1966, "The Mods" and "The Squires" / The First Battle - March 18, 1966, /The Second Battle: – Mods vs US - May 27, 1966.
1966, "The Mods" and "The Squires"
A little group of twelve-year-old's were out to conquer the world.
Allen Collins was in a band called "The Mods" with Larry Steele they both attended Lake Shore Junior High School.
The Mods were: L-R:
James Rice, Larry Steele, Allen Collins, Taylor Corse (was filling in for Donnie Ulsh. not Pictured)
Picture is 1965.
"The Mods" 1964 to 1966.
The Mods were: L-R:
James Rice, Larry Steele, Allen Collins, Taylor Corse. Donnie Ulsh (not pictured.)
Picture is 1965.
-1964: The formation of The Mods
"That afternoon we all met up at James’ house, Donnie Ulsh, Allen Collins, James and myself.
By dark we had decided we’d call ourselves “The Mods,” after the well-dressed, musical subculture in England that we had read about in Tiger Beat magazine.
And we would also have a repertoire of 3 songs, “Louie Louie,” “Wipeout” and “Green Onions.” Here we go!"
"It was 1964, and our little group of twelve-year-olds was out to conquer the world." - Larry Steele.
Allen Collins was in a band called "The Mods" with Larry Steele they both attended Lake Shore Junior High School.
"The two guitar players, Donnie Ulsh and Allen Collins, were all set up, Donnie with a Cherry Gibson ES -335, a Hummingbird and a Gibson Invader amp.
Allen had his brand new Gibson Melody Maker, as promised, and a tiny Truetone amp with an eight-inch speaker.
Along with James’ Oyster Pearl Ludwig drums, (sans floor tom), it was already an impressive little setup, though among all the Gibsons, I was already feeling a little weird about my selection of a Japanese bass." -Larry Steele.
1965. The Mods.
"Once school was out, The Mods began rehearsing every day. Listening to records on James’ living room hi-fi, we learned each song by continuously lifting the needle up and down from the turntable, allowing Donnie to figure out his guitar breaks while the rest of us attempted to write down the correct lyrics.
We were now doing more Animals and Stones songs, and had switched from Tarrytons to L&M cigarettes, because that’s what the Stones smoked.
But shortly before the end of school, an American band came along that suddenly stole our attention.
As it turned out, several of the Byrds’ tunes, including “Mr. Tambourine Man,” were written by Bob Dylan, who was Donnie’s favorite musician.
Because Donnie and Allen had both seen the same show, and been equally impressed, the Mods would now begin learning every Byrd’s song we could possibly play.
"On the first Friday night of summer vacation, Allen Collins, James Rice and I were at a dance at The Church of the Good Shepherd on Stockton Street. This was the place to be, particularly for the junior high school crowd, and always had the very best bands.
We were there, of course, not to dance, but to check out the finest band in the Southeast at the time. The Dalton Gang featured guitarist Auburn Burrell, whom everyone believed would be next to hit the bigtime, and bass player/guitar salesman extraordinaire, David Griffin.
While it was still daylight, the three of us and Bob Burns decided to walk down to the Little Brown Jug on Edison Avenue to cop some beer.
I should point out here that, contrary to popular belief, Lynyrd Skynyrd, nor any other white band, ever played here, nor was it a place where Ronnie Van Zant ever “cut a rug.” This was simply one of a few places on the Westside where young white boys had a connection for acquiring adult beverages.
Just behind LBJ’s lived an old black man everyone referred to as “Shaky.” The common practice was to knock on Shaky’s door, give him the cash and the order, (ours being a six pack of Colt 45 tall boys), and wait for his return with the brew, minus one for his trouble."
In 1965, Came more bands, and a lot more songs to be learned. “Satisfaction,” “Hang on Sloopy,” “The Last Time,” “For Your Love,” “My Girl,” and “Ticket to Ride” were just a few of the songs that would become monster hits, yet were simple enough for the newbies to learn.
"On the first Friday night of summer vacation, Allen Collins, James Rice and I (Larry Steele) were at a dance at The Church of the Good Shepherd on Stockton Street. This was the place to be, particularly for the junior high school crowd.
After being together for little more than a year, playing mostly parties, teen clubs and various auditions, we were hired for a big New Year’s Eve party at the Springfield Lions Club, downtown. - (Info from Larry Steele)
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1966:
The First Battle of the Bands - March 18, 1966.
Shortly after playing the New Year’s party The Mods were surprised to learn that they were not the only band in Lakeshore Junior High after all.
Word had it that there was a new band called the Squires, who were supposedly really good. These guys were a year older than the Mods, now ninth graders.
The band consisted of Ricky Doeschler, lead guitar, (pronounced Dash’- ler), Steve Rosenbloom, drums, Taylor Corse, rhythm guitar/vocals, and Jimmy Parker, bass.
“Battle of the Bands,” pitting the Mods against the Squires in early 1966. There was no actual award for the winning band, as this was more about the school making some money during the annual St Patrick’s Day Festival,
On March 18, 1966, the entire student population and most of its teachers were packed tightly inside the school cafeteria. The Mods were up first.
