This day-by-day diary of The Prime Movers' live, studio, broadcasting and private activities is the result of two decades of research and interview work by Bruno Ceriotti, but without the significant contributions by other kindred spirits this diary would not have been possible. So, I would like to thank all the people who, in one form or another, contributed to this timeline: Michael Erlewine, Dan Erlewine, Tom Ralston, David Dann, Mark Naftalin, Peggy McVickar, Steve Mackay, Ross Hannan, Corry Arnold, Martin Katon, Denis Donnelly, Michael Katon, Ron Domilici, Tom Copi, Michael Ochs, Fifth Estate, Berkeley Barb, and Ann Arbor Sun.
August 1965
Undoubtedly one of the best Chicago-style blues band in Michigan, The Prime Movers were formed in Ann Arbor by lead singer Michael Erlewine (b. John Michael Erlewine, Friday, July 18, 1941, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania). A high school dropout and former member of the local 'University of Michigan Folklore Society' since the late 1950s, Michael, as folkie, made the gradual transition from studying and researching traditional folk music to also searching out historic country folk blues and then on to discovering modern city blues in the early 1960s. He could see that blues was the same as folk music, only modern, fresh-alive, well and incredibly potent. "Then in 1964 I spent a year in Berkeley, California." Michael recalls, "Berkeley was a city that was alive to all kinds of things that Ann Arbor knew little about. It was the year before 'The Sixties' began in the Bay Area, so a lot was already going on beneath the surface, and I could feel it. For one, I had dropped pure Sandoz acid while in Berkeley and that was a life changer right there. LSD changed my life forever. I was exposed to all kinds of things, the Sproul Hall riots, Ouspensky and Gurdjieff, hanging out with my friend Perry Lederman, and more of the folk scene. I went out there to study with a brilliant professor and ended up enraptured by the phantasmagoria that was Berkeley in 1964, one year before it all began. While there I was assistant manager at Discount Records on Telegraph Avenue, and learning a lot about music, especially classical music." By the spring of 1965 Michael was back in Ann Arbor where a few months later, in August, he formed The Prime Movers on lead vocals, amplified harmonica, and sometimes rhythm guitar (he was also their de facto manager and booking agent). "After Berkeley (and partly because of Berkeley) something inside me had stirred and I wanted to express it." Michael also recalls, "I wanted to push this inner feeling I had, so my brother Daniel and I came up with the idea of forming a rock band. I came up with the name 'Prime Movers', because that name best expressed how I felt, movement at the deepest level, getting something new started. I was pushing the idea of a new kind of music and band. Daniel like the idea, so it became our baby." As just above mentioned by Michael, the band also featured his younger brother Daniel 'Dan' Erlewine (b. Saturday, September 9, 1944, Lancaster) on lead guitar. Dan, a former employee at Ann Arbor's first McDonald's, had already played in a band since 1962 when he formed an amateur rock 'n' roll and rhythm 'n' blues combo called The Spiders with his buddies Michael 'Spider' Wynn on bass, Brian Jones on drums, and Jay Edwards on vocals and Wurlitzer electric piano. In January 1963 he also began working as a salesman and guitar teacher at the 'Herb David Guitar Studio' on State Street, Ann Arbor, but he was fired two years later after Herb discovered that he had bought a guitar from a "rival" music shop! In August 1963, after played regularly with The Spiders at the Walled Lake Casino during the week and at frat parties on the University of Michigan campus during the weekends (on Friday and Saturday), Dan leaves the band and enlisted in the U.S. Navy (it wasn’t the smartest thing he ever did according to him). The Spiders replaced him with Pete Stanger, a local guitar player formerly of Bob Seger and The Decibels, who was a year or two younger than Dan. Pete joins the band mostly because his older brother John was a friend of Dan's older brother Michael. Anyway, a couple of months later, in October 1963, Dan got pneumonia in boot camp and was discharged. Nedless to say, he subsequently returned home and re-joined the band. In April 1964 The Spiders disbanded after Dan and Jay Edwards leave them. Dan was drifiting toward acoustic guitar and folk music and was busy learning guitar repair, gave guitar lessons, and studying classical guitar (although he didn’t gey very far), while Jay moved to San Francisco, California, with some other friends from Ann Arbor (they just took off one day with short notice). In June or July 1964 Dan ran a coffee house called The Golden Vanity in Ann Arbor. The Kentucky Colonels played there for two weeks and their leader Clarence White gave Dan his first guitar lesson, and after just one flatpicking lesson from Clarence, Dan threw away the fingerpicks. Sometime later, in August or September 1964, Dan drove out west with his friend Elliot Jones (The Spiders’ Brian Jones’ brother) to Seattle, Washington, then south to San Francisco, to hang with Jay Edwards and to be a guitar teacher. While they were there, Dan, Elliot and Jay go together to a local movie theatre to watch The Beatles’ first full-length feature film, 'A Hard Day’s Night'. The film changed a lot of things according to Dan. In October 1964, however, Dan got homesick and headed back to Ann Arbor where, ten months later, he formed The Prime Movers with his brother Michael, exactly. The band - who played a good time rock 'n' roll and some blues and gospel for awhile - also featured Spider Wynn on drums, formerly of The Spiders, Erlewine's cousin Robert Thomas Vinopal, aka 'R.T.', on bass, and Michael's neighbour friend Bob Sheff (b. Robert Nathan Sheff, Monday, January 1, 1945, San Antonio, Texas), a keyboard player who was a classically trained musician formerly of the Once Group, a local collective that performed their own music and also the work of modern classical composers such as John Cage. At the time Michael Erlewine and Bob Sheff were already living together in a large two-floor house at 114 North Division Street in Ann Arbor, who later became known as the 'Prime Mover House' after Dan Erlewine and many other future band members went to live there too (Michael was the lasted to left the house in early 1972). "We had the entire second floor, which consisted of four bedrooms, a bath, and kitchen." Michael recalls about the infamous house, "On the third floor, essentially the attic, was a large room that quickly became our band-practice area, and another smaller room across the front of the house I soon took over as my private silk-screen shop, the place where I designed and printed most of the band's posters over the years (posters that the other band members then would sometimes spread all over town and put them up each week), and where sometimes people would stay." In the attic there was also a giant unfinished room with vaulted ceilings on the floor of which Michael have painted a magic circle with five-pointed star, and where they hid their pot sometimes. (Note: The house still stands today, owned by the local University of Michigan).
