Groups That Have Had Me As A Member

This page will be an ongoing attempt to chronicle every single musical group that I have ever been a part of.

I say "ongoing" because, unfortunately, I don't remember everyone's names and I'm hoping that those of you that do will help out here. For now it will only include groups that performed "original" work and that we actually had a name for. Eventually, I hope to add sound clips, photos, and perhaps even entire songs. I'll try to keep it all in chronological order although I cannot promise dates for everything. I'll also attempt brief explanations when possible.

Grade School

A photo of our backyard "Kiss" group. From left to right: Floyd Spotto, Ernie Van Buskirk, me, my brother Tony, and my sister Ami.

Kiss

Okay, so I told my little sister I was in "Kiss" and she believed me - but really... I think that for a good part of my childhood I believed it too. Just for fun - the Kiss concerts band [we were 8 & 9 years old] included me, my brother Tony, and our neighbor's Ernie Van Buskirk and Floyd Spotto.

Scamp

Todd McHatton - Guitar & Piano
Tony McHatton - Guitar
Mark Rattenbury - Drums
Sal Brown - Vocals (?)

Our first attempt at a "band" outside of the Kiss concerts we'd put on in our backyard. The "Scamp" band was my first ever attempt at writing songs and trying to "teach" them to other "musicians." I had a Harmony "Pocket" guitar from a Pawn Shop that I absolutely loved because I thought it looked like Ted Nugent's. At one time it actually said "Rocket" on the headstock (instead of "pocket") which never made sense to me until I got my first "real" guitar, a 70's Fender Telecaster, with a little help from my Uncle Steve. (I really wish I still had both those guitars). Scamp's best effort was completely unintentional - a simple little duet with me on piano and Mark on drums trying to do his best Neil Peart. He had an absolutely amazing kit for a kid. I'll have that little tune up here soon.

Junior High & High School

Crimson Steele

Todd McHatton - Guitar
Dan Arnenberg - Drums
Rich Prouty - Bass
Jack Meisner - Vocals

Our first "serious" band - and, obviously, very much about "Heavy Metal." I believe that we played every single Van Halen, Iron Maiden, and (Dio era) Black Sabbath song there was (at that time). I cut my first "demo" of original songs at someone's little home studio with these guys. We played house parties, skating rinks, even on a boat in the Puget Sound. We gigged every weekend and had an absolute blast. There was mandatory band practice everyday after school in Dan's living room. His parents were just way too cool about that. We would play at full volume and they would be sitting in their easy chairs in the very next room with the TV cranked all the way up. Even now I cannot comprehend it. Eventually, at no prompting from them, we moved it over to the basement at my house. I designed a logo for us and drew it on everything - including every single locker at Puyallup High School. We played loud and long and it was a total blast. The recordings are pretty weak but I've got a lot of that music - I'll have some of it up here soon.

Well, there's the start...
More to come -