The Prime Movers Blues Band

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This day-by-day diary of The Prime Movers’ live, studio, broadcasting and private activities is the result of three 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, Ilene Silverman, Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton (RIP), Jeff Gold, David Dann, Mark Naftalin, Peggy McVickar, Steve Mackay, Ross Hannan, Corry Arnold, Martin Katon, Denis Donnelly, Michael Katon, Ron Domilici, Mike Delbusso, Splatt Gallery, Andrew Sacks/SaxPix.com, Tom Copi, Alan Clarke, Michael Ochs, Frank Uhle, Fifth Estate, Detroit Free Press, The Varsity News, Berkeley Barb, and Ann Arbor Sun.

IN THE BEGINNING: THE ERLEWINE BROTHERS
In 1965, the Prime Movers from Ann Arbor proved that white boys could play the blues. Where many of their Michigan contemporaries played straight, frat-house rock ‘n’ roll, the Prime Movers were a blues band. It doesn’t matter how many gigs they played in the teen circuit and fraternities just to… you know… “pay the bills.” They never lost their dignity. They stayed true to the code. They were blues purists all the way, inspired first by classic Chicago blues and then by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the first and best white blues band in America. “And the Prime Movers were the second!,” once exlaimed the great late Paul Butterfield himself. “The band became our baby,” explains Michael Erlewine, the visionary man who started it all. “At some point, something inside me had stirred and I wanted to express it. I wanted to push this inner feeling I had. I was pushing the idea of a new kind of music and band, and my younger brother Dan like the idea. 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.” Born as John Michael Erlewine and Ralph Daniel Erlewine in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Friday, July 18, 1941 and on Saturday, September 9, 1944, respectively, the brothers moved to Ann Arbor in 1952, along with their parents, Ralph Leroy Erlewine (b. April 24, 1917, Coffeeville, Kansas – d. December 24, 1988, Big Rapids, Michigan) and Phyllis Anne Carey (b. March 5, 1917, Cleveland, Ohio - d. November 17, 1990, Big Rapids, Michigan), and their younger brothers Robert Stephen, known as Steve (b. 1946), and Phillip Andres, known as Phil. (Another brother, the last one, named Thomas James, known as Tom, was born after they moved to Ann Arbor). In the fall of 1958, after flunked the junior year, Michael had to repeat it at Ann Arbor High School. Then, for his senior year in the fall of 1959, he moved to another local school, Pioneer High. However, during the spring semester of 1960, he dropped out without graduating and by October of that year hitchhiked out west to Los Angeles, California. “I visited Venice Beach and Santa Monica,” recalls Michael. Meanwhile, in Ann Arbor, his brother Dan attended Ann Arbor High for his freshman and sophomore years (1958-60), and then moved to St. Thomas High School for his junior and senior years (1960-62). In the fall of 1961, after returned home, “I was accepted to the local University of Michigan, a hard school to get into even with no high school diploma,” recalls Michael, “perhaps because they saw something in me. And I went to the U of M as a freshman, but quite three weeks later, to the sorrow of my parents, because it to me was no more interesting than high school. I wanted to out in the world rubbing shoulders with reality.” During the three weeks he attended U-M, Michael became a member of the Folklore Society and, as a 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. It was at that point that Michael hitchhiked with a young Bob Dylan and travelled what was called the “folk circuit,” a route that extended from Cambridge to New York City to Ann Arbor to Madison and on to Berkeley, California. Michael could see that unlike the folk revival, the blues did not need revival because it was alive and well in most larger cities, perhaps separated by a racial curtain. “In 1964, I spent a year in Berkeley, a city that was alive to all kinds of things that Ann Arbor knew little about it,” he recalls. “I went out there to study with a brilliant professor and ended up enraptured by the phantasmagoria that was Berkeley one 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 and that was a life changer right there. LSD changed my life forever, not by altering my brain as many feared, but altering how I saw 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,” he continues. “While there I was assistant manager at Discount Records on Telegraph Avenue, and learning a lot about music, especially classical music.” Meanwhile, in Ann Arbor, Dan started working at the city’s first McDonald’s during the summer of 1962. He also started playing guitar and soon formed a rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm ‘n’ blues band called the Spiders, along with his former Ann Arbor High schoolmates Jay Edwards (b. 1944) on vocals and Wurlitzer electric piano, and Brian Jones (b. 1944) on drums, plus Michael Wynn, aka ‘Spider’ (b. June 10, 1943, Ypsilanti, Michigan - d. June 30, 2020, Chelsea, Michigan), on bass, from Whitmore Lake High School. Later, in January 1963, Dan left his work at McDonald’s and started a new job as a salesman and guitar teacher at the Herb David Guitar Studio on State Street, a kind of dream job for him, although it lasted only two years and then he was fired after Herb, the owner, discovered that he had bought a guitar from a “rival” music store! In August 1963, after playing regularly with the Spiders at the Walled Lake Casino during the week and at frat parties on the University of Michigan campus on Fridays and Saturdays, Dan left 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 (b. 1946), a local guitar player formerly of Bob Seger and the Decibels. Pete, a student of the local Ann Arbor High School, joined the band mostly because his older brother John was a friend of Dan’s brother Michael. However, a couple of months later, in October, Dan got pneumonia in boot camp and was discharged. Needless to say, he subsequently returned home and rejoined the Spiders. In April 1964, however, Dan left the band again, along with Jay Edwards, and the Spiders disbanded for good. At that point, 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 get 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). A couple of months or so later, in June or July, 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 flatpicking guitar lesson, the first and only actually, because after that Dan threw away the fingerpicks! 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 his old pal Jay Edwards and to be a guitar teacher. While they were there, Dan, Elliot and Jay went to a local theatre and saw the Beatles’ first full-length feature film, A Hard Day’s Night. That film changed a lot of things according to Dan. A month or so later, in October, Dan got homesick and headed back to Ann Arbor where he would soon reunited with his brother Michael in a new and exciting adventure…