Undoubtedly one of the best Chicago-style blues band in Michigan, The Prime Movers were formed in Ann Arbor by lead singer Michael Erlewine (b. John Michael Erlewine, Friday, July 18, 1941, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania). A high school dropout and former member of the local 'University of Michigan Folklore Society' since the late 1950s, Michael, as folkie, made the gradual transition from studying and researching traditional folk music to also searching out historic country folk blues and then on to discovering modern city blues in the early 1960s. He could see that blues was the same as folk music, only modern, fresh-alive, well and incredibly potent. "Then in 1964 I spent a year in Berkeley, California." Michael recalls, "Berkeley was a city that was alive to all kinds of things that Ann Arbor knew little about. It was the year before 'The Sixties' began in the Bay Area, so a lot was already going on beneath the surface, and I could feel it. For one, I had dropped pure Sandoz acid while in Berkeley and that was a life changer right there. LSD changed my life forever. I was exposed to all kinds of things, the Sproul Hall riots, Ouspensky and Gurdjieff, hanging out with my friend Perry Lederman, and more of the folk scene. I went out there to study with a brilliant professor and ended up enraptured by the phantasmagoria that was Berkeley in 1964, one year before it all began. While there I was assistant manager at Discount Records on Telegraph Avenue, and learning a lot about music, especially classical music." By the spring of 1965 Michael was back in Ann Arbor where a few months later, in August, he formed The Prime Movers on lead vocals, amplified harmonica, and sometimes rhythm guitar (he was also their de facto manager and booking agent). "After Berkeley (and partly because of Berkeley) something inside me had stirred and I wanted to express it." Michael also recalls, "I wanted to push this inner feeling I had, so my brother Daniel and I came up with the idea of forming a rock band. I came up with the name 'Prime Movers', because that name best expressed how I felt, movement at the deepest level, getting something new started. I was pushing the idea of a new kind of music and band. Daniel like the idea, so it became our baby." As just above mentioned by Michael, the band also featured his younger brother Daniel 'Dan' Erlewine (b. Saturday, September 9, 1944, Lancaster) on lead guitar. Dan, a former employee at Ann Arbor's first McDonald's, had already played in a band since 1962 when he formed an amateur rock 'n' roll and rhythm 'n' blues combo called The Spiders with his buddies Michael 'Spider' Wynn on bass, Brian Jones on drums, and Jay Edwards on vocals and Wurlitzer electric piano. In January 1963 he also began working as a salesman and guitar teacher at the 'Herb David Guitar Studio' on State Street, Ann Arbor, but he was fired two years later after Herb discovered that he had bought a guitar from a "rival" music shop! In August 1963, after played regularly with The Spiders at the Walled Lake Casino during the week and at frat parties on the University of Michigan campus during the weekends (on Friday and Saturday), Dan leaves the band and enlisted in the U.S. Navy (it wasn’t the smartest thing he ever did according to him). The Spiders replaced him with Pete Stanger, a local guitar player formerly of Bob Seger and The Decibels, who was a year or two younger than Dan. Pete joins the band mostly because his older brother John was a friend of Dan's older brother Michael. Anyway, a couple of months later, in October 1963, Dan got pneumonia in boot camp and was discharged. Nedless to say, he subsequently returned home and re-joined the band. In April 1964 The Spiders disbanded after Dan and Jay Edwards leave them. Dan was drifiting toward acoustic guitar and folk music and was busy learning guitar repair, gave guitar lessons, and studying classical guitar (although he didn’t gey very far), while Jay moved to San Francisco, California, with some other friends from Ann Arbor (they just took off one day with short notice). In June or July 1964 Dan ran a coffee house called The Golden Vanity in Ann Arbor. The Kentucky Colonels played there for two weeks and their leader Clarence White gave Dan his first guitar lesson, and after just one flatpicking lesson from Clarence, Dan threw away the fingerpicks. Sometime later, in August or September 1964, Dan drove out west with his friend Elliot Jones (The Spiders’ Brian Jones’ brother) to Seattle, Washington, then south to San Francisco, to hang with Jay Edwards and to be a guitar teacher. While they were there, Dan, Elliot and Jay go together to a local movie theatre to watch The Beatles’ first full-length feature film, 'A Hard Day’s Night'. The film changed a lot of things according to Dan. In October 1964, however, Dan got homesick and headed back to Ann Arbor where, ten months later, he formed The Prime Movers with his brother Michael, exactly. The band - who played a good time rock 'n' roll and some blues and gospel for awhile - also featured Spider Wynn on drums, formerly of The Spiders, Erlewine's cousin Robert Thomas Vinopal, aka 'R.T.', on bass, and Michael's neighbour friend Bob Sheff (b. Robert Nathan Sheff, Monday, January 1, 1945, San Antonio, Texas), a keyboard player who was a classically trained musician formerly of the Once Group, a local collective that performed their own music and also the work of modern classical composers such as John Cage. At the time Michael Erlewine and Bob Sheff were already living together in a large two-floor house at 114 North Division Street in Ann Arbor, who later became known as the 'Prime Mover House' after Dan Erlewine and many other future band members went to live there too (Michael was the lasted to left the house in early 1972). "We had the entire second floor, which consisted of four bedrooms, a bath, and kitchen." Michael recalls about the infamous house, "On the third floor, essentially the attic, was a large room that quickly became our band-practice area, and another smaller room across the front of the house I soon took over as my private silk-screen shop, the place where I designed and printed most of the band's posters over the years (posters that the other band members then would sometimes spread all over town and put them up each week), and where sometimes people would stay." In the attic there was also a giant unfinished room with vaulted ceilings on the floor of which Michael have painted a magic circle with five-pointed star, and where they hid their pot sometimes. (Note: The house still stands today, owned by the local University of Michigan).
