the Early Lehigh Valley Seen

We were not alone,There were a few other bands  in the Valley.The first Bands were The Midnighters ,The Tran sonics/trendsetters,The Clap,The Liars.These were the only punk bands that I knew of at the birth of the lehigh valley seen.The Midnighters  lead singer and guitarist Johnny was a cool guy. I met him through his girl friend who was a substitute teacher at Catty High school.He would pick her up after school some times  and she introduced us to him.We were Just starting at the time and didn't have our first show yet.He was such an inspiration he had a bizarre personality sick in a way.He would tell us of shows he would go to in New York at CBGB's and Maxy's Kansas City.He told us of bands he would see like Iggy pop, Sid Viscous,Dead Boys,Johnny Thunders,The Heart Breakers and many others.The stories he would tell us made me want to play in a punk band all the more.The Midnighters were like a blend between the heart breakers and the Ramones a 70's power pop sound like a lot of punk bands of the time.The Clap was fortunate to open up a few shows with the Midnighters  Before they split in 1980 due to musical differences . The Last I heard of Johnny he was a minister in El Paso Texas.as for the rest of the band they faded into the cracks of the lehigh valley past.
     The Tran sonics were fronted by Ronnie Rock who's ego could fill a room and the Prince of punk the late(Steve Lanzillo) Step Pillage.There time on the seen was short lived and they only did a few shows at the 4th st. saloon in Bethlehem Pa. They were punk as punk could be. Step played a bass with 3 strings and a rubber band he had a British flag suit coat with a lot of badges and safety pins on it.Ronnie had slicked back hair and a 50's leather look.I don't Remember the drummer.The one show I saw and I think was the last show was so funny.,every one had a squirt gun and was shooting at the band Ronnie was getting pissed.Then Ed Mottley Filled a gun with dish soap and things got worse step was so wet and suds were all over him,so was Ronnie, he went to the mic and was bitching at everyone and a blue electric current shot across to his mouth and shocked him for about 5 seconds.Then some one took a wiped cream pie and smashed it in step's face and he lost it, he was jumping and thrashing around in the crowd wiped cream flying everywhere.That was punk as shit I couldn't top that act,but that was it for the trans sonics Later Ronnie took a more pop approach with the Trendsetters who released an EP We Are Young. Step Passed away of causes unknown 2008/09 ?Ronnie Lives in Virginia Beach,He opened with a solo act for the Clap on tour one time at a bar called the corner bar. I played a few songs with him it was very cool .He even put us up for the night.I would love to see a trendsetters and Clap reunion one day !!!

    the Liars our long time foes .It started when Chip Schlegel Wanted to Join our band. We Didn't want him in the band, he didn't play good and didn't learn the songs fast enough.So He and a few others Formed The Liars Chip on Guitars,Bob Almazan on bass ,Steve Lapsansky on Drums and Todd Hartranft Vocals.They had a set together of songs but never had there shit together.They always wanted us to let them open for us,because we always would get Gigs at clubs and halls,we were in demand I guess you could say.We played all the Clubs in the area and got paid our contract amount too.They even threatened us and said they would kick our asses or disrupt our shows. It never happened anyway.One time we booked a show the Liars and The Clap at a house Party,things started off alright we were volleying sets back and forth I don't know if the liars got to fucked up or what but chip smashed his guitar and Todd the singer punctured every one of the drum heads on the drum set !! Some people said that people were booing them I don't know I was with this girl trying to get in her pants, which  I did.Any way that was usually the case with a liars show they were always a loose cannon and a rival of sorts mostly just a pain in the ass.(slap the Clap were the liars) was there chant.some times you will here it at my other bands shows (Nostalgia Crisis)the slam hounds and Dox like to needle me with it But I don't care,I have more important things to worry about than dribble from no ones.I have always worked hard for The Clap and wanted to make something of myself,I think I've done a lot for the local punk seen to be proud .

