From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roadmaster
refer to caption
Roadmaster, February 2018.
Rick Benick (l) and Asher Benrubi (r).
Background information
Origin Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Genres Arena rock, album-oriented rock, pop rock, soft rock
Years active1974-1983, 1988-90, 1993, 1998, 2018
LabelsVillage, Mercury, RDM, Retrospect, Utopia Naz Runt
Past membersRick Benick
Bobby Johns
Steve “Mac” McNally
Toby Myers
Michael Read
Asher “Adam Smasher” Benrubi
Steve Riley
Rob Swaynie
Tim Berry
Craig Watson
Frank Bradford
Peter Bailey
John Gennell

Roadmaster was an American rock band from Indianapolis, Indiana, that was popular in the Midwest in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They recorded four albums for Village/Mercury Records. Members of the band played for several other successful rock acts with Midwestern roots from the ‘70s to the 1990s.

History

Roadmaster started as Pure Funk, a popular Indiana college funk band, founded in 1969 by keyboard player, Michael Read, vocalist, Asher “Adam Smasher” Benrubi, and guitarist, Rob Swaynie. [1] [2] Bassist Toby Myers joined the band in 1971. [3] Guitarist Rick Benick met Read in the early 1970s when Benick moved to Indiana to join the Kokomo, Indiana, rock band, Nebula Spoon, but some time thereafter joined Pure Funk. [4] Drummer Steve Riley rounded out their lineup. In 1974 the band changed its name to Roadmaster and its musical style began to evolve into a big guitar and keyboard-centered “arena” rock sound. [5] [6]

Roadmaster was discovered by Todd Rundgren, who invited the band to New York to record a demo, which led to a contract with Indianapolis record label Village Records. Rundgren produced three songs on their eponymous 1976 debut album. After that release, Smasher left the band, ultimately to pursue a career as a radio DJ, and former Nebula Spoon vocalist, Steve “Mac” McNally, replaced him. Riley also left, to be replaced by former Exile drummer, Bobby Johns. With that lineup, Roadmaster recorded one more album for Village and two more for Mercury Records (which had acquired Village) from 1978-80. [7] [8] [9]

In the late ‘70s, Roadmaster toured with Pat Travers and Blue Öyster Cult and opened throughout the Midwest for mainstream rock acts such as The Cars, Cheap Trick, Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, Todd Rundgren, Rush, and ZZ Top. [10] [11] The band members wrote their own songs and their sound was similar to that of popular arena rock acts like Styx, Foreigner (their early material), Kansas (their hits), and REO Speedwagon. [12] Their most popular songs included “Doesn’t Mean a Thing,” “Higher, Higher,” “Say You Wanna Be With Me,” “Hey World,” and their signature anthem, “Sweet Music.” [13] [14] Although they were very popular at home, Roadmaster was unable to break through nationally and their record deal with Mercury ended in 1980. [15] [16] Soon afterwards, McNally left the band. [17] Craig Watson and Frank Bradford sang with the band after his departure. Tim Berry also replaced Johns as the band’s drummer. [18] In 1982, Toby Myers left to play for the next decade and a half with Seymour, Indiana, native, John Mellencamp. [19] He was replaced by Peter Bailey and then by John Gennell. Roadmaster carried on for another year but broke up in 1983. [20]

Bass player
Toby Myers
Keyboard player
Michael Read
drummer
Bobby Johns

After the breakup, Benick, Read, and Berry played dates with Mitch Ryder. [21] [22] Mac McNally sang briefly in the early ‘80s with former members of The Knack in The Game. [23] In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Myers, Benick, and Read played with Brazil, Indiana, rocker, Henry Lee Summer. [24] Original drummer, Steve Riley, played with W.A.S.P. in the mid-‘80s; in the late ‘80s he joined L.A. Guns and remained with them until recently. [25] Later in the ‘90s through the early 2000s, Summer, Benick and Read, along with former Faith Band vocalist, Carl Storie, played in the Indianapolis cover band, the Alligator Brothers. [26] [27]

Roadmaster reunited for several shows in 1988-90, 1993, 1998, and 2018. [28] [29] In 1989, with their ’78-’80 lineup, they recorded their last album, which included live performances of their most popular songs. [30] In April 1990, they appeared at Farm Aid IV in Indianapolis. [31] Videos of their 1993 performances were recorded and published by Retrospect Records. [32] [33] Mac McNally died of pancreatic cancer in 1998. Most recently, in February 2018, surviving members of the band reunited for a benefit concert for Rick Benick, who had been diagnosed with leukemia. [34] Benick died in June 2018. [35]

