History, News, Current Events

September, 2005 – We finished our newest recording, and at the same time parted ways with our drummer, Rom Kuras. We'd like to thank Rom for his help over the years and wish him the best in his musical pursuits.
We are currently working on new material, auditioning for a drummer, and keeping the faith. Lord knows we need more faith than them, so we are keeping it. Or is it Faith? Are we keeping Faith locked away? I think it's faith, yeah, we are keeping faith because if we have faith then they won't have it and we will win. It's why the Yankees didn't win the World Series last year, we had the faith. And we ain't giving it back to Steinbrenner for less than $200 Mil.
We'll have November news up some time in January. Peace.

May, 2005 – Hello, fellow ROMPtilians...well, ROMPititus is wrangling recklessly 'round these here'abouts and we gots ourselves a new 3 song mix in the cans. Go home with it, y'all, give it a listen two or six, see if you like the mix; bring us back some pork buns and Mai Tais, we'll make sure the sunrise is tequila.We have new recordings of three songs, Low, I Must Be, and Celebrate. We hope you like them. Please send us your feedback. Everyone's voice counts. If you would like to hear stories of bamboozlement, mayhem, and discoherency as it pertains to this EP or life in general, please contact us. We react slowly but surely.

March, 2005 – Hello Rompers. ROMP is in the studio working on 3 new songs. The songs are Celebrate, I Must Be, and Low. No, we ain't doing no Cracker remake, even though we is a buncha crackers. Seems scheduling is the hardest part, being that we all have day jobs, paying our penance to the man so we can experience the joy of being kept down. Keep an eye out for new mp3s in the next month or so. We will be lining up some shows, too, so you might get lucky and win free tickets. ROMP - Representin' Omniscient Mega Peace.

February 2005 – Apparently, a train hit me and I was sidetracked from keeping the news page updated for the past 11 months. My apologies for not attempting to keep the masses entertained. So much has been happening in this madcap world, it’s hard to know where to start.

Well, the big secret is that our "other" guitar player, Mr. Alan Katzman, had a wedding on the down-lo with none other than Stanford’s Condi Rice just after her confirmation as Sex of State. Have you seen Condi’s photo ops lately? Never has she been smiling in public like that before. We do believe Alan is trying his best to save the world with this latest effort. Lord knows Condi needs something better than the Bush she had been getting.
Bill and Rom have been, well, Bill and Rom. I mean, what can I say about the guys compared to Alan’s efforts on behalf of all humanity?

The less said about me, the better. The Feds have been itching to pull the trigger on many of my less corrigible activities, but I ain’t givin’ up the ghost here.

But as far as the band goes…as of later this month, ROMP hits the studio to record three tracks and to get something else out there for the kids to listen to. For shame on me for letting this website linger for so long, making us look like some band that came, went, and broke up. ROMP exists still, and these months off have been focused on becoming a tighter unit, a bigger sound, and, hell, a better band with better material. Stay tuned and hopefully we’ll have something new on-line for you shortly.

ROMP – supporting world peace and universal exploration since 1957.

March 2004 – The kids are still hard at work on a new batch of material, an attempted collaborative effort where everybody sets their egos aside and the world explodes in a violent fury of chaos, discoherence, tornadic nomadic sensual overload, verbiage beyond explanation. The disconvergence of truth, reason, and rocknroll sets off thunderstorms in the greater Bay Area. Weathermen everywhere are baffled. Sometimes I wish it would rain…

January 2004 – Our heroes usher in the new year much as last – bored, haggard, and filled with lust for the beauty of life and the music within. Rocknroll, baby, rocknroll.

December 2003 – ROMP’s initial CD is here! You can purchase one at one of our shows or right here on this web site. Links make all the difference. All proceeds of this eponymous CD benefit ROMP, a non-profit started by four weary rockers lookin’ to sell their souls to Keith Richards for a bottle of riffs. Keith wasn’t selling so we offed our way to Mick in search of knighthood and the greater glory. We ended up at the back of the gov’t line and signed the forms swearing we were makin’ no profit, and, by extension, were a non-profit. This print will hopefully come back to haunt us in five years, or else we were successful in our endeavors at not makin’ any dolla. So it’s a win-win situation! ROMP rocks!

November 2003 – The ROMP recording is sent off for production. Soon to be available to you ROMP addicts; chomping at the bit for that new fix of ROMP 'n' Roll.