THE PRIME MOVERS #1 (AUGUST 1965 - NOVEMBER 1965)
1) Michael Erlewine vocals, amplified harmonica, and sometimes rhythm guitar
2) Dan Erlewine lead guitar
3) Spider Wynn drums
4) R.T. Vinopal bass
5) Bob Sheff keyboards
1) Michael Erlewine vocals, amplified harmonica, and sometimes rhythm guitar
2) Dan Erlewine lead guitar
3) Spider Wynn drums
4) R.T. Vinopal bass
5) Bob Sheff keyboards
The Prime Movers #1, Ann Arbor, 1965 - from left: R.T. Vinopal, Spider Wynn, Michael Erlewine, Dan Erlewine, and Bob Sheff
November 1965
R.T. Vinopal leaves The Prime Movers and was replaced on bass by Jack Dawson, a classical music student at the local University of Michigan where he played with a frat band called The Marksmen. Spider Wynn also leaves at the same time because he hated blues and they were playing more and more of it, and was replaced on drums by Jim Osterberg (b. James Newell Osterberg Jr., Monday, April 21, 1947, Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan), formerly of The Iguanas, a local high school surf combo. "When Jim first joined our band, we called him 'Iguana' for a while, perhaps just to remind him where he came from." Michael Erlewine recalls, "That soon was shortened to 'Iggy', and that stuck. Jim liked the nickname too." After joined the band, Iggy also moved into the ‘Prime Mover House’, while Jack never did because he was then living with a friend in an old house at 438 Thompson Street, where the Institute for Social Research is now. By the way, when Iggy joined the band, he brought with him his two best friends, 'Famous' and 'The Panther'. 'Famous' was Lynn Goldsmith, who became (pardon the pun) famous as a rock photograper, while 'The Panther' was David White, who became The Prime Movers' honorary manager, which just meant they loved him because he was perhaps the funniest human being they had ever met (he was a natural comedian, and an all around good guy - beloved by all).
THE PRIME MOVERS #2 (NOVEMBER 1965 - DECEMBER 1965)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson bass, trombone
5) Jim 'Iggy' Osterberg drums, tambourine, lead vocals (he sang once in a while, mainly on the cover of Bo Diddley's 'I'm A Man')
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson bass, trombone
5) Jim 'Iggy' Osterberg drums, tambourine, lead vocals (he sang once in a while, mainly on the cover of Bo Diddley's 'I'm A Man')
The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 66 - from left: Bob Sheff, Iggy Osterberg, Michael Erlewine, Dan Erlewine, and Jack Dawson
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The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 66 - from left: Bob Sheff, Iggy Osterberg, Michael Erlewine, Jack Dawson, and Dan Erlewine
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The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Bob Sheff, Iggy Osterberg, Jack Dawson, Dan Erlewine, a nun (!?), and Michael Erlewine
The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, ? (unknown friend), Michael Erlewine, Dan Erlewine, Iggy Osterberg, and Bob Sheff
The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Bob Sheff, Jack Dawson, Iggy Osterberg, Dan Erlewine, ? (unknown friend), and Michael Erlewine
The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Iggy Osterberg, Jack Dawson, Dan Erlewine, Bob Sheff, and Michael Erlewine
The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Iggy Osterberg, Jack Dawson, Bob Sheff, Michael Erlewine, and Dan Erlewine
The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Iggy Osterberg, Jack Dawson, Bob Sheff, Dan Erlewine, and Michael Erlewine
December 1965
The Prime Movers heard their heroes Paul Butterfield Blues Band at The Chess Mate in Detroit, Michigan. Inspired and largest influenced by Butterfileld’s Chicago blues-styled music, they became, in an instant, The Prime Movers Blues Band.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #1 (DECEMBER 1965 - JANUARY 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
January 1966
The Prime Movers Blues Band hired a local tambourine player, the great late Ron Asheton (b. Ronald Franklin Asheton Jr., Saturday, July 17, 1948, Washington D.C. - d. Tuesday, January 6, 2009, Ann Arbor, of a heart attack), aka ‘Javalina’ (the band gave Ron that name), formerly of The Dirty Shames. They hired him because they loved him and he was Iggy’s pal.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #2 (JANUARY 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
6) Ron 'Javalina' Asheton tambourine
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
6) Ron 'Javalina' Asheton tambourine
January 1966: Mother's (formerly Ann Arbor Armory), 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band played here several times (and with different lineups) throughout the year.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #2, Mother's, Ann Arbor, January 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Ron Asheton, Michael Erlewine, and Dan Erlewine
The Prime Movers Blues Band #2, Mother's, Ann Arbor, January 1966 - from left: ? (unknown friend), ? (unknown friend), ? (unknown friend), Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, ? (unknown friend), Ron Asheton, Dan Erlewine, and Iggy Osterberg
January 1966
After few rehearsals and a couple of gigs, Ron Asheton leaves the band (he went to play with The Chosen Few, and then The Stooges). Ron had just started playing and perhaps he didn’t feel comfortable playing publicly, so maybe this is why he didn’t stay long. He was young, more like a mascot, a friend, and a groupie (in the best way). Ron might have played something somewhere, but he did not know the songs. Ron never learned the songs. He might have sat in on a simple blues progression or helped out, but without knowing the songs, he was not Prime Mover material.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #3 (aka #1) (JANUARY 1966 - JULY 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
Friday, March 4, 1966: Mother's, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers (as they were advertised) opened for the famous all-girl band The Shangri-Las, and also backed them up. One show, from 8:30pm to 12 midnight.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #3, Mother's, Ann Arbor, 1966 - from left: Bob Sheff, Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, and (almost hidden) Dan Erlewine
Wednesday, March 9, 1966: 'Fourth Ann Arbor Film Festival', Architecture And Design Auditorium, University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The festival was presented by The Cinema Guild and Dramatic Arts Center in cooperation with Cinema II and Challenge Lecture Series. The Prime Movers presented a film titled '(No) Peace in the Valley', and they also provided the sound track.
The Michigan Daily (March 10, 1966)
Saturday, March 12, 1966: 'Primavera Annual Spring Semi-Formal Dance', South Quadrangle, 600 East Madison Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Also on the bill: Symphony In Swing. The show, from 9:00pm to 1:00am, was presented by South, East, West Quads, Markley Hall and IHA.
The Michigan Daily (March 12, 1966)
Friday, March 18, 1966: Mother's, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band opened (unbilled) for the famous Afro-American soul singing group The Contours, and also backed them up. One show, from 8:30pm to 12 midnight.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #3, Mother's, Ann Arbor, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Iggy Osterberg, Dan Erlwine, and Bob Sheff
The Prime Movers Blues Band #3, Mother's, Ann Arbor, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Iggy Osterberg, Dan Erlewine, and Bob Sheff
The Prime Movers Blues Band #3, Mother's, Ann Arbor, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, and Iggy Osterberg
Friday, March 25, 1966: The Canterbury House, basement of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, 306 North Division Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show, started at 8:30pm.
