN FOREST, mongering a sound some described as “Rush/Motorhead.” They were ultimately more popular among other musicians than the public at large, but pressed on into the early 90s, when Dutch bowed out to start a family.
The remaining three regrouped to do some songwriting, with Pete tapping out drum parts on the keyboard, and Wax singing lead. As a distinctive sound formed, the logical next step seemed for Pete to obtain an actual drum set, so that they might soldier on once more as a power trio. They played out successfully under the moniker SCISSORS, and, even after disbanding, recorded, as PERPLEXITY, a self-produced CD entitled “Bad Weatherman.” Two of the tracks on the album featured guitar from their old pal, Tim Cabe.
Part three: UNITED MUTATIONS
Early in the 21st century, rumors spread of a mighty singer who dwelt in the lands east of Atlanta. He actually dwelt right in the DEATHROW BODINES neighborhood, and his proximity inspired Tim to propose a shakeup to his other bandmates. Pete was persuaded to take up his former main instrument, so he dusted off his old ghetto rig, added a couple modern innovations, and voila, became a keyboard player again.
The only suitable drummer for the band, Dutch Sinyard, had meanwhile built a national, then international reputation for his super-badass custom drum crafting and restoration, under the name BONZO DRUM COMPANY (see our links page). With his boys now in middle and grammar school, Dutch was somewhat freed up, and anxious to play again. Tim contacted the aforementioned vocalist, who expressed some interest, and the five met in the upstairs jam room of the Bonzo Drum Company workshop in 2005.
STEPHEN “RUUD COOTY” FREDRICK has a three-and-a-half octave range, all of it quite loud. He plays rhythm guitar, harmonica, and percussion, and had also played drums in a few bands. He has performed and/or recorded with more artists, labels, and producers than he can honestly recall, but the following is a partial list:
He was formerly with -
Electric Factory - Rebound Productions
with producer Bill Halverson (BAD COMPANY)
MCA Records - Pasha Studios, Hollywood, Ca.
Leviathan Records with producer David T. Chastain
Limb Records of Hamburg, Germany - four albums with the group FIREWIND,
which were minor hits in Europe
The group ATOMIC SHELTER (“the U2 of eastern Europe”),
who had had 6 platinum albums
Among RUUD’s proteges are -
Rick Richards of the GEORGIA SATELLITES
John Samuelson of DOC HOLIDAY
Brendan O’Brien, VP of Sony and producer of the BLACK CROWES,
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, and PEARL JAM, among others.
In supporting acts, he has shared the stage with -
VAN HALEN
KISS
DIO
BLACK SABBATH
KROKUS
UFO
LYNYRD SKYNYRD
The ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
38 SPECIAL
MOLLY HATCHET
The MARSHALL TUCKER BAND
(But not The OUTLAWS? )
He has recorded backing and “stacking” vocals at most of the major studios
In NYC and Atlanta, and, on occasion, in Miami and Nashville, too.
He’s had eight major CD releases, four available in stores worldwide.
He’s also sung with local rock monsters BLUE MAX, BILLY THE KID
(Who had a major release on MCA in 1985), and MOTION.
Back at Bonzo Drum Co., productive jams turned into rehearsals, and a versatile, formidable sound took shape, especially with Pete adding rhythm guitar to his arsenal, and RUUD’s ability to sing Metal, R&B, and the biggest-haired ballads, all with equal aplomb. Early in 2006, the band debuted, still calling themselves The DEATHROW BODINES, but, a few gigs in, they became BIG BLOCK (to evoke both car-drivin’ and candy).
Part four: THE END OF AN ERA
In November of 2007, BIG BLOCK and DEATHROW BODINES founder TIM CABE announced his retirement from public life. The time constraints from having an adorable, eight-month-old daughter proved too much for him to maintain a home-, work-, and band-life. On the 30th, he gave his farewell performance to a wonderful, screaming crowd of Blockheads at The Pointe in Old Town Conyers. It was an emotional and exhilarating finale.
* * *
With Tim’s enthusiastic blessing, the remaining members sought the services of the redoubtable DAVE ONORATO, whose experience and aggressive style made him a perfect fit. Dave-O accepted, and, despite a busy schedule, began rehearsing at Bonzo right around Christmastime. And, Heavens to Betsy, it sounded good!
Mr. O’s impressive resume had most recently included the lead guitar slot with Georgia Country/Rock phenomenon ZAC BROWN. He’s also performed with such regional notables as Wilder Embery, Mimi Holland, the Andy Birdfall Band, and Diggity. And he served for a year and a half with Sylvain Sylvain of the the New York Dolls (the New York freakin’ Dolls, people!).
Nowadays, all over the Atlanta area, BIG BLOCK generally rocks ass.
Join us
(If you value not your ass)
Tim is no longer with the band. Click here to Check out Tim's bio Page.