The band DETOUR

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 4:37 pm

Does anyone remember a local band called DETOUR? They were around in the late 70's early 80's around Altoona here. A friend of mine was curious if anyone remembers them or if any of the guys are still around and what they are currently doing.

~SnOOge!

Post by **Jim Price** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:29 pm

I have notes on a Detour who played the Altoona area for a brief period in the late 80's. That line-up included Clay Bowser on lead vocals and guitar, Barry Steindel on lead guitar, Fritz Wyland on bass, and for some reason my notes didn't have the drummer's name listed. As I recall, I saw them play one time at the 4D's, probably around 1988 or '89.

If memory serves me right, I believe Steve Shiffler sang for Detour at one point as well, between his stints in XL and Legacy.

All three of the listed members are still around. Clay Bowser performs as a solo acoustic country artist; Barry was active in The Resonators a couple of years ago, and Fritz plays bass with Ricky Lee & the Mustangs.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:08 pm

Paul Merkel was the drummer. I sang with Detour briefly in the early 90's, right after Clay left. We were pretty good, I think, and Clay did a great job, too. Barry was very bluesy in his style, I was more of a metalhead, and we had 2 female backup singers who were excellent. Barb (Settle, I think?) and Maureen, whom Barry later worked with in a duo. Clay began playing as an acoustic solo guy, among the first to do so around here, and still performs in the Northern Cambria area, last I heard.
Detour did a pretty good bar-band mix, we played Pat Travers and other blues rock, Joe Cocker, Elton John, and such. We played Peter C's a lot, Red's BBQ, working-class places, mostly. Oh, and local soundman Zilly honed his sound chops with Detour. I got some pretty good stories out of that band, for such a short time in it.--->JMS

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:09 pm

I remember going to the warehouse to see them practice when Detour first started. The first lineup was...
Joe Carraciolo-voc
Barry Steindel-git
Randy Riley-git
? Brunner-bass
Bob Weidman- drums

nakedtwister · Post by **nakedtwister** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:37 pm

Funny thing you mentioned Detour. I was talking to a friend last night and he said that Barry, Keith Little, and he ( Ed Murvine ) are currently working on a project. Hope it evolves. Good luck guys.

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:42 am

Hi1
I am Barry from the above mentioned band.
There were two versions of that band as pointed out. Early 80's and early 90's to be factual and there was a 6 year stint with Tight Squeeze in between them.

Tom Brunner was the Bass player in the first one also known as Eddie {Up the Irons}

The second one Vocalists were Clay Bowser, John Stevens, Ross Hoover, and Steve Shiffler. A little too much LSD I think :>

I am curious as to who some of you people are who are interested?

I am actually working with some people on a new electric project that is shaping up to be something pretty special.

Thanks for asking,

Barry

Pretty good memory Jim who always enjoyed our renditions of Highway Star.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:48 am

Wow!! that was pretty quick. Thanks JP, I appreciate the info. The whole reason for the inquiry was, a friend of mine knows a guy and wanted to see if he was full of B.S. (he said he was in the band back in the day)...
So, as it turns out, he is NOT any of those guys and he IS in fact full of shite....THANKS AGAIN!!!

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:00 am

Well who was it? If anybody knows it would be me

Maybe he sat in with us or something... Just wanna give credit where credit is due.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:12 am

I'll let ya know...

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:29 am

my7of9 wrote:....stint with Tight Squeeze in between them.

Barry, its Bobby, welcome to RP brotha!
Seeing Detour at the warehouse was the shit, made me want to start playing.
We had some fun times in TS too, played a lot and even had a bus! I just saw Ritchie P last night, have you seen him or Dave Shaffer at all?

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:38 am

Bob,
I don't think anyone had the Good Times like we did back then.
Quite honestly we got away with a lot of stuff and had a blast doing it.

Very Lucky in a lot of ways we all were!

You heard about Todd Conrad passing I take it?

Barry

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:42 am

Which by the way Todd Conrad also played Bass in the 2nd version of Detour and was a wonderful artist. Those who knew him know what I mean!

Just thought I should mention that since no one else did.

RIP Buddy!

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:43 am

Yeah, sad about Todd, i didnt see the post till out till after the funeral.
Great guy, great artist, he did our logos back then didn't he?

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:50 am

Hurricane wrote:Yeah, sad about Todd, i didnt see the post till out till after the funeral.
Great guy, great artist, he did our logos back then didn't he?

