Tramp
Hard rockin’ party band fills the ballrooms
History
Tramp
1975 – 1976
Summer, 1975: Tramp forms with the following lineup: Jack Ayers on lead vocals and percussion; Bill Strandlof on lead guitar (Gibson SG) and vocals; Dan Rinaldi on rhythm guitar (Gibson SG) and vocals; Craig Swanson on bass guitar (Rickenbacker) and vocals; and Randy Weeks on drums (Ludwig) and vocals. The band practices in the kitchen at Randy Weeks house in St. Paul. Craig records the band on a cassette deck set up in the adjacent living room. The bands plays hard rock cover songs (in their high energy rock’n’roll style) by popular bands from the era. Most of the bands jobs are in out state Minnesota. Bill Strandlof records some of the bands live performances on a reel to reel tape deck at some of the jobs. The band is booked by Bill Pluta, an agent with Marsh Productions.
April, 1976: A friend of Randy Weeks books the band on a tour of seven cities (in armories) in Minnesota, named The 1976 Bicentennial Boogie Tour. After the first four stops: Faribault, Owatonna, Albert Lea and Austin, the tour ends prematurely due to financial reasons.
Late August, 1976: Tramp plays their final job at St. Catherines College in St. Paul and the members go their own ways.
Tramp: Partial Song List:
Medley of “Rock’n’Roll Queen” (Mott the Hoople) and “Ooh!, My Soul” (Little Richard)
Medley of “Black Diamond” (Kiss) and “Train Kept a Rollin” (Aerosmith version).
“Caught in a Dream” and “Desperado” (Alice Cooper)
“Strutter”, “Nothin’ To Lose” and “Rock’n’Roll All Night” (Kiss)
“My Wife”, “Squeeze Box” and “Substitute” (The Who)
“On the Hunt” and “Free Bird” (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
“Movin’ On” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Bad Company)
“Fire and Water” and “Alright Now” (Free)
“SOS, Too Bad”, “Sweet Emotion” and “Dream On” (Aerosmith)
“Roadhouse Blues” The Doors
Photos
Recordings
Train Kept A Rollin’
Rock and Roll Queen
Rollin’ Down The Highway
Bandtree
Tramp BAND TREE
Tramp 1975 to 1976
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Bill Strandlof
Lead Guitar / Vocals
1975 to 1976
Keith Zellar and The Starliners
The Tabs
The Litter
Bullet
Tramp
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Dan Rinaldi
Rhythm Guitar / Vocals
1975 to 1976
The Tabs
The Litter
Rockit
Tramp
Spitfire
Stryder
Fast Eddie
The Hots
The Rizzatos
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Jack Ayers
Lead Vocals / Percussion / Harmonica
1975 to 1976
Various Illinois Bands
Rockit
Tramp
The Hots
Rizzatos
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Craig Swanson
Bass Guitar / Vocals
1975 to 1976
The Skeptics
The Inner Outlet
13th Floor Elevators
Ding Dong and The Doorbells
Ginger
Tramp
The Wombats
The Natives
Shadow
The Wailin’ Aliens
The Strobes
The Raydons
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Randy Weeks
Drummer / Vocals
1975 to 1976
Tramp
Lonesome Stranger
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Where are they now?
Tramp Where Are They Now ?
Tramp 1975 – 1976
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Bill Strandlof Active in Music
Lead Guitar / Vocals No
Doing What ?…………………….. Passed away at age 49 on March 4, 1995
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Dan Rinaldi Active in Music
Rhythm Guitar / Vocals No
Doing What ?……………………… Passed away at age 70 on June 5, 2015
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Jack Ayers Active in Music
Lead Vocals / Percussion / Harmonica YES
Doing What ?……………………….. Musician / Songwriting and Recording
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Craig Swanson Active in Music
Bass Guitar / Vocals YES
Doing What ?…………………. Recording Engineer / Producer / Musician
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Randy Weeks Active in Music
Drums / Vocals YES
Doing What ?…………………… Musician / Songwriter in Austin,TX
Interview
Interview PART ONE – Time = 13:58
Interview PART TWO – Time = 15:07
