It was the spring of 1984 and this period of time is a real blur for me personally. My brother, Steve, had passed away just a few months earlier. I was really lost at the time. And I mean LOST. I was trying to finish my third year of college and that didn’t go well at all. I basically dropped out and never when back. And now my mind is very foggy on the dates and events surrounding this band. But we have this cool promo pic and a demo tape. So here ya go.
I’m certain that Jeff Christiansen put this group together for some shows he had lined up. He was good at getting work. I remember taking this promo pic on the outskirts of Great Falls. And we recorded a demo tape. I sort of remember doing that in Great Falls one morning when we were all hung over… for some reason or other. haha. But, honestly I think I only played one or two gigs with this particular group. All-in-all I don’t think this group did much more than 3 or 4 shows and I vaguely remember one.
Shortly after this group formed, Jeff Christiansen would join the band Story for extended shows in Lewistown and then Seeley Lake, Montana. What is clear to me is that Jeff, Chuck and I would eventually go from here to form the band, Beats Workin. So, for all these reasons, the promo pic, the demo tape and where we eventually landed, Rocky Mountain Express was not at all an insignificant stop along the way.
Playing music was the best thing I could do during this difficult time. I can’t thank my band mates enough for that. And, I’m so happy to have met and played music with Dale Ellis and Grant Stephens. Even if it was for such a short while. I’m thrilled to have this picture and demo tape after all this time.
Members of Rocky Mountain Express were:
Jeff Christiansen
Chuck Fulcher
Grant Stephens
Dale Ellis
Mike Turnbull