The Squires ran through their set much like we had. Rick and Taylor Corse, with their perfect Beatle haircuts, each played Gretsch Tennesseans.
When the results came back it was announced that the Mods had won.
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The Squires :
Lead Guitarist, Rick Doeschler. /Vocalist, Guitarist. Taylor Corse. , /Drums, Steve Rosenbloom, /Bassist, Jimmy Parker.
The Second Battle of the Bands:
The Rematch – Mods vs US - May 27, 1966.
There would be a second Battle of the Bands, between the Mods, and the band that used to be the Squires.
Word had it that the Squires had changed their name to “Us,” and would be featuring a new singer Ronnie Van Zant.
"Ronnie was like a Field General!"
"Ronnie had a big reputation as a street fighter, he was a tuff guy."
"I was expecting to meet "Attila the Hun" - Larry Steele
(Married in January 2, 1967. and had a daughter "Tammy Michelle")
The second battle was scheduled for May 27, 1966, the winner of which would be booked to play the Ninth Grade Prom in early June. Because the Lake Shore gymnasium was still under construction, the event was initially to be held again in the school cafeteria, which was not at all satisfactory to any of the participants.
They had clearly outsmarted us, by playing a song that every person in the building was familiar with, instead of sticking to their most well-rehearsed material, as we had. They were playing a crowd favorite, rather than a favorite of their own, one which also was a current Top 10 hit. To make matters worse, they were playing it well. "Us" ultimately won Battle 2,
Summer of 1966 :
"Us" breaks up, and Allen Leaves "The Mods"
By the summer of 1966 word was going around that "Us" had either split up or was just about to.
When James and Larry Steele returned from town one day, they noticed that Allen's equipment (Brand New Super Reverb Amp) was missing from their rehearsal room.
At first they thought they had been robbed, but realized it was only Allen Collins Equipment was gone. Only Allen knew where the key was. He had obviously come by and picked up his own gear.
Larry thought, he is probably over at Bob’s (Burns), playing with those guys, Knowing how hard Bob had been trying to get something going. It was s just Bob and Gary right now and they play around out in Bob’s carport.
-
Allen Collins was indeed, at Bob Burns house with and Gary, and Ronnie who had already met Bob and Gary at the Green Pigs Baseball game and joined up with them.
Bob, Gary, and Ronnie wanted another guitarist, it didn't matter if they couldn't play, as long as they had Equipment.
Bob Knew someone with a guitar and amp. Allen Collins had Equipment and could play, Allen Knew Bar Chords. Allen was playing in a band called The Mods.
They went looking for Allen, and Allen Joined, and at some stage the boys had to go to where the Mods rehearsed and get Allen's Amp!!
Rock'n'Roll History 🎵🎸🎹🎶☮
Allen Collins.
Larkin Allen Collins Jr. July 19, 1952 – January 23, 1990.
Born at St. Lukes Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida on July 19, 1952, Allen (delivered by Doctor Owens) weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces. Allen's mother, Eva remembers her son as full of energy and enthusiasm --
even before Allen could walk he moved constantly. From his earliest days Allen loved cars -- especially race cars -- and his favorite summer activity was going to Jacksonville Raceway every Saturday night to watch Leroy Yarborough race.
The Collins family first started attending the races when Allen was eight years old and Allen, sitting as high in the stands as possible, would laugh and holler as he pretended to be racing his own car.
This early fascination lasted throughout Allen's life -he later collected an entire fleet of collectible and performance cars that was one of his proudest possessions.
Allen started playing guitar at 12 years of age, with a few lessons from his stepmother, Leila Collins, a country-and-western guitarist, teaching him a few notes, and receiving his first guitar and amplifier from his father after a falling-out between the two. Collins attended Nathan B. Forrest High School.
In 1963, Allen lived in Jacksonville's Cedar Hills area when an older friend received a guitar for his birthday. Allen was hooked. Allen's parents had recently divorced and times were tough for Allen, his sister and mother. His mother, already working all day at the cigar factory, took a second job at Woolworths in the evenings. As soon as she had saved enough money, she surprised Allen by taking him down to Sears and ordered his first Silvertone guitar and amplifier. Despite no training aside from a few tips from his step-mother and friend, Allen picked up the guitar easily and quickly formed his first band -- The Mods.
In 1970, Allen married Kathy Johns. Allen included his band mates in his wedding party, but Kathy worried that their long haired appearance would disturb her parents. Solving the problem required everyone tucking their rock and roll image under wigs for the wedding ceremony.
The wedding reception played host to a piece of rock and roll history -- one of the first public performances of "Free bird" complete with the trademark extended guitar jam at the end. Allen's family grew with the birth of his daughter Amie followed quickly by Allison. Times were very difficult since Allen's musical career barely brought in enough to support the young family. Despite coming close several times, Lynyrd Skynyrd just kept missing that elusive big break.
Rock'n'Roll Legend.
Allen And Betty Collins (sister)
Rock'n'Roll Legend.
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