During 1960’s WDGY and KDWB were battling to promote the big rock shows in the Twin Cities to boost their radio ratings with listener contests and having their DJs onstage. On March 8, 1968, WDGY was the presenting radio station for “Super Scene ’68.” The show was at the Metropolitan Sports Center and there was a great lineup with Wilson Pickett, the Hollies, Strawberry Alarm Clock and the Nickel Revolution and other local bands.
During this time, the Nickel Revolution was performing as a show band, doing R&B, blues and rock and upgraded to wearing tuxedos for big shows. Members during this time included Louie Lenz (rhythm guitar), Jerry Lenz (drums), Scott Jeffy (bass), Ron “Honeybear” Hort (keyboards), John Berman (sax) and Kent Saunders (lead guitar). Both John and Kent would only be with the band for a short period of time.
The Strawberry Alarm Clock had a big hit with “Incense and Peppermints.” And many of their fans were in attendance at Super Scene 68. One interesting story involving the Nickel Revolution is that Gene Gunnels, drummer for the Strawberry Alarm Clock, was missing his cow bell. If you’re familiar with the song Incense and Peppermints, you know that the cow bell plays an important part in performing the song. The Nickel Revolutions drummer, Jerry Lenz, had a cow bell and loaned it to Gene for their performance.
Wilson Pickett Hits as of 1968
“In The Midnight Hour” (1965)
“Land Of 1000 Dances” (1966)
“634-5789 (Soulsville,U.S.A.)” (1966)
“Funky Broadway” (1967)
“Don’t Knock My Love – Pt. 1” (1971)
“Don’t Fight It” (1965)
“Soul Dance Number Three” (1967)
“Mustang Sally” (1967)
“I’m In Love” (1967)
“I Found A Love – Part 1” (1967)
“I’m In Love” (1967)
“She’s Lookin’ Good” (1968)
“I’m A Midnight Mover” (1968)
The second headliner act was The Hollies, an English pop and rock group, known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s. Some of their US hits include:
“Just One Look”
“Look Through Any Window”
“Bus Stop”
“Stop Stop Stop”
“On a Carousel”
“Carrie Anne”
“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”
STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK
We welcome your comments and feedback on this blog. You can post here and share this with your friends via Facebook and Twitter (see easy links). If you want to email us any questions or comments: NickelRevolution@gmail.com
Listen to The Nickel Revolution now on You Tube
Link for Sweet, Sweet Lovin’: Sweet, Sweet Lovin’
Link for Treat Her Right: Treat Her Right
See these great websites for further insights to Twin Cities bands from the 50s, 60s, 70s:
http://www.jeanneandersen.net/musichighlights.html
© 2011 © 2012 Jerry Lenz, Lenz Entertainment Group All Rights Reserved
nickel revolution 
[…] Read our full post on this event here: Super Scene […]