Discography

Albums
Year Title Label
1976 Roadmaster Village [36]
1978 Sweet Music Village [37]
1979 Hey World Mercury [38]
1980 Fortress Mercury [39]
1989 Live + 5 RDM [40]
1994 Live! One for the Road Retrospect [41]
2010 ST + Sweet Talk Utopia Naz Runt [42]
Singles
Year Title Album
1976 "That Magic Feeling" [43] Roadmaster
"Who Can Sing Like Fatboy Do"
1978 "It Doesn't Mean A Thing" Sweet Music
"Circle Of Love"
1979 "Hey World" Hey World
1982 "Back In My Arms Again" Single Only

See also

References

  1. ^ "asherbenrubi.com". The Smash! Asher Benrubi, Smash Entertainment Media. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Dawn. "Whatever Happened to Adam Smasher?", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 22 February 2016. Retrieved on 26 May 2018.
  3. ^ Spitznogle, Nora. "Roadmaster", NUVO, Indianapolis, 28 March 2007. Retrieved on 26 May 2018.
  4. ^ Lindquist, David. "Benefit set for ailing Roadmaster guitarist Rick Benick", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 22 February 2018. Retrieved on 26 May 2018.
  5. ^ "asherbenrubi.com". Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  6. ^ Spitznogle.
  7. ^ Spitznogle.
  8. ^ Lindquist.
  9. ^ Dunkin, Zach. "Road Ends for Local Rock Band", The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, 22 June 1983. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.
  10. ^ Spitznogle.
  11. ^ Lindquist.
  12. ^ Allan, Marc. "Roadmaster show video picking up momentum", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 18 January 1994. Retrieved on 29 July 2018.
  13. ^ Roadmaster, "Live + 5" RDM Records, 1989.
  14. ^ "player.fm". Player FM, Songs from the Basement, Spotlight Show: Roadmaster. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  15. ^ Dunkin.
  16. ^ Morrison, Pat. "Indy's Roadmaster to Headline Picnic", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 24 August 1980. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.
  17. ^ Johnson, Heather (2007). Born in a Small Town: John Mellencamp, the Story. Omnibus Press. ISBN  978-0825673368.
  18. ^ Lindquist.
  19. ^ Spitznogle.
  20. ^ Dunkin.
  21. ^ Lindquist.
  22. ^ Reason, Betsy. "Remembering rocker Rick Benick", The Times, Hamilton County, Indiana, 15 June 2018. Retrieved on 29 July 2018.
  23. ^ Ressner, Jeffrey (27 February 1982). "Points West". Cash Box. p. 14. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  24. ^ Lindquist.
  25. ^ Parks, John (30 August 2012). "legendaryrockinterviews.com". Legendary Rock Interviews. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  26. ^ Lindquist.
  27. ^ Reason.
  28. ^ Spitznogle.
  29. ^ Warren, Jill. "Second time around is good for Roadmaster", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 25 February 1990. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.
  30. ^ Warren.
  31. ^ Mitchell, Dawn. "RetroIndy: Farm Aid IV raised a bumper crop of cash", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 18 June 2017. Retrieved on 8 November 2020.
  32. ^ "retrospectrecords.com". Roadmaster, Live! One for the Road. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  33. ^ Allan.
  34. ^ Lindquist. A video of the concert was produced by JB Media and is available on YouTube. "Roadmaster LIVE: A Benefit Concert - One Last Show for Rick Benick". JB Media. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  35. ^ Lindquist, David. "Rick Benick, guitarist in Indianapolis rock band Roadmaster, dies at 66", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 14 June 2018. Retrieved on 24 June 2018.
  36. ^ Roadmaster, "Roadmaster".
  37. ^ Roadmaster, "Sweet Music".
  38. ^ Roadmaster, "Hey World".
  39. ^ Roadmaster, "Fortress".
  40. ^ Roadmaster, "Live + 5".
  41. ^ retrospectrecords.com
  42. ^ "spirit-of-metal.com". Metal Rock. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  43. ^ Produced by Todd Rundgren
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roadmaster
refer to caption
Roadmaster, February 2018.
Rick Benick (l) and Asher Benrubi (r).
Background information
Origin Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Genres Arena rock, album-oriented rock, pop rock, soft rock
Years active1974-1983, 1988-90, 1993, 1998, 2018
LabelsVillage, Mercury, RDM, Retrospect, Utopia Naz Runt
Past membersRick Benick
Bobby Johns
Steve “Mac” McNally
Toby Myers
Michael Read
Asher “Adam Smasher” Benrubi
Steve Riley
Rob Swaynie
Tim Berry
Craig Watson
Frank Bradford
Peter Bailey
John Gennell