September/October 2003 – Mixing and mastering continues while Bill works on the graphics/artwork for the cd.

August 2003 – ROMP goes into the studio to lay down a CD. With high hopes and pragmatic expectations, we begin recording. Eight songs, mostly new, some not. We lay down all the tracks, music and vocal, for better or for worse, in two days! Recorded by Matt Stamos and Marcus Buick; mixed and mastered by Matt Stamos at Reference Media Group Studios in Oakland, CA. This was an adventure for all involved. Matt & Marcus were expecting to record two or three songs so there was some miscommunication somewhere. Blame the guitar player. He’s just too damn loud (which one, we leave up to you). That was a hella long weekend. And we mean hella! Marcus has the (almost) ultimate pizza delivery story but that’s not for us to tell. Everyone played well and much props were passed. A hurdle cleared, with the track just now laid out before us.

Spring 2003 – We begin writing new batch of material. The second phase of ROMP! Rehearsal and arranging becomes more prepared and demanding. We ain’t just tossin’ this stuff off without criticism (although it might not seem like that). The goal is to start recording in Summer 2003.

July 6, 2002 – Private Party in Bonny Doon, CA. If you were there, then you know you were there, then again… maybe you don't remember. Or don’t want to remember. Sacrifices were made, Gods were appeased (boy were they), deities ushered off stage left as deemed unimportant by crowd members. B’Doon was beautiful and loved by all.

June 29, 2002 – Demo EP CD release party at Z Center in the Mission district of S.F. Much sweat and ear drums were expended, as we dragged up the keg, built a stage, dealt with ne’e do wells and tried to break as few strings as possible. ROMP’s debut "public" performance.

June 2002 – Demo EP CD is finished. Trust, She Reminded Me & Blue. Added ourselves to the Mp3.com web site. with our demo recordings, photos and other info. Unfortunately Mp3.com no longer exists and all that washed away like so many grains of sand in a tidal expenditure.

May 2002 – We decide on a name! - ROMP! Not Romp, but ROMP. This is not known yet but will come to be.

March/April 2002 – We begin recording our debut release.

September 2001 – Rom Kuras, formerly of The Merciful and Process 23, joins as our new drummer. Rom, being Canadian, brings an international flavor to the band.

June 2001 – Nathan goes on vacation, unfortunately permanently. Search for new drummer begins.

March 2001 – Alan Katzman joins the band on guitar and vocals.

December 2000 – Nathan Helms is found as our new drummer. Serious rehearsal and songwriting begins at Lennon Studios. Now with Rich - guitar, vocals; Bill - bass, vocals and Nathan - drums. Working band names: "Cuddle" then "Thwack". Due to intense negative reaction to these names we decide to go nameless... for now.

November 2000 – Rich and Bill pick up the ashes of "Richie De & The Wilde Ones". Rich wanted to create a harder, heavier rock sound than the more Classic Rock sounding Wilde Ones. Bill liked the idea. Rehearsals begin while the usual search for a drummer began.

1999 thru September 2000 – Richie De & The Wilde Ones: Rich, Bill and Chris Butterworth (drums, vocals) play several gigs and release one CD EP. Played at Hotel Utah, Lost & Found Saloon & El Rio

1998 thru 1999 – Rich solo is known to overwhelm the various open mics shows in the bay area.

1996 thru 1997 – Rich and Bill play in un-named casual jam band with friends Jeff Downing (guitar, vocals) and Dale Patterson (drums, vocals, etc), occasionally joined by Chris Butterworth (drums, vocals) and others. Lots of jamming, lots of drinking.

1994 thru 1996 – Rich played lead guitar in Porcelain (with drummer Chris Butterworth). Played many gigs, including SFO3 and Grammy showcase shows, The Fillmore, Paradise Lounge, Transmission Theatre, Slims, Nightbreak, Bottom of the Hill. Bill did most of the posters, photography and artwork for Porcelain during this period.

1979 thru 1991 – Bill & Alan played together in various bands: The Nunotes (1979-80); The Playpals / The Monikers (1980-1985); Bill & Al / Buddy Boy & The Heydudes (1986-1988); Taste Feel Want (1990); Life With Bunny (1991). Played at Mabuhay Gardens/The Mab/Fab Mab, Chi-Chi Club, On Broadway, Berkeley Square, Chameleon, Morty's, Nightbreak, Paradise Lounge.