GLACIER: Mach I
1981-1982
GLACIER Mach I was the first line-up to actually play in front of an audience! The world was their's for the taking & they were "Headed For the Top!"
After deciding they wanted a second guitarist, Dave "Scruff" Nolan was chosen for his personality as well as his mastery over the SG. He fit in with the others' sense of humor and musical interests. Gary Skoch auditioned, but although he could reproduce every solo Angus Young ever recorded note-for-note, they wanted to play more than just AC/DC songs. The band did play primarily covers during this phase: AC/DC, Angel City, Black Sabbath, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, KISS, Led Zeppelin, MSG, Ozzy, Riot, Saxon, Scorpions, Triumph, UFO, Van Halen, etc. Even though the original trio practiced for awhile, the original line-up (Mach I) should include Scruff, since they never gigged as a trio.
The earliest gigs were parties: Betsy Cuneen's birthday party on Mt. Tabor, the Grant High Track party at the Tapanen's, New Year's Eve '81 in the Buys' garage. All this was made possible with the help of Steve Green, Michael Buijs, Mike's Dad's truck & the Grant High choir's PA (Thank you Mrs. Howland )!
The club gigs that are most memorable were at Lung Fung's Dragon Room & two at the Wooden Shoe (formerly the Foghorn & Wreck of the Hesperus...U2 played that stage on the Boy tour!). One of the Wooden Shoe gigs was videotaped & the tape was last in the hands of a guy named "Babaloo" or some such thing...if you read this: GIVE IT BACK!!! That was the gig in which GLACIER was sabotaged by Larry from the Blast (later Pirate) & it is needed for evidence. Also on that tape was the band's appearance on Today's Generation. They peformed a lipsync version of they first recording, "You Hold the Keys." This was recorded at High Tech Studios by Jack "How Does He Do It?" Barr (RIP) and entered in the KGON Homegrown II album competition (Pat; Sam; Scruff). Other originals included "Sam's Maiden-inspired "Attila the Hun," and Scott's lament for Senja, "Time and Again."
The big event of 1982 was the GRANT JAM. This featured three Grant High bands. Streamline: Gary Skoch (guitar/vocals), Loren Bates (drums) and Eugene Johnson (bass); Zachary River: Andrew Baird (vox/sax/keys), Ron Hval (drums), David Hval (percussion, Danny Davis (guitar) and John Hval (bass). GLACIER closed the show with: Solar Angels, Headin' Out To the Highway, Breakin' the Law & Steeler by Judas Priest; Tear the Roof Off by Triumph; Sin City by AC/DC; Armed & Ready by MSG; and our usual set closer, Shoot Shoot by UFO. One of the highlights for this line-up was our weekend with Steve Harris! Iron Maiden being our fave band at the time and Steve Harris being Scott's idol, this was an unforgetable chapter in GLACIER history.
While all the guys have gone their seperate ways (and four different states), they have kept in touch over the years (Summer '90) and are excited about playing together again! Pat is still in Portland with his lovely wife Shoreh, Scott lives in Montana with his lovely wife Kris, Sam recently returned to Portland after getting his BA at University of Arizona and Dave lives in Massachusetts with his lovely wife Celeste & their baby Liam. So our respective managers are working on the logistics of the rehearsal schedule, etc.
Then, as if that wasn't enough...there's Loren Bates: the Master of the Drumkit (Expect to see plenty of Loren at the reunion gig!)! Back to 1982: Pat decided to sell his drums & buy a guitar. The band decided that since we didn't do any BOC, April Wine or Southern Rock, three guitars was just too much for heavy metal. So, for about one month, Pat was a non-member (the only time in the decade-or-so Glacier history!). They needed drums. They also needed a drummer. Loren Bates was the missing link! They stole him from Gary Skoch's Streamline (sorry, Gary)!
Unfortunately, this line-up never gigged. After less than a month of rehearsals in the Prinzing family basement, Scruff was getting restless to play some BOC, April Wine and Southern Rock (well, maybe it was Steely Dan & Skynyrd...?)! He bailed & left the door open for Pat, who after months of secret tutoring with Doug Mark's Metal Method tapes, had become quite the lead guitarist!
Original GLACIER Trio
GLACIER Mach II