The Michigan Daily (March 25, 1966)
Friday, April 8, 1966: Mother's, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Michigan Daily (April 8, 1966)
Friday, unknown date, 1966: Daniel's Den, 2525 State Street, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan
The band was billed only as 'The Prime Movers' on the club marquee.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #3 at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966 - from left: Bob Sheff, Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Dan Erlewine, and Iggy Osterberg
Michael and Dan Erlewine at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966
Dan Erlewine at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966
Iggy Osterberg at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966
1966: 'WTAC-AM Record Hop', Mt. Holly, 13536 Dixie Highway at Blank Lake Road, Holly, Oakland County, Michigan
In the mid-60s, Mt. Holly had become a popular ski area located just south of Flint on the Dixie Highway. It featured a large lodge, which had remained unused during the off-season. The building had just been sitting there every year from April through October until WTAC-AM deejay and program director, Bob Dell, decided it might be the perfect venue for record hops.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #3 at the Mt. Holly, Holly, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, and Dan Erlewine
Michael Erlewine at Mt. Holly, 1966
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Michael Erlewine at Mt. Holly, 1966
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Michael Erlewine at Mt. Holly, 1966
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Iggy Osterberg at Mt. Holly, 1966
iggy Osterberg at Mt. Holly, 1966
Iggy Osterberg at Mt. Holly, 1966
Bob Sheff at Mt. Holly, 1966
Jack Dawson at Mt. Holly, 1966
Dan Erlewine at Mt. Holly, 1966
1966: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan (several gigs)
The Depot House was a long-term gig for the band (they played here on-and-off for two years), where they put on light shows, had lots of drummers sitting on, and it was kind of a home for a while.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #3, Depot House, Ann Arbor, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Bob Sheff, Michael Erlewine, Iggy Osterberg, and Dan Erlewine
The Prime Movers Blues Band #3, Depot House, Ann Arbor, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Bob Sheff, Michael Erlewine, Iggy Osterberg, and Dan Erlewine
Friday, unknown date - Saturday, unknown date, 1966: The Ark (aka Ark Coffee House), First Presbyterian Church House (aka Hill House), 1421 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers (as they were billed on the gig ad) played here every Friday and Saturday, from 8:30pm to 12:30am, for some time.
Michael Erlewine and Iggy Osterberg at The Ark, Ann Arbor, 1966
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Jack Dawson and Iggy Osterberg at The Ark, Ann Arbor, 1966
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1966
That year there were two attempts for The Prime Movers Blues Band to hitch their wagon to the stars. For a short time they had the great late Hugh 'Jeep' Holland, producer and manager of SRC and The Rationals (under his A2 Productions company), as their manager. Jeep wanted to get The Prime Movers into the mainstream of popular music and to this end he tried to get them to conform, to wear little suits, to going to the teeny The Hideout clubs and the teen circuit, and whatever he thought would help them. They did try, but their natural temperament as a band (they were too wild and unmanageable) found them wandering off that trail pretty quickly. Their second near brush with fame came when a subsidiary of Motown Records courted them to join them as a White band playing Black music. They came to Ann Arbor and drove them around in their black limousines, and set up cool events like when they arranged a dinner between the Erlewine brothers and The Everly Brothers. Now THAT was very cool, because Michael and Dan Erlewine loved their music. You get the idea. The shit hit the fan, so to speak, when the band realized that the Black music they wanted them to play was not the Chicago blues music they loved and were learning, but some really bad arrangements they came up with for them to play. In other words, the band would have to play what they gave them to play. Well that was not about to happen and they walked. They were out of there, instantly - short karma for the fame trip.
1966: The Town Bar, 212 East Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band play regularly in this former gay bar for several months (possibly into 1967).
Friday, uknown date - Saturday, unknown date, 1966: The Canterbury House, basement of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, 306 North Division Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show a day, started at 8:30pm.
April/May 1966: Incrowd Blues Club, Yorkville, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Prime Movers Blues Band played at a couple of unknown venues in Yorkville, Toronto's original musical enclave of the 60s. The band were in Toronto for a couple of weeks so maybe they played at several other places in town during that time.
Friday, May 13, 1966: Mother's, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Also on the bill: The Contours.
The Michigan Daily (May 12, 1966)
May ??, 1966
That year The Prime Movers Blues Band had taken many trips to Chicago, Illinois, aka “home of the blues”, to see Little Walter, Big Walter, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and all the blues greats playing live. They had worked since the beginning of their career to study and play the blues, as best as they could. It fell to them to be in charge of feeding and serving “beverages” to the blues entertainers, backstage. Michael Erlewine was lucky enough to be selected to interview as many of the performers as he could, using a simple audio recorder. Dan Erlewine also used that same simple audio recorder to recorded, with the help of his brother Michael, several shows of their idols, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, when the latter played at the Poor Richard’s in Chicago from May 12 to May 22. Then the Erlewine bros. gave the tapes to Butterfield’s keyboardist Mark Naftalin that had the tapes restored.
May/June 1966 (?): Mother Blues, 1305 North Wells Street, Old Town District, Chicago, Illinois
It was supposedly during their "spring trip" to Chicago (see above) that The Prime Movers Blues Band played in this famous local blues nightclub.
Sunday, June 19, 1966: 'Grand Opening!', The Schwaben Inn, 215 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show, from 9:00pm to 2:00am. Some years ago Dan and Michael's younger brother Stephen Thomas Erlewine dug a bunch of old moldy reel-to-reel tapes of The Prime Movers Blues Band out of his basement, and one of them included four songs - 'Part Time Love', 'Ships On The Ocean', 'Two Trains Running', and 'I'm A Man' - that were recorded at The Schwaben Inn supposedly tonight. Bo Diddley's cover of 'I'm A Man' with their drummer Iggy Osterberg on lead vocals was released first in 2008 only in the UK on the Various Artists CD compilation: 'A-Square (Of Course): The Story of Michigan's Legendary A-Square Records' (Big Beat Records CDWIKD 274), and then in 2016 worldwide as A-side of the band's posthumous first and only picture-sleeve vinyl single, 'I'm A Man / Orange Driver' (Third Man Records TMR 394), which was included in the limited-edition (400 copies) of Jeff Gold's book, 'Total Chaos: The Story of The Stooges / As Told by Iggy Pop', published by Third Man Books.
vinyl single (2016)
CD compilation (2008)
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CD compilation (2008)
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Monday, June 20 (?) - October 1?, 1966: The Schwaben Inn, 215 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Supposedly right after their debut the night before (Sunday, June 19), The Prime Movers Blues Band started played in this bar regularly, from 9:00pm to 2:00am, initially every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and later every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and (sometimes) Saturday. By the way, when the band played here, both college students and townies came to hear them and fights between the two groups would break out in the middle of their set almost every night (once there were like nine cop cars there to break one up), and the band would cower behind their equipment or just keep playing!
