The Rockin’ Ramrods

Along with The Remains and The Lost, The Rockin’ Ramrods formed Boston’s Garage Rock trinity in the mid ’60s. Although they never approached a level of notoriety like that of The Remains, they were very popular in Massachusetts, playing regularly at Bill Spence‘s Surf Ballrooms at Nantasket, Hyannis and Salisbury beaches and, during their run, sharing the stage with such luminaries as The Ventures, The Rascals, The Swingin’ Medallions, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Left Banke, The Tremeloes, The Doors, and Tommy James and The Shondells.

Their eight singles, starting with 1963’s “Jungle Call” b/w “Indian Giver” and 1964’s “She Lied” and the Lennon/McCartney numbers “I Wanna Be Your Man” and “I’ll Be On My Way” earned them an opening slot on the Rolling Stones’ first stateside tour in 1965, where the band was often called upon to serve as decoys to allow the Stones to escape their throngs of excited fans. They also earned a footnote in movie history, playing their single “Play It” in the 1966 cinema oddity Disk-o-Tek Holiday (which also featured DJ Arnie Ginsburg).

Unable to capitalize on momentum from the Stones tour, The Rockin’ Ramrods disbanded, with chief songwriter Ronn Campisi unveiling his new psychedelic act, Puff, in 1968.

(by Stephen Haag)

SINGLES
1963 Jungle Call / Indian Giver
1964 She Lied / The Girl Can’t Help It
1964 I Wanna Be Your Man / I’ll Be on My Way
1965 Wild About You / Cry in My Room
1965 Don’t Fool With Fu Manchu / Tears Melt the Stones
1966 Flowers in My Mind / Mary, Mary
1966 Play It / Got My Mojo Working
1966 Bright Lit, Blues Skies / Mister Wind