Roger Wilco and the Radio Waves - The Story

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U.S. Rock Magazine

Roger Wilco and the Radio Waves (RWRW) formed in the spring of 1982, when Rick and Roy connected with Dare and Robin Banks, then the rhythm section of “Dare and the Playbacks.” They jelled quicklyand with a demo tape made in Dare’s cellar they quickly had a few agents getting them gigs. Rick and Roy’s previous band, Open End, had a reputation for packing Central New York clubs which also made getting gigs easy, but this was going to be a whole different type of band. MTV had just started and the New Wave era was taking hold and RWRW was all in. They soon self-produced their first single “It’s No Lie,” and B-side “Dancing with a Girl.” By 1984 they were the go-to CNY dance band playing great 80s new-wave mixed with their super-funky originals during the peak of the MTV-new-wave boom. In May, 1985, they released their 7-song EP “History,” whichcaught on with college and CNY radio stations andopened up a wider range of venues for the band. That fall they toured the east coast college and bar scene in support of the record. U.S. Rock Magazine wrote a review of the album “This Rome, NY quartet is part rap, part disco, part heavy metal, and takes better than average care with harmonies. It pays off, sounding neither amateurish nor overly slick. ” By the end of 1986, Howie Klein, president of 415 records in San Francisco and a KUSF DJ wrote of the record, “Roger Wilco is a great band… one of the bands I play a lot.” Shortly after that he offered to sign the band to the 415 Records label if they would pay their own way to San Francisco. Unfortunately by then, the band was in the process of disbanding and didn’t make that cross-country trip. Roy left at the end of 1987 and they continued on with Mike Brooks on guitar for a few more years. Sadly, in 2014, bass player Dare passed away. I hope this site helps pay tribute to his excellent playing, singing, and friendship. The remaining members, Rick E. Lewis, Robin Banks and Really Roy, have gone in their own directions and recently began adding their own original songs to Spotify and other streaming  music platforms. Oh, and for the record, Roger Wilco and the Radio Waves recorded their rap version of “Walk this Way” well before Run DMC did it with Aerosmith. “Someone” thought that was a good idea!!!

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