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July 1966
The band added Jerry Lewis on rhythm guitar.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #4 (JULY 1966 - AUGUST 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
6) Jerry Lewis rhythm guitar
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
6) Jerry Lewis rhythm guitar
July or August 1966: casual concert in the yard of an unknown house next to Herb David Guitar Studio, State Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 in a casual concert in the yard of an unknown house next to Herb David Guitar Studio, State Street, Ann Arbor, July or August 1966 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Jack Dawson, Dan Erlewine, Iggy Osterberg, and Jerry Lewis
The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 in a casual concert in the yard of an unknown house next to Herb David Guitar Studio, State Street, Ann Arbor, July or August 1966 - from left: Bob Sheff, Dan Erlewine, Jack Dawson, Iggy Osterberg, and Jerry Lewis
The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 in a casual concert in the yard of an unknown house next to Herb David Guitar Studio, State Street, Ann Arbor, July or August 1966 - from left: Dan Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Michael Erlewine, Jack Dawson, and Iggy Osterberg
Iggy Osterberg
Iggy Osterberg
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Iggy Osterberg
Iggy Osterberg
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Iggy Osterberg
Tuesday, July 19 - Sunday, July 24, 1966: The Living End, 8225 John C. Lodge Street, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Although an early gig poster reported the date of July 19-31, The Prime Movers actually played only from July 19 to 24 according to a subsequent gig flyer. One show a day, from 9:00pm to 2:00am.
Tuesday, August 2 - Sunday, August 7, 1966: The Living End, 8225 John C. Lodge Street, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
The band was billed only as ‘The Prime Movers’ on the gig flyer. One show a day, from 9:00pm to 2:00am.
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The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 at The Living End, Detroit, July or August 1966 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Iggy Osterberg, Jerry Lewis, Jack Dawson, and Dan Erlewine
The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 at The Living End, Detroit, July or August 1966 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Iggy Osterberg, Jerry Lewis, Jack Dawson, and Dan Erlewine
The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 at The Living End, Detroit, July or August 1966 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Iggy Osterberg, Jerry Lewis, Jack Dawson, and Dan Erlewine
The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 at The Living End, Detroit, July or August 1966 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Iggy Osterberg, Jerry Lewis, Jack Dawson, and Dan Erlewine
The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 at The Living End, Detroit, July or August 1966 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Iggy Osterberg, Jerry Lewis, Jack Dawson, and Dan Erlewine
August 1966
Jerry Lewis was replaced by a new rhythm guitar player called Craig Johnson.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #5 (AUGUST 1966 - SEPTEMBER 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
6) Craig Johnson rhythm guitar
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
6) Craig Johnson rhythm guitar
August or September 1966: 'Freshmen Orientation', Hill Auditorium's front steps, University of Michigan campus, 825 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band #5 at Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, August or September 1966 - from left: Craig Johnson, Bob Sheff (hidden), Michael Erlewine, Dan Erlewine, Iggy Osterberg, and Jack Dawson
Thursdays, unknown dates, 1966: The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band (as they were billed on the posters designed by Michael Erlewine) played every Thursday night, from 9:30pm to 2:00am, for about two years (and for something like $35 a night for the entire band) as house band at a black club in Ann Arbor, called The Clint's Club (I don't know of any other white band that played in black clubs that early on, in the Midwest, and that also ever get a standing ovation!).
Friday, September 16 - Sunday, September 18, 1966: The Canterbury House, 330 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show a day, started at 8:30pm.
The Michigan Daily (September 17, 1966)
Friday, September 23, 1966: The Ark (aka Ark Coffee House), First Presbyterian Church House (aka Hill House), 1421 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show, from 8:30pm to 11:30pm.
The Michigan Daily (September 22, 1966)
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The Michigan Daily (September 23, 1966)
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September 1966
Craig Johnson leaves the band and they went back to their "classic" five-piece lineup.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #6 (aka #1, #3) (SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1?, 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
Wednesday, October 5 - Saturday, October 8, 1966: The Wisdom Tooth, Plum Street, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
The band was advertised only as 'The Prime Movers', Also on the bill: Jack Ray, Old Time Movies. One show a day, started at 9:15pm. Supposedly Iggy Osterberg's last gigs with the band.
Ann Arbor News (October 18, 1966)
October 1?, 1966
Iggy Osterberg leaves The Prime Movers Blues Band (he relocated to Chicago to play as a backup drummer for several blues greats, before returning home to form The Stooges a year later) and was replaced by a new local drummer called Tom Ralston (b. Lynn Thomas Ralston, Monday, June 9, 1947, Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, MI) formerly of The Iguanas, The Renegades, Bob Seger and The Decibels, and Deon Jackson.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #7 (OCTOBER 1?, 1966 - NOVEMBER 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Tom Ralston drums
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Tom Ralston drums
October 1? - November 1966: The Schwaben Inn, 215 Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band played here every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and (sometimes) Saturday nights, from 9:00pm to 2:00am.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #7, The Schwaben Inn, Ann Arbor, October 1?, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Tom Ralston, Bob Sheff, and Dan Erlewine
Ann Arbor News (October 18, 1966)
Friday, October 21 - Saturday, October 22, 1966: 'In Dance Concert', Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River at Beverly, 1 Block South Of Joy Road, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
According to an early newspaper ads, The Prime Movers Blues Band were on the bill allong with MC-5, The Chosen Few, Southbound Freeway, The Gang, and The Wha's?, but according to the subsequent official gig poster only The Prime Movers Blues Band and MC-5 actually played, from 8:00pm to 1:00am. Light Show by The High Society.
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November 1966
The Prime Movers Blues Band fired Tom Ralston (he later migrated first to New York City to play with Charlie Musselwhite and The Barry Goldberg Blues Band, Arlo Guthrie, Jake Holmes, and Spanky and The Our Gang, and then to Berkeley, California, to play with Ulysses Crockett Magic, Sky Blue, Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band, Grateful Dead, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, Tom 'Pooky' Ralston & Friends, Seatrain, Energy Crisis, Joy Of Cooking, and Country Joe McDonald). Tom was a good drummer, technically, but he could not play the blues, so he played very, very few gigs before the band fired him exactly. The band replaced him with Jesse Crawford, aka ‘Brother J.C.’, a good drummer and great guy, who recently came to Ann Arbor from his home town Cleveland, Ohio, to study at Eastern Michigan University. The band also added a horn player named Lenny Cole, who actually had started to rehearse with them at least since early October, but only now he officialy joined them.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #8 (NOVEMBER 1966 - LATE 1966 or EARLY 1967)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Brother J.C. drums
6) Lenny Cole sax
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Brother J.C. drums
6) Lenny Cole sax
Saturday, December 1966: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band was billed as 'The Prime Movers' on the gig poster designed by Michael Erlewine (see below).