Roadmaster was an American rock band from Indianapolis, Indiana, that was popular in the Midwest in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They recorded four albums for Village/Mercury Records. Members of the band played for several other successful rock acts with Midwestern roots from the ‘70s to the 1990s.

History

Roadmaster started as Pure Funk, a popular Indiana college funk band, founded in 1969 by keyboard player, Michael Read, vocalist, Asher “Adam Smasher” Benrubi, and guitarist, Rob Swaynie. [1] [2] Bassist Toby Myers joined the band in 1971. [3] Guitarist Rick Benick met Read in the early 1970s when Benick moved to Indiana to join the Kokomo, Indiana, rock band, Nebula Spoon, but some time thereafter joined Pure Funk. [4] Drummer Steve Riley rounded out their lineup. In 1974 the band changed its name to Roadmaster and its musical style began to evolve into a big guitar and keyboard-centered “arena” rock sound. [5] [6]

Roadmaster was discovered by Todd Rundgren, who invited the band to New York to record a demo, which led to a contract with Indianapolis record label Village Records. Rundgren produced three songs on their eponymous 1976 debut album. After that release, Smasher left the band, ultimately to pursue a career as a radio DJ, and former Nebula Spoon vocalist, Steve “Mac” McNally, replaced him. Riley also left, to be replaced by former Exile drummer, Bobby Johns. With that lineup, Roadmaster recorded one more album for Village and two more for Mercury Records (which had acquired Village) from 1978-80. [7] [8] [9]

In the late ‘70s, Roadmaster toured with Pat Travers and Blue Öyster Cult and opened throughout the Midwest for mainstream rock acts such as The Cars, Cheap Trick, Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, Todd Rundgren, Rush, and ZZ Top. [10] [11] The band members wrote their own songs and their sound was similar to that of popular arena rock acts like Styx, Foreigner (their early material), Kansas (their hits), and REO Speedwagon. [12] Their most popular songs included “Doesn’t Mean a Thing,” “Higher, Higher,” “Say You Wanna Be With Me,” “Hey World,” and their signature anthem, “Sweet Music.” [13] [14] Although they were very popular at home, Roadmaster was unable to break through nationally and their record deal with Mercury ended in 1980. [15] [16] Soon afterwards, McNally left the band. [17] Craig Watson and Frank Bradford sang with the band after his departure. Tim Berry also replaced Johns as the band’s drummer. [18] In 1982, Toby Myers left to play for the next decade and a half with Seymour, Indiana, native, John Mellencamp. [19] He was replaced by Peter Bailey and then by John Gennell. Roadmaster carried on for another year but broke up in 1983. [20]

Bass player
Toby Myers
Keyboard player
Michael Read
drummer
Bobby Johns

After the breakup, Benick, Read, and Berry played dates with Mitch Ryder. [21] [22] Mac McNally sang briefly in the early ‘80s with former members of The Knack in The Game. [23] In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Myers, Benick, and Read played with Brazil, Indiana, rocker, Henry Lee Summer. [24] Original drummer, Steve Riley, played with W.A.S.P. in the mid-‘80s; in the late ‘80s he joined L.A. Guns and remained with them until recently. [25] Later in the ‘90s through the early 2000s, Summer, Benick and Read, along with former Faith Band vocalist, Carl Storie, played in the Indianapolis cover band, the Alligator Brothers. [26] [27]

Roadmaster reunited for several shows in 1988-90, 1993, 1998, and 2018. [28] [29] In 1989, with their ’78-’80 lineup, they recorded their last album, which included live performances of their most popular songs. [30] In April 1990, they appeared at Farm Aid IV in Indianapolis. [31] Videos of their 1993 performances were recorded and published by Retrospect Records. [32] [33] Mac McNally died of pancreatic cancer in 1998. Most recently, in February 2018, surviving members of the band reunited for a benefit concert for Rick Benick, who had been diagnosed with leukemia. [34] Benick died in June 2018. [35]