August 1965
In the spring of 1965, Michael returned home too, and he and Dan soon started looking for other musicians to form the Prime Movers. By August, the band was finally put together with Michael on vocals, amplified harmonica, and sometime rhythm guitar, Dan on lead guitar, plus their cousin Robert Thomas ‘R.T.’ Vinopal on bass, Spider Wynn on drums, and Michael’s neighbor Robert Nathan ‘Bob’ Sheff (b. Monday, January 1, 1945, San Antonio, Texas - d. Saturday, December 12, 2020, in his sleep), 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. The fledgling band, who originally played blues, rock ‘n’ roll and even gospel for awhile, was managed by Michael Erlewine himself, who also acted as booking agent. Also at that time Michael and bandmate Bob Sheff started living together in a large two-floor house located at 114 North Division Street, and who later became known as the “Prime Mover House” after Dan and many other future members of the band went to live there too (Michael was the lasted to moved out from that house in early 1972). “We had the entire second floor, which consisted of four bedrooms, a bath, and kitchen,” recalls Michael. “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. By the way, the house still stands today, owned by University of Michigan.

THE PRIME MOVERS #1 (AUGUST 1965 - NOVEMBER 1965)
1) Dan Erlewine lead guitar
2) Michael Erlewine vocals, amplified harmonica, and sometimes rhythm 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

Michigan Daily (January 6, 1966)

November 1965
In November 1965, R.T. Vinopal left the Prime Movers and was replaced by a better bass player (and trombonist) named Jack Dawson, a classical music student at the University of Michigan where he played with a frat band called the Marksmen, and that lived with a friend in an old house at 438 Thompson Street, where the Institute for Social Research is now. Spider Wynn also left the band at the same time because he hated blues and the band was playing more and more of it recently. He was replaced by a drummer named James Newell ‘Jim’ Osterberg (b. Monday, April 21, 1947, Muskegon, Michigan), formerly of a local high school surf combo called the Iguanas. “When Jim first joined our band, we called him ‘Iguana’ for a while, perhaps just to remind him where he came from,” recalls Michael Erlewine. “That soon was shortened to ‘Iggy,’ and that stuck. Jim liked the nickname too.” After joined the band, Iggy and his new bandmate Dan Erlewine went to live together “over a French restaurant called Vieux Carré in what had been their lady's powder room upstairs that had been abandoned,” said Iggy Pop in 2016 on Jeff Gold’s book Total Chaos - The Story Of The Stooges / As Told by Iggy Pop. “It had a large area to powder your nose and relax, and a smaller area with three bathroom stalls. It was the building [where Herb David Guitar Studio was located], and the guy had rented put the whole second floor and he had his guitar store up there, his music store, and he had this extra space so he rented it to Dan and me. And that's how we lived and that was on State Street, which was about four blocks over the Prime Movers' house.” By the way, when Iggy joined the band, where he also played tambourine sometime and lead vocals once in a while mainly on the cover of Bo Diddley’s ‘I’m A Man,’ 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) / THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #1 (DECEMBER 1965 - MARCH 1966)
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, Jim Osterberg, Michael Erlewine, Dan Erlewine, and Jack Dawson

The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 66 - from left: Bob Sheff, Jim Osterberg, Michael Erlewine, Jack Dawson, and Dan Erlewine

The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Bob Sheff, Jim 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, Jim Osterberg, and Bob Sheff

The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Bob Sheff, Jack Dawson, Jim Osterberg, Dan Erlewine, ? (unknown friend), and Michael Erlewine

The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Jim Osterberg, Jack Dawson, Dan Erlewine, Bob Sheff, and Michael Erlewine

The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Jim Osterberg, Jack Dawson, Bob Sheff, Michael Erlewine, and Dan Erlewine

The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Jim Osterberg, Jack Dawson, Bob Sheff, Dan Erlewine, and Michael Erlewine

Michael and Dan Erlewine, 1965 or 1966

Jim Osterberg, 1965 or 1966

The Prime Movers #2, 1965 or 1966 - from left: Dan Erlewine, Jack Dawson, and Bob Sheff

Michael Erlewine in the 60s

Dan Erlewine, 1965 or 1966

Dan and Michael Erlewine, 1965 or 1966

Dan Erlewine, 1965 or 1966

December 1965
In December 1965, the band headed to the near Detroit after they heard that their idols, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, would have play at a local club called The Chess Mate. The two groups eventually became friends and, inspired and largest influenced by Butterfield’s Chicago blues-styled music, the Prime Movers became in an instant the Prime Movers Blues Band.