Yes Todd did our Logo and our T-Shirts which we must have sold 500 of those!

Also he did Sebastianos Logo and T-Shirts and if you own one closely examine your shirt and you will see a little TC in a circle on it somewhere.

Todd was a great guy and he was only 44 and left 2 children.

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:51 am

Hurricane wrote:I remember going to the warehouse to see them practice when Detour first started. The first lineup was...
Joe Carraciolo-voc
Barry Steindel-git
Randy Riley-git
? Brunner-bass
Bob Weidman- drums

Also now that I think about it there was J.B. Batrus on Drums after Bob left to play with Slammer.
And a guy sang with us named Scott Miller - Milo! When Joe left! Too many bomb threats unfortunately. Whatever happened to him?
I think we were the only band who were standing out in the street in the middle of winter at 1:00 AM with our Leather and spandex on because of Bomb threats. 3 times that happened. Can anyone else claim that kind of fun!

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:03 am

my7of9 wrote:Well who was it? If anybody knows it would be me
Maybe he sat in with us or something... Just wanna give credit where credit is due.

Not sure of the spelling of the last name, but the guys name is Rich Delphof or something...

DickShackBass · Post by **DickShackBass** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:42 am

Detour was the very first band I ever saw perform live, it was at a festival one summer, I have NO idea of the year. I thought it was the most awesome thing I had ever seen up to that point in my life.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:38 pm

DickShackBass wrote: I thought it was the most awesome thing I had ever seen up to that point in my life.

I remember feeling that way about seeing bands as a kid. Prolly why I'm doing it today. I also felt that way when I met Justin Burket (Cuff).....AWESOME! lol

Plastered Bastards · Post by **Plastered Bastards** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:24 pm

I remember seeing Detour in either '84 or '85 at Saint Theresa's Festival.
And I remember them doing Looks That Kill and Twilight Zone
That's all I remember because I am a stoner.

DrumAndDestroy · Post by **DrumAndDestroy** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:55 am

DirtySanchez wrote:
I remember feeling that way about seeing bands as a kid. Prolly why I'm doing it today. I also felt that way when I met Justin Burket (Cuff).....AWESOME! lol

funny i was thinking the same thing about the day i met you

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:10 pm

I wanna make-out with you. I miss it so much.

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:40 pm

Plastered Bastards wrote:I remember seeing Detour in either '84 or '85 at Saint Theresa's Festival.
And I remember them doing Looks That Kill and Twilight Zone
That's all I remember because I am a stoner.

If it was in 84 or 85 then you did see my other Band Tight Squeeze playing Rick Lonsinger was singing for us then. We had released about a 1000 Tight Squeeze balloons at that one. and Yes we played there in 1983 as well with Detour and yes we played Looks That Kill and Twilight zone. Good memory for a Stoner that was 25 years ago!

I will never forget the time we played at Altoona High School Auditorium. It was like a Beatles concert and the chicks were absolutely SCREAMING nuts and I thought Oh ma God they are digging us and then I looked over at Rick [aka Ricky Lee] and he had blown out the entire front of his black parachute pants doing a split and his whitey tighty's were sticking right out there! Sorry Rick but it is a funny story. :>

I believe Mr Watters will back me up on that one!

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:53 pm

my7of9 wrote:
Plastered Bastards wrote:I remember seeing Detour in either '84 or '85 at Saint Theresa's Festival.
And I remember them doing Looks That Kill and Twilight Zone
That's all I remember because I am a stoner.

If it was in 84 or 85 then you did see my other Band Tight Squeeze playing Rick Lonsinger was singing for us then. We had released about a 1000 Tight Squeeze balloons at that one. and Yes we played there in 1983 as well with Detour and yes we played Looks That Kill and Twilight zone. Good memory for a Stoner that was 25 years ago!

I will never forget the time we played at Altoona High School Auditorium. It was like a Beatles concert and the chicks were absolutely SCREAMING nuts and I thought Oh ma God they are digging us and then I looked over at Rick [aka Ricky Lee] and he had blown out the entire front of his black parachute pants doing a split and his whitey tighty's were sticking right out there! Sorry Rick but it is a funny story. :>

I believe Mr Watters will back me up on that one!

ROFL! Yep, I told that one to Rickw at Music emporium one day, hella funny!

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:39 pm

DirtySanchez wrote:I wanna make-out with you. I miss it so much.

WTF?!?! LOL!!!