Late 1966 or Early 1967
Lenny Cole left The Prime Movers Blues Band.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #9 (LATE 1966 or EARLY 1967 - JUNE 1967 (?))
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Brother J.C.
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Brother J.C.
Thursday, unknown date, 1967: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band was billed as 'Prime Movers' on the gig poster designed by Michael Erlewine (see below). One show, start at 8:30pm.
Thursdays, unknown dates, 1967: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band was billed as 'Prime Movers' on the gig posters designed by Michael Erlewine (see below). One show, from 8:00pm to 1:00am
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Saturdays, unknown dates, 1967: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band was billed as 'Prime Movers' on the gig posters designed by Michael Erlewine (see below). One show, from 8:00pm to 1:00am.
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Sundays, unknown dates, 1967: 'Jam Session', Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band was billed as 'Prime Movers' on the gig posters designed by Michael Erlewine (see below). One show, from 3:00pm to 8:00pm, with "all bands come".
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Thursdays, unknown dates, 1967: The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Several years ago, Dan and Michael's younger brother Stephen Thomas Erlewine dug a bunch of old moldy reel-to-reel tapes of The Prime Movers Blues Band out of his basement, and one of them included eight songs - 'Walkin’ By Myself', 'Yonder’s Wall', 'untitled instrumental', 'Orange Driver', 'Rock Me Baby', 'Walking Thru The Park', 'Watch Yourself' and 'All These Blues' - that were recorded at this club that year and with this lineup. Eddie Burns' cover 'Orange Driver' was released worldwide in 2016 as B-side of the band's posthumous first and only picture-sleeve vinyl single, 'I'm A Man / Orange Driver' (Third Man Records TMR 394), which was included in the limited-edition (400 copies) of Jeff Gold's book, 'Total Chaos: The Story of The Stooges / As Told by Iggy Pop', published by Third Man Books.
Thursdays, unknown dates, 1967: The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Several years ago, Dan and Michael's younger brother Stephen Thomas Erlewine dug a bunch of old moldy reel-to-reel tapes of The Prime Movers Blues Band out of his basement, and one of them included eight songs - 'Walkin’ By Myself', 'Yonder’s Wall', 'untitled instrumental', 'Orange Driver', 'Rock Me Baby', 'Walking Thru The Park', 'Watch Yourself' and 'All These Blues' - that were recorded at this club that year and with this lineup. Eddie Burns' cover 'Orange Driver' was released worldwide in 2016 as B-side of the band's posthumous first and only picture-sleeve vinyl single, 'I'm A Man / Orange Driver' (Third Man Records TMR 394), which was included in the limited-edition (400 copies) of Jeff Gold's book, 'Total Chaos: The Story of The Stooges / As Told by Iggy Pop', published by Third Man Books.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #9, The Clint's Club, Ann Arbor, 1967 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Brother J.C., and Dan Erlewine (The Michigan Daily, June 27, 1967)
Sundays, unknown dates, 1967: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band (as they were billed on the posters designed by Michael Erlewine), played here every Sunday night from 8:00pm to 1:00am.
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Friday, April 7, 1967: 'The Super TG', Rathskeller, UD University Center, University of Detroit Mercy campus, 4001 West McNichols Road, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
One show, from 12 noon to 4:00pm, promoted by The Student Union Board.
Friday, May 19, 1967: 'A Benefit For April Mobilization - Flower Power Ball', The Armory, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show, started at 9:00pm. Also on the bill: Seventh Seal, Lights Show, Films.
The Michigan Daily (May 18, 1967)
June 1967 (?)
Jack Dawson leaves The Prime Movers Blues Band (he will play for many years with The Siegel-Schwall Band) and was replaced by a local bass player called Ilene Silverman.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #10 (JUNE 1967 (?) - AUGUST 1967 (?))
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Brother J.C.
4) Bob Sheff
5) Ilene Silverman bass
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Brother J.C.
4) Bob Sheff
5) Ilene Silverman bass
Thursdays, July - August 1967 (?): The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band #10, The Clint's Club, Ann Arbor, 1967- from left: Ilene Silverman, Brother J.C, Dan Erlewine, and Michael Erlewine
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Dan Erlewine at The Clin't Club, Ann Arbor, 1967
The Michigan Daily (August 29, 1967)
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Sundays, July - August 1967 (?): Band Shell, West Park, North Seventh Street at Chapin Street, b/w Miller Avenue and West Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Ron Miller, bassist of Seventh Seal, obtained the permits to held free rock and roll concerts in West Park through the summer. The Seventh Seal, as well as bands like The Prime Movers, Charles Moore's avant jazz group, Billy C. and the Sunshine, the Up, the Roscoe Mitchell Unit from Chicago, and Grateful Dead from San Francisco, took the stand every Sunday afternoon to play for their friends and lovers.
The Prime Movers Blues Band #10 at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Brother J.C., Ilene Silverman, Dan Erlewine, and Bob Sheff
Michael Erlewine at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967
Michael Erlewine at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967
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Michael Erlewine at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967
Dan Erlewine and Ilene Silverman at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967
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Ilene Silverman and Michael Erlewine at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967
Bob Sheff at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967
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Michael Erlewine at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967
Dan Erlewine and Bob Sheff at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967
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August 1967 (?)
Bob Sheff leaves The Prime Movers Blues Band (he will play with The Charging Rhinoceros of Soul, Bob Sheff and his Real Great Band, Carla Bley, The Stooges, and many others, at least until he became a famous avant-garde composer and pianist under the alias of 'Blue' Gene Tyranny) and wasn't replaced.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #11 (AUGUST 1967 (?) - OCTOBER ?, 1967)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Brother J.C.