Life Is Fun Wish You Were Here

 When the dust settled from the first few shows we Knew we had to get right to work.Things  started happening too  we got a manager and a place to practice.It was a couple down the road Dave and Beverly Mc Quillen  They Managed us and she had a barber shop where we would practice in the waiting room.We started learning new songs and writing a lot of new originals.Most of the songs were about life experiences Or some fucked up thing that would happen..Gigs were hard to get for a punk band in the 70's it was pretty much frowned upon,but we still got shows and good paying ones.We played carnivals and dances at parks in the summer and dance halls in the winter where we would set up the whole show.Doing shows at bars was hard at first mike and Robbie would need to have permission slips filed out for school and for the L.C.B.But we managed to get pretty many shows.

      There was another Catty punk band called the Liars.They always wanted us to get them shows or let them open the show for us ,a support Band.We told them to fuck off! They were a time bomb .a risk ,a bridge burner.We had enough trouble  getting gigs with the name of the band being THE CLAP !!Any way there were a lot of shows some I remember some are a bit Fuzzy The photo's are from these shows,Maybe you were there.Let us know all feed back is welcome.

Believe It Or Not Were Walking On Air

   Wow! What a show,What a punk performance,What a High,We were the buzz of the town.Things just seemed to be falling into place.We Needed a place to Practice and a friend of mine a former Girlfriend Kelly Beshins parents we are out of town for a while .Her Living room made due for a week which ended with a party that Friday night.The Party was Great we managed to Learn a few songs The Sex Pistols,Ramones.,The Diodes,angelic Upstarts,the Clash and a few more originals.The House was packed people bopping everywhere I think everyone got laid that night.We were Going to do a Saturday Night show But a Friend of mine new someone looking for a replacement band.I made a few connections and Landed the Gig For $300.00 At Carrol's Paradise in Bowman's town Pa.We Had To Play 3 sets 40 minutes each.We Got together about an hour of music and Hit the stage.We were pumped I can't Even Remember what we used to sing out of.Well that hour of music was done in record time about 30 min.So we mixed the songs up and did those songs 3x over we didn't care and neither did the people. The place was packed I didn't even Know any of the People But they were bopping all night. The Owner never noticed we played the songs over and over again He was just happy about all the beer and Iiqure  he sold.At the end of the Night I went up for a beer and he only had a 6 pack in the cooler and that was it a 6 pack.Well needless to say we were Booked up there Right away.What a weekend and a follow up from our 1 st show Things were going good and even getting better.As for that Party People ripped that girl off blind they stole so much shit.I was Pissed always a damper put on a good time.Well there will be plenty more of them a lot of good times and bad times That is what Rock and Roll is all about !!!

The First Show

Well Here we were our first show ! What were we going to do, what were we going to play ?We Didn't Really have any full songs yet and I really didn't sing and play that good yet.So we decided to Go with the Ramones  blitz krig bop. That was easy to play and we learned the whole song  end to end.Then a brain storm how about our own song.Well that was it the birth of the first song VD is no laughing matter. It was a 3 chord number with a driving beat and nice and fast.Even had a small drop out where just the bass and drums played and then a glizz into the final verse and out.We also learned God Save The Queen Some what.We Rehearsed a few times in the drummers garage  We tightened the songs up as best we could.We were ready !
   The First show a talent show in front of the whole student body . This was going to be great ! we were psyched .We were all buzzed on some booze and weed Dressed in our best punk attire.The Crowd was ready for us as well we had advertised and told everyone we were a punk band  and we had a crazy punk show.

    We were the 3 rd act to go on there was a band going on after us so we knew we had to be good.With a 1,2,3,4 we started off with blitz-krig-bop people rushed the stage they were bopping in the isles camera flashes were going off , chicks screaming.We ended the first song to burst of screams and 1,2,3,4, into VD's No Laughing matter We were Jammin, a fuckin Punk rock Machine we were stars.we ended the song and the place erupted  into cheers and screams and chanting "We Want The Clap". we UN-plugged and exited stage left up the hall to a class room they directed us to.We were running People rushed the stage and were chasing us we couldn't believe what was happening they Loved us .We were looking at each other catching our breath and the principle  came up to us and said you boys better have something to settle them down with.I said shure and we took the stage for our anchor  and belt6ed out what we knew of god save the Queen ! The song ended with me and Rex smashing out notes Robbie kicking down his drums while I shouted out curse words and obesity
    What a show what a performance we won 2nd place a $40.00 prize which we put right up our noses that night.That was the beginning of punk in the Lehigh Valley The way  I remembered it.The way I lived It.It was such a great time of my life and I am enjoying doing this blog.I hope every one enjoys reading it .

