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The Past:
PHOTO TAKEN IN 1965, AT A FARM IN TAMPA, FLORIDA

PHOTO TAKEN IN 1966 AT THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY IN ST. PETERSBURG,
FLORIDA

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In the 1960's, Florida was one
of the leaders for having the most local Rock N Roll garage bands. And Tampa
Bay had some of the Best! Everywhere you turned
there was a local garage band playing at a teen dance or a concert. The Tempests(sm) were one
of those bands from the 60's that were very popular in Florida. They were formed in 1962 in
St. Petersburg, Florida when the original members were just 12 and 13 years old. The original
band members included Doug Palmer (rhythm guitar), Bobby Allen (drums), Bill Hickman (bass
guitar), Tommy Angarano (vocals) and the late Charlie Bailey (lead guitar). The second
version of The Tempests(sm) replaced Bill Hickman and Doug Palmer with Mike Hammer (rhythm
guitar and vocals) and Buddy Peterson (bass guitar and vocals). These replacement band
members enhanced the band's ability to play more songs with harmony. This was a big plus
since the Beatles dominated the airways in the sixties. As a result of this change they
won the Battle of the Bands at the Electric Zoo and went into the recording
studio and recorded their first critically acclaimed record. I Want You Only
and the flip side I Want You To Know got significant radio air play. Bobby Allen left the area and was
replaced by the late Brad Myers (drums). The next version of the Tempests(sm) replaced
the late Charlie
Bailey with Roy Delese (keyboards) and included Mike Hammer (lead guitar and vocals),
Buddy Peterson (Bass guitar and vocals), Brad Myers (drums) and Tommy Angarano
(vocals). The Tempests opened for many national groups such as the Dave
Clark Five, the Shangrilas, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Tommy James and
the Shondells, Blues Magoos, Doors, GAP, McCoys,
Mindbenders, Allman Brothers, 3 Dog Night, Left Bank and more. Various
members of the band continued to play and keep the band alive today.
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There were lots of dances,
festivals and
concerts back in the sixties at teen clubs, halls, rec centers, auditoriums and armories.
The
Tempests(sm) played at almost every one of them. Eldorado Showcase, Joker's Club, Surfers
Club, National Guard Armory, Bayfront Center, Gulfport Casino, Yacht Clubs, Electric Zoo,
Holiday Park, Pinellas Park Auditorium,
Clearwater Star Spectaculars and more. Almost every rec center had dances or concerts in St. Petersburg. Some of the other
dances and concerts in Florida included The Village, Curtis Hixon Hall, Letter Carrier's
Hall, Tiger's Den, Darry Downs, Lakeland Civic Auditorium, The Wedge, Melbourne
Civic Center, White Bunny, Sarasota Armory, Bradenton Civic Center, Dante's Inferno to
name a few. The Tempests(sm) were also chosen as the Florida House Band for the Nationally
acclaimed Hullabaloo TV Show and Clubs in the 1960's.
Interviews/archives:
http://www.thetempests.com/tempests-hullabaloo-clearwater.jpg
http://www.clearwaterstarspectacular.com/star.html
http://www.teddwebb.com/garage_bands/the_tempest.html
http://home.unet.nl/kesteloo/tempests.html
http://www.myfirstband.com/firstbandtempests.html
http://southerngaragebands.com/tempests.html
http://www.gigsalad.com/the_tempests_st_petersburg
http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=6903
http://archive.org/details/iuma-the_tempests
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qm1QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n1oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5839,5206741&dq=the+tempests+st+petersburg&hl=en
http://www.tampabay.com/news/briefs/st-petersburg-neighborhood-notebook/947374
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PHOTOS TAKEN IN 1966 AT THE AT NATIONAL GUARD
ARMORY IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
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PHOTO TAKEN
OF THE TEMPESTS(sm) IN 1966
AT THE SURFER'S CLUB ON MADEIRA BEACH, FLORIDA, COURTESY EVENING INDEPENDENT
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