4) Ilene Silverman
Wednesday, August 30 or Thursday, August 31 or Friday, September 1 or Saturday, September 2 or Sunday, September 3, 1967: Fillmore Auditorium, 1805 Geary Boulevard at Fillmore Street, Fillmore District, San Francisco, California
The Prime Movers Blues Band filled in, unbilled, for the Electric Flag for one of these shows which started at 9:00pm each day, and were promoted by Bill Graham Presents In San Francisco. It was their old friend and Eletcric Flag’s leader and guitarist, Michael Bloomfield, that asked The Prime Movers to substitute for his band one night because their keyboardist Barry Goldberg was ill. Also on the bill: Cream, Gary Burton. Lights by Dan Bruhns. By the way, this gig was the first of The Prime Movers in the Bay Area (they spent about a month or so there and stayed at Electric Flag's practice room at the Heliport in Sausalito (they slept on the floor!)).
September 1967 (?): Mr. Lee's Rib House, Sausalito, Marin County, California
The Prime Movers Blues Band play for meals at a black rib joint down the street from the Heliport.
Monday, September 1967 (?): 'Open Auditions', The Matrix, 3138 Fillmore Street, Marina District, San Francisco, California
The Prime Movers Blues Band did a non-billed audition set here, but The Matrix's owners decided to reject the band because they didn't like them.
September 1967 (?): Straight Theatre, 1702 Haight Street at Cole, Haight-Ashsbury District, San Francisco, California
Friday, September 8 - Saturday, September 9, 1967: New Orleans House, 1505 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, Alameda County, California
The band was billed only as ‘Prime Movers’ on the Berkeley Barb’s newspaper ad (see below). Also on the bill Mother Earth.
Sunday, September 17 - Sunday, September 24, 1967: Haight A Espresso Coffee House, 776 Haigh Street, Haight-Ashbury Distrct, San Francisco, California
The band was billed as ‘Prime Movers - Detroit Blues Band’ on the gig poster. One show a day, start at 9:00pm.
Thursday, September 28 - Sunday, October 1, 1967: The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
October ?, 1967
Brother J.C. leaves The Prime Movers Blues Band (he stopped playing for a while to become Grande Ballroom's master of cerimonies, MC-5's roadie, WKNR-FM's disc-jokey and all around scenester under the names of 'The Oracle Ramus' or 'Reverend J.C. Crawford', at least until Sunday, September 10, 1972, when he plays drums again as "guest" with The Mojo Boogie Band at the annual 'Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival', held at the Otis Spann Memorial Field from September 8 to 10 (he was also the master of cerimonies of the entire 3-days event); he became Mojo's official drummer shortly thereafter and played with them for three years before retired from the music scene, and currently he's living down south and raised Dobermans and trains dogs). Anyway, he was replaced in the band by a local drummer named Martin 'Marty' Katon (b. Tuesday, September 17, 1946, Flint, Genesee County, MI), who had also a room at the 'Prime Movers House' during his tenure with them.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #12 (OCTOBER ?, 1967 - FEBRUARY 1968 (?))
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Ilene Silverman
4) Marty Katon drums
The Prime Movers Blues Band's ad, 1967/68
Friday, October 27, 1967: 'Dance Concert In Honor Of The Great Pumpkin', Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River at Beverly, 1 Block South Of Joy Road, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band opened (unbilled) for MC-5 and The Rationals. The show, from 8:30pm to 1:00am, was promoted by Uncle Russ Presents In Detroit.
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Friday, November 17 - Saturday, November 18, 1967: 'After Hours', The Fifth Dimension, 216 West Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers and other groups played after hours shows at the Fifth Dimensions from 1:30pm to 4:30am. By the way, after that, they were too blown open to sleep, so dawn often would find them having a big meal at an all-night restaurant of South University Street in Ann Arbor.
The Michigan Daily (November 17, 1967)
Sunday, December 31, 1967: Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River at Beverly, 1 Block South Of Joy Road, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
'Prime Movers' (as they were billed on the gig poster) opened for MC-5, The Apostles, and Billy C and The Sunshine.
Friday, January 19 - Saturday, January 20, 1968: 'After Hours', The Fifth Dimension, 216 West Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers and other groups played after hours shows at the Fifth Dimensions from 1:30pm to 4:00am. By the way, after that, they were too blown open to sleep, so dawn often would find them having a big meal at an all-night restaurant of South University Street in Ann Arbor.
The Michigan Daily (January 19, 1968)
Friday, January 26 - Saturday, January 27, 1968: 'After Hours', The Fifth Dimension, 216 West Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers and other groups played after hours shows at the Fifth Dimensions from 1:30pm to 4:00am. By the way, after that, they were too blown open to sleep, so dawn often would find them having a big meal at an all-night restaurant of South University Street in Ann Arbor.
The Michigan Daily (January 26, 1968)
Friday, February 2 - Saturday, February 3, 1968: 'After Hours', The Fifth Dimension, 216 West Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers and other groups played after hours shows at the Fifth Dimensions from 1:30pm to 4:00am. By the way, after that, they were too blown open to sleep, so dawn often would find them having a big meal at an all-night restaurant of South University Street in Ann Arbor.
The Michigan Daily (February 2, 1968)
February 1968 (?)
The Prime Movers Blues Band fired Marty Katon (he later played with Strawberry Alarm Clock in 1968-69, before retired from the music business to become a professional painter after earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio (he actually recently also returned to play drums with a rock band called Hellvis)). Marty, like Tom Ralston before him, was a good drummer, a nice guy and all, but he could not play the blues, so he played very, very few gigs before the band fired him exactly. "Our stuff was NOT easy to learn", Michael Erlewine recalls, "People think the blues is easy; it is not, and our tunes, like Paul Butterfield's, were often very worked out".
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #13 (FEBRUARY 1968 (?) - APRIL 1968 (?))
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Ilene Silverman
4) Phillip Erlewine drums
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Ilene Silverman
4) Phillip Erlewine drums
Friday, February 16 - Saturday, February 17, 1968: 'After Hours', The Fifth Dimension, 216 West Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers and other groups played after hours shows at the Fifth Dimensions from 1:30pm to 4:00am. By the way, after that, they were too blown open to sleep, so dawn often would find them having a big meal at an all-night restaurant of South University Street in Ann Arbor.
The Michigan Daily (February 17, 1968)
March 1968 (?)
The Prime Movers Blues Band were filmed while they wandered around Ann Arbor by some of their female fans.
Friday, March 8 - Saturday, March 9, 1968: 'Sixth Ann Arbor Film Festival', Architecture And Design Auditorium, University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The festival was presented by The Cinema Guild and Dramatic Arts Center in cooperation with Cinema II and Challenge Lecture Series. The Prime Movers played from 6:00pm to 7:00pm each day.
