"Cousin" Al Voldman

The story starts on #10 Werner Park where Cousin Al was born in 1961 & Cousin Brian (who lived upstairs) was born in 1962.

Jump ahead to 1979 when Cousin Al introduces me to Scorgies! I already had my Brighton High School band “The Sonic Reducers” (at that point we had no idea who the Dead Boys were!, the name came from the Seattle Super Sonics basketball team!). The Sonic Reducers then turned into The Twisted Hearts With ex-Presstone Jimmy Freeze and then broke up.

"Cousin" Brian Goodman

I was jamming with Geoff & Bob Camel in the basement of a church on Main St circa 1981. At some point Al & I are down at the Charlotte beach and he sez I want to start a band and do surf music (and some garage songs).

Growing up Al would play me all kinds of music. He turned me on to Deep Purple Machine Head, Frank Zappa Overnight Sensation & Alice Cooper (one of Al’s favorites!!!). I remember one day visiting Al and he had played me a 8 track tape of a WCMF New Wave show that he had taped!

I remember hearing the Sex Pistols. Al got into the New Wave thing and would proceed to turn me onto Plastic Bertrand, B-52s and others! I was already a Ramones and a Jam fan. I agree to do the surf band with Al.

Al got the name Cousin Al because I would introduce him to my friends as Cousin Al.  So we now have a concept and need to get guys to play.

The first line up wound be Al on vocals, Brian drums and backing vocals,  Steve Litvak guitar and Denis Jones Bass. This line up practiced in my Brighton basement for awhile. Al and I were chompin’ at the bit to play Scorgies or to play out in general! Only problem was Denis wasn’t into playing out and Steve wasn’t into the music. He was more a NY Dolls guy and also he dug the blues.

We find Cousin Chaz and Cousin Pete from ads that were posted at the Record Archive. Chaz had written a song called Surfin’ On The Barge Canal that he had played in a Pittsford High School talent contest. We go on to Play Scorgies, Schatzies, Ruth & Irvs Astrological Fish and Steak and a gig with The CADS at the Harley School!!!

We even made a Suoer 8 film with R.I.T. film student George Elieuw;  it was a Monkees meet Hard Days Night type of film! That was wild! The debut was as Schatzees,

We at some point hooked up with Stan The Man who then became Stan The MANager!

Stan sez “Brian that was your idea after a “happy puff” I think you liked the idea of “Stan the MANager” and you and Al came to the back room of the Archive and asked me” (back then, we would go out and “Check the tires, ” and that was always a “happy smoke” break!!!).

Stan got us on The Brian Bram TV show and did a lot more for the band like help with song ideas and booking gigs.

After I left to join the Insiders (circa 1983) the band went on to record a 45 and go through member changes )it was at The Cousin Al gig at Ruth & Irv’s gig were the Insiders approached me to join!).

The rest is history… (very fuzzy history!).

Cousin Brian Goodman