Naming a Band

I don't remember exactly how we came up with the name THE CLAP we tossed a few ideas around..I Know the Johnny Lofty band was out of the Question.It Had to be something catchy something sick something really PUNK.I Know We must have been drunk and high because that was the norm.Hell that's the way my band mates and me met.I use to sell bags of weed a Quarter oz here an eight oz there or a few joints It was all Small time but I made some serious money.I made enough to buy a Guitar and an amp which I still use today.My First Guitar was a sears Model My mom Got it in the sears catalogue  it was my Christmas present /Birthday.None of that mattered any way I had a guitar and I was going to be in a band.When I met Mike Rex He was a regular customer one day he saw my guitar and said he played before we knew it we were in my attic Jam in we added a friend of his on Drums Robbie Brungard and that was the start.We Jammed songs by groups like Budgie ,Rush,Areosmith and other rock bands.I liked Punk and wanted to play punk but didn't say any thing I was just Glad to Be Jam in.Till One day I paged through Mikes Record collection and all the way in the back was the Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bullocks.That Was the day that changed every thing the path was set Every body was in we were going to play PUNK.We started learning Ramones and Sex Pistols songs the best we could we were very young and had very little music lessons.Mike was the only one that had any proper music lessons But none the less we forged on Practicing whenever we could and where ever we could.I know we practiced for a few months with no name.I didn't really even sing with the songs yet and then Robbie Booked us at a talent show at the High school.!!! He Booked us as THE CLAP ! Well that was it we were  going to have our first gig As the band THE CLAP!!!

Punk In Catasauqua in the 70's was almost unheard of the only access was late late night Radio on WSAN. an AM station.FM wasn't used yet .It was called Bob Ross Power rock show which eventually moved to FM radio(Z-95).I also knew a lot of older people from working at the Roxy.Still punk was scarce So I Did What I could to find it.FANTAZMAGORIA  was the name of a record store in Allentown on 6th st..They would carry punk and all the British imports at that time you could get 5 to 6 LP's for $20.00.thank God for them the next closest place to get punk records was Philly and bleaker bobs in New York.It didn't take long for punk to be my obsession .I would dress really freaked out Punk didn't have a uniform yet and mohawks were a few years down the road.I would paint color into my hair pre- crazy color.We would also go to this clothing shop on Hamilton st. Venus and Furs they had all this old vintage clothing Just real cool shit.We were just inventing a punk look as we went along.this photo is of me at a volley ball marathon WSAN sponsored our team the 2 -h club(too high club).This was 1977 If you can make them out there a few punk bands written on my pants and shirt . 

Where It All Started

     Hello, The intention of this Blog Is to tell the history of the Clap and there contribution to the Lehigh valley punk rock seen.It is My side of the story what I remember and how I remember it.
  Back In the beginning of what I called My musical career  Around 1975 I new a guy named Micky Kovalchick

who played Guitar.He was pretty Good,He would Jam to bands like Alice Cooper ,Kiss,UFO,status Que etc.I would get the lyrics for him and he would let me hang out.I was a lot younger than MickyAnd they never let me sing.Then my big break came!When I was Delivering news papers This Guy named Bob Ross asked me if I would help him do a job. I said yea and off we went to the Roxy theater .He was setting up for a show and needed me to run the snake for the mikes and the PA for a show. ( Nazareth) ! I new all about Roxy shows I had been to a few already.We would save our lunch money at st Lawrence and at lunch time we would run over to w.s.a.n. to get tickets for shows. The shows back then were only a dollar.Yes one dollar ! for bands like Rush,Judas priest,Kiss and scores of other bands.I thought There was going to be a riot when they charged $3.00 for AC DC. well this was my start in Music.I will post pictures fliers stories and other tid bits .Along with this post is a photo of me around 1975or 1976 I've had a fun time promoting and playing shows for 30 some years.So come on board be a follower And  enjoy the history of  THE CLAP!!!