The Michigan Daily (March 9, 1968)
Friday, March 22, 1968: 'A Dance Concert', Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band was billed as ‘Prime Movers’ on the gig poster designed by Michael Erlewine (see below). Soul Remains were also on the bill. One show, from 9:00pm to 2:00am. By the way, this was supposedly the one and only gig the band did with Phillip Erlewine on drums.
Tuesday, March 26, 1968: 'Kids' Benefit Concert for The Children's Community School', The Canterbury House, 330 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan , Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show, started at 8:30pm. Also on the bill: Ron Brooks Jazz Trio, Random Canyon Civic Betterment Association.
The Michigan Daily (March 21, 1968)
April 1968 (?)
The Prime Movers Blues Band fired Phillip Erlewine (he knew nothing of their material, he had no chops, he, like Ron Asheton before him, never knew or learned the songs) and replaced him with a local black drummer named Roosevelt 'Shorty' McGaughy.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #14 (APRIL 1968 (?) - NOVEMBER 1968 (?))
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Ilene Silverman
4) Shorty McGaughy drums
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Ilene Silverman
4) Shorty McGaughy drums
Thursdays, unknown dates, 1968: The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Friday, May 24, 1968: Stockwell Hall, University of Michigan campus, 324 Observatory Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show, from 8:30pm to 12:30pm.
Friday, July 19 or Saturday, July 20, 1968 (?): 'Ann Arbor Street Fair', 215 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Ann Arbor Street Fair was an event with live music on the streets of Ann Arbor sometimes twice a day. Also appeared on different streets: Billy C. and The Sunshine, Charging Rhinoceros of Soul, House of Joseph, Mike Koda Corp.
The Michigan Daily (July 16, 1968)
The Prime Movers Blues Band #14, Ann Arbor Street Fair, 215 South State Street, Ann Arbor, July 19 or 20, 1968 (?) - from left: Michael Erlewine, Roosevelt 'Shorty' McGaughy, Ilene Silverman, and Dan Erlewine.
Saturday, September 14, 1968: 'Lawn Dance', Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity House, University of Michigan campus, 1923 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
A fraternity dance party from 8:30pm to 12:30am.
The Michigan Daily (September 13, 1968)
Friday, September 27 - Saturday, September 28, 1968: 'An Autumn Celebration', Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band was billed as 'The Prime Movers Blues Band' on the gig poster designed by Michael Erlewine (see below). One show a day, from 8:00pm to 2:00am.
Tuesday, October 8, 1968: Michigan League Ballroom, University of Michigan campus, 911 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The show, which started at 7:30pm, was promoted by Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority presents.
The Michigan Daily (October 6, 1968)
Friday, October 25, 1968: 'Annual University of Michigan Homecoming Parade', flatbed truck, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Part of The Prime Movers Blues Band's performance was filmed by their fans from the roof of Circle Books, a complete occult bookstore located at 215 South State Street, and opened that same year by Michael and Dan Erlewine's brother Stephen Thomas (Michael also helped to design and build it physically and he ended up calculating most of the astrology charts for customers that shopped there).
The Michigan Daily (October 25, 1968)
November 1968 (?)
Ilene Silverman and Shorty McGaughy leaves The Prime Movers Blues Band, and were replaced by an unknown drummer and Erlewine's family friend Jay Edwards on bass, formerly of The Spiders with Dan Erlewine.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #15 (NOVEMBER 1968 (?) - EARLY 1969)
1) Michael Erlewine
2) Dan Erlewine
3) Jay Edwards bass, and sometimes guitar
4) ? drums
1) Michael Erlewine
2) Dan Erlewine
3) Jay Edwards bass, and sometimes guitar
4) ? drums
The Prime Movers Blues Band #15, from left: Michael Erlewine, ?, Dan Erlewine, and Jay Edwards
November - December 1968: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band played here weekly.
Sunday, December 29, 1968: Something Different, Northwestern Highway at Franklin Road, Southfield, Oakland County, Michigan (The Prime Movers cancelled?)
The Prime Movers Blues Band were apparently advertised to opened for Van Morrison tonight, although according to Michael Erlewine his band never opened for the legendary singer. "I love Van Morrison", Michael recalls, "and would sure has hell remember seeing him in person, much less opening for him."
1968
Michael Erlewine played harmonica as sessionman on The Bob Seger System's song 'Down Home', that was released a year later on the band's debut album, 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man'.
Early 1969
Dan Erlewine quit The Prime Movers Blues Band. He will play with The Jeweltones, Sam Lay's Mojo Workers, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, Vin & Earl - The Country Cousins, and many others, and currently he made his living as a guitar repairman and builder (he opened his first repair shop, Erlewine Instruments, back in the fall of '69). The band, now led by the last surviving original member Michael Erlewine, continued in different forms all the way to 1971.
THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #16, #17, #18, etc. (EARLY 1969 - JUNE 1971)
1) Michael Erlewine
2) Jay Edwards
3) Garby Leon piano
4) Mick McCormick bass
5) ? sax
6) ? trombone
7) ? drums
7) ??????? and many, many more
1) Michael Erlewine
2) Jay Edwards
3) Garby Leon piano
4) Mick McCormick bass
5) ? sax
6) ? trombone
7) ? drums
7) ??????? and many, many more
1969/70/71: Blue Note (or some 'Blue' name), Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
"One time we played in Grand Rapids at the Blue Note (or some 'Blue' name)," Michael Erlewine remembered, "and when we drove up there was this huge sign that read 'The Prime Movers: The Junior Walker Music!'. This was a black bar, and we did not know one song. We ran out and bought some records. We knew and loved the music, but never played it before. We had horns then. I believe a sax and trombone."
June 1971
The Prime Movers Blues Band disbanded and Michael Erlewine starts to play solo piano/voice every Monday night at the Odyssey, a bar located at 208 West Huron Street in Ann Arbor, as 'Michael Erlewine of the Prime Movers Blues Band' or as 'Michael Erlewine Ann Arbor Heart Song'. Later he teamed up again with his brother Dan and in January 1973 they performed together as a duo under the name of the 'Erlewine Brothers' at the Mr. Flood's Party, a bar located on 120 West Liberty Street in Ann Arbor. However, soon after he disappeared from the music scene to become a full-time astrologer, photographer, TV host, and internet entrepreneur who founded, among others, 'All-Music Guide' (now known as 'AllMusic') in 1991.
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