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The Dummy’s Bio

(below written by Steve Ellison of the Dummy’s)

I met Zames in the 70's - Bridgeport, Ct. We started talking about the
Beatles (my favorite group) I heard him play guitar and we started messing
with Music.

I met Jack working at Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chip in Stratford, Ct. He
wrote Lyrics, I wrote Music and recorded some stuff we did, only I played
the Instruments and sang as well.
He liked it - And I introduced him to Zames.

We needed a Bass player and got Ben Madison the day of (or day before) our
first gig.
We played Friday & Saturday night at the Shandy Gaff (in Milford, Ct.-where
I now live) now known as the Pit Stop, and warmed up The Cadavers (Shaun
McDonough, Larry Loud & Leo).

Jack had excellent Guitar equipment, Zames lit his hair on Fire, and I had a
Garbage Can as a Floor Tom Tom (filled with beer on ice). We made $5.00
($1.25 each) for both nights - Grand Total.

When we performed * "Chocolate For You" where I pour Bosco flavored Syrup on
me, I remember some Tables being turned upside down, and when I walked
towards the bathroom to clean up at the end, I heard the audience going
crazy, and Shaun or Larry (Cadavers) said to the other, as I walked past
them, - How are we going to top that !
* The song was about this Girl Kathy I liked, but would only go out with
Black guys - so If I was Black I'd get her right ??? The Bosco never helped
me at all !

Thanks for the great words guys, it helped my ego, but I felt bad. This was
our first time out, The Cadavers were nice enough to let us open for them,
and had a strong following because they were (and still are) an Excellent
Local band, Professional and very Talented - had a Strong following.
At least they were around for a Long time - we did MAYBE 4 gigs.

The other(s) was on top of Gimbels roof top (Lafayette Plaza - Bridgeport
Ct.) Playing for ourselves after being Gonged for the Gong Show Audition
inside the building. And along came the Police asking us to leave now !

And the last was the Hotel St. George Bridgeport, Ct. along with the Corpse
Grinders (minus Arthur Kane - N.Y. Dolls) now torn down, across from the
Bpt. Police station - where a person was Knifed days before.

Again at Zames 40th. Surprise Birthday Party, Shelton, Ct. we tried again
and did it for maybe 2 minutes, and my Son Todd was on Drums.
Jack and I performed prior w/ Ben, but I was a idiot and played loud and
fast drowning out Jack's acoustic as well as all our practice sessions and
hard work prior, and I'm very sorry to Jack and deserved to be punished -
put to Death ! What a jerk I was that night. Mister know it all !

I also played Drums for one song with the Mill Valley Taters - same night
(withTom Andrukevich and Chris Neal).

And now it brings us to May 21, 2005 Saturday at the Café 9 in New Haven,
Ct.

What will happen you ask, You're Guess Is As Good As Mine !
Stephen (Dummys / Zoul) Ellison

See what Jack, Zames and Ben have to say about the Dummys.

(below written by me, Joe Snow)

I don’t really know what it is about the Dummy’s, this band just really represents the roots of punk rock to me. They may have been the earliest punk band in Connecticut and had been jamming together since 1975ish. Seems they just liked making loud music even though their musicianship skills were somewhat limited. They didn’t care. They never even had a bass player. Instead of trying to find someone to fill that slot they found an old store Mannequin (named “Ben Madison“) and hung a bass on it, GOOD ENOUGH! You’re probably thinking “yeah, but they must have sucked right?” Well strangely enough…NO, they actually somehow were able to record some really great music despite the overwhelming odds and lack of any formal recording equipment. This is what punk rock is all about, doing it anyway and not caring what other people think about it. What they lacked in skills they certainly made up for in attitude. They had a great motto too, “When it comes to the worst, we’re the BEST”. I think that statement sums them up perfectly.

The Dummy’s almost put a record out too. They were all set to release a 3 song 7” on CT’s infamous Whiplash label but last minute financial problems prevented it from ever happening. It’s too bad because if that record had come out way back when I’m confident that it would be a highly prized item in many punk record collections today. Perhaps the strangest twist to the story of the Dummy’s is that they actually appeared in the May 1979 issue of “Rock Scene” magazine. There was a photo of the band and a caption that said this…

“Dese guys are no Dummy’s, but they are! Out of Bridgeport Connecticut come Zames Mayernick, rhythm guitar; Stephen Ellison, drums; Ben Madison, bass; and John Paul, lead guitar. “our Ambition is to be ambitious,” they proclaim, “When it comes to the worst we’re the best” If they write songs as good as slogans, they’re sure to be hits!”

They did! But they weren’t….

I wish more kids today would take the path that the Dummy’s took and forget about how your hair looks or if they have the latest fashions. I wish they would just pick up a guitar and play for themselves. Music today would be a lot more interesting if they did.

Line-up
Jack Violence - Guitar, Vocals
Ben Madison - Bass
Gary "Zames" Mayernick - Guitar, Vocals
Stephen Ellison - Drums, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Banjo...

ALSO ----
At the Hotel St. George Gig, the line up was the same as above for Zames &
Ben.
Jack didn't do it, Glen Sanders (of No Music/Lost Generation) played Drums, and I played Guitar, Vocals (Steve E.)

Discography

2005 - “Up All Night” compilation CD, Incas Records

Department Store Dummys/I Hate You/Suicide Note Of An Extremist