Discography

Albums
Year Title Label
1976 Roadmaster Village [36]
1978 Sweet Music Village [37]
1979 Hey World Mercury [38]
1980 Fortress Mercury [39]
1989 Live + 5 RDM [40]
1994 Live! One for the Road Retrospect [41]
2010 ST + Sweet Talk Utopia Naz Runt [42]
Singles
Year Title Album
1976 "That Magic Feeling" [43] Roadmaster
"Who Can Sing Like Fatboy Do"
1978 "It Doesn't Mean A Thing" Sweet Music
"Circle Of Love"
1979 "Hey World" Hey World
1982 "Back In My Arms Again" Single Only

See also

References

  1. ^ "asherbenrubi.com". The Smash! Asher Benrubi, Smash Entertainment Media. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Dawn. "Whatever Happened to Adam Smasher?", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 22 February 2016. Retrieved on 26 May 2018.
  3. ^ Spitznogle, Nora. "Roadmaster", NUVO, Indianapolis, 28 March 2007. Retrieved on 26 May 2018.
  4. ^ Lindquist, David. "Benefit set for ailing Roadmaster guitarist Rick Benick", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 22 February 2018. Retrieved on 26 May 2018.
  5. ^ "asherbenrubi.com". Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  6. ^ Spitznogle.
  7. ^ Spitznogle.
  8. ^ Lindquist.
  9. ^ Dunkin, Zach. "Road Ends for Local Rock Band", The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, 22 June 1983. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.
  10. ^ Spitznogle.
  11. ^ Lindquist.
  12. ^ Allan, Marc. "Roadmaster show video picking up momentum", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 18 January 1994. Retrieved on 29 July 2018.
  13. ^ Roadmaster, "Live + 5" RDM Records, 1989.
  14. ^ "player.fm". Player FM, Songs from the Basement, Spotlight Show: Roadmaster. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  15. ^ Dunkin.
  16. ^ Morrison, Pat. "Indy's Roadmaster to Headline Picnic", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 24 August 1980. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.
  17. ^ Johnson, Heather (2007). Born in a Small Town: John Mellencamp, the Story. Omnibus Press. ISBN  978-0825673368.
  18. ^ Lindquist.
  19. ^ Spitznogle.
  20. ^ Dunkin.
  21. ^ Lindquist.
  22. ^ Reason, Betsy. "Remembering rocker Rick Benick", The Times, Hamilton County, Indiana, 15 June 2018. Retrieved on 29 July 2018.
  23. ^ Ressner, Jeffrey (27 February 1982). "Points West". Cash Box. p. 14. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  24. ^ Lindquist.
  25. ^ Parks, John (30 August 2012). "legendaryrockinterviews.com". Legendary Rock Interviews. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  26. ^ Lindquist.
  27. ^ Reason.
  28. ^ Spitznogle.
  29. ^ Warren, Jill. "Second time around is good for Roadmaster", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 25 February 1990. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.
  30. ^ Warren.
  31. ^ Mitchell, Dawn. "RetroIndy: Farm Aid IV raised a bumper crop of cash", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 18 June 2017. Retrieved on 8 November 2020.
  32. ^ "retrospectrecords.com". Roadmaster, Live! One for the Road. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  33. ^ Allan.
  34. ^ Lindquist. A video of the concert was produced by JB Media and is available on YouTube. "Roadmaster LIVE: A Benefit Concert - One Last Show for Rick Benick". JB Media. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  35. ^ Lindquist, David. "Rick Benick, guitarist in Indianapolis rock band Roadmaster, dies at 66", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, 14 June 2018. Retrieved on 24 June 2018.
  36. ^ Roadmaster, "Roadmaster".
  37. ^ Roadmaster, "Sweet Music".
  38. ^ Roadmaster, "Hey World".
  39. ^ Roadmaster, "Fortress".
  40. ^ Roadmaster, "Live + 5".
  41. ^ retrospectrecords.com
  42. ^ "spirit-of-metal.com". Metal Rock. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  43. ^ Produced by Todd Rundgren

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