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

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.

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

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

PHOTO  TAKEN OF THE TEMPESTS(sm) IN 1966 AT THE SURFER'S CLUB ON MADEIRA BEACH, FLORIDA, COURTESY EVENING INDEPENDENT