![]() ![]() He met Adams when the latter briefly joined Mersey-Beats USA to fill in for the regular keyboard player. In late spring of 1966, guitarist Steve Ferguson was invited to join NRBQ after he quit Mersey-Beats USA (no relation to the Liverpool group who recorded "I Stand Accused"). The first known reference to the band's name can be heard on one of these home tapes, with Donn announcing, "Here they are, the New Rhythm and Blues Quintet!" as though presenting them to a live audience. Along with drummer Charlie Craig, they made home tapes of their experiments. NRBQ began in late 1965 as a rehearsal band in the Shively, Kentucky home of brothers Terry and Donn Adams, and they appeared on stage for the first time in 1966. Some of the more notable members in the band's long history are singer, writer and bassist Joey Spampinato, guitarists Al Anderson and Johnny Spampinato drummers Tom Staley and Tom Ardolino and vocalist Frank Gadler. Its current membership comprises the quartet of pianist Adams, bassist Casey McDonough, guitarist Scott Ligon, and drummer John Perrin. Today's quartet is known for its live performances, containing a high degree of spontaneity and levity, and blending rock, pop, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley styles. Adams disbanded it for a time, and the group re-formed in 1967. Originally the "New Rhythm and Blues Quintet", the group was formed around 1965. An angry mob of fans chased Albano, his wife, and a family friend from the Garden to a nearby bar, causing damage to the tune of $171,472 in 2019 money.NRBQ is an American rock band founded by Terry Adams (piano), Steve Ferguson (guitar) and Joey Spampinato (bass). Albano and Koloff had to be escorted out of the arena by security, without the championship belt, as a riot broke out. Legend has it that the crowd was so silent from shock after Sammartino lost that he thought he had gone deaf. He ultimately succeeded, when Ivan Koloff ended Sammartino's seven-year run with the title. ![]() Albano's promos on Sammartino, in support of new heel "Crusher" Verdu, led to a sellout for the then Sammartino credited the fan's desire to see him make a liar out of Albano for the success of the feud, saying Albano got "the kind of heat no one else could."Īs the top manager in the territory, Albano tried to unseat Sammartino as the champion. He transitioned from wrestling to managing at the suggestion of the legendary Bruno Sammartino, who saw potential in the undercard wrestler's "gift of gab."Īlbano proved Sammartino right in 1970. ![]() Express for the World Tag Team Titles at the inaugural installment of the show.īefore his face turn in the build-up to the first WrestleMania, Captain Lou Albano spent 32 years of his career as a heel. Blassie would also manage the Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff to the first title change at WrestleMania when they defeated The U.S. The Sheik would go on to lose the title to Blassie's old client Hogan less than a month later, kicking off the Rock' n' Wrestling Era. He helped end one of the longest title reigns in WWE history when he led the Iron Sheik to victory over Bob Backlund on December 26th, 1983. He and his trusty cane were never far from ringside.īlassie played a part in the birth of the '80s wrestling boom. wrestler match against New Japan Pro Wrestling founder Antonio Inoki. Blassie managed everyone from a young Hulk Hogan to Muhammad Ali, whom he seconded in his boxer vs. He also made himself infamous in Japan, where fans were so shocked by him bloodying national hero Rikidozan that it caused heart attacks.Īs a manager, Blassie was one of "the Three Wise Men of the East," the top managers in the New York territory that would eventually become WWE. During his time in Los Angeles, Blassie was so hated by fans that he received a police escort to and from the ring. He even had acid thrown on his back during a match. He was famous for filing his teeth down and biting his opponents to draw blood. Blassie actually toned his act as a manager down from his days as an active competitor. ![]()
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