Friday, January 28 - Saturday, January 29, 1966: The Ark (aka Ark Coffee House), First Presbyterian Church House (aka Hill House), 1421 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
One show each day, from 8:30pm to 12:30am.

Michigan Daily (January 27, 1966)

Michigan Daily (January 28, 1966)

Michigan Daily (January 26, 1966)

Michael Erlewine and Jim Osterberg at The Ark, Ann Arbor, 1966

Jack Dawson and Jim Osterberg at The Ark, Ann Arbor, 1966

Michael Erlewine (possibly) at The Ark, Ann Arbor, 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 #1 at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966 - from left: Bob Sheff, Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Dan Erlewine, and Jim Osterberg

The Prime Movers Blues Band #1 at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Bob Sheff, Michael Erlewine, and Dan Erlewine

Michael and Dan Erlewine at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966

Dan Erlewine at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966

Jim Osterberg at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966

Bob Sheff at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966

Jack Dawson at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966

Jack Dawson and Michael Erlweine at the Daniel's Den, Saginaw, 1966

1966: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Depot House was a long-term gig for the band. They played there on-and-off for two years and they put on light shows, had lots of drummers sitting on, and it was kind of a home for them for a while.

The Prime Movers Blues Band #1, Depot House, Ann Arbor, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Bob Sheff, Michael Erlewine, Jim Osterberg, and Dan Erlewine

1966
It was around January ’66 that the band attempted to hitched their wagon to the stars after they joined the A2 Productions, a local management company run by the late producer Hugh ‘Jeep’ Holland, along with Max J. Goldman and Peter M. Andrews. The Prime Movers joined a roster that included other local up-and-comiong bands such as the Rationals, the Chosen Few (featuring James Williamson, Ron Asheton and Scott Richardson), the Fugitives (featuring Gary and Glenn Quackenbush), and the Pleasure Seekers (an all-girl band led by the not-yet famous Suzi Quatro). 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. Later that same year, the band attempted again to “brush with fame” when a subsidiary of Motown Records, the legendary Detroit-based record company who played an important role in the racial integration of popular music as an African-American-owned label, courted them to join them as a “white band who played black music.” So, Motown representatives 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 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. (That same year the label tried to do the same with the Mynah Birds, a Canadian band which featured the not-yet famous Rick James and Neil Young, but it still didn’t work).

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, February 18, 1966: Mother's, Ann Arbor Armory, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers (as they were advertised) opened for a local all-girl band called The Pleasure Seekers. One show, from 8:30pm to 12 midnight.

Friday, March 4, 1966: Mother's, Ann Arbor Armory, 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. The latter were a vocal group so the Prime Movers backed them up that night after their own set. (Curiously, Iggy Osterberg had already backed the Shangri-Las a year earlier with the Iguanas). 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

Bob Sheff, Mother's, Ann Arbor, 1966

Wednesday, March 9, 1966: 'Fourth Ann Arbor Film Festival', Architecture And Design Auditorium, University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band appeared at the “Fourth Ann Arbor Film Festival,” held in the University of Michigan’s Architecture And Design Auditorium and presented by The Cinema Guild and Dramatic Arts Center in cooperation with Cinema II and Challenge Lecture Series. The Prime Movers were there to present their own film (No) Peace in the Valley. As reported by Peter Bickelmann in The Michigan Daily (March 10): “The film showed a lot of overexposed shots of Ann Arbor (in color) together with occasional abstract moving patterns, like an oscilloscope on LSD. The sound track was provided by the Prime Movers themselves plus a prerecorded tape. The music, even from the second row, was imaginative and continually interesting. I suspect that I enjoyed the images on the screen because they were of a familiar place seen from unfamiliar angles, but this is not grudging praise: ‘(No) Place in the Valley’ was very enjoyable, in sad contrast to the rest of the lot.”

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
The band played, supported by a jazz orchestra called Symphony In Swing, at the “Primavera Annual Spring Semi-Formal Dance,” held at the South Quadrangle, 600 East Madison Street, Ann Arbor. The dance, which lasted from 9pm to 1am, was presented by South, East, West Quads, Markley Hall and IHA.

The Michigan Daily (March 12, 1966)

Friday, March 25 - Saturday, March 26, 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.

The Michigan Daily (March 24, 1966)

The Michigan Daily (March 25, 1966)

The Michigan Daily (March 26, 1966)

Michael Erlewine at (possibly) The Canterbury House, Ann Arbor, 1966

Jack Dawson and Michael Erlewine at (possibly) The Canterbury House, Ann Arbor, 1966

March 1966
In March 1966, Iggy introduced to the band a good friend of him named Ronald Franklin ‘Ron’ Asheton Jr. (b. Saturday, July 17, 1948, Washington D.C. - d. Tuesday, January 6, 2009, Ann Arbor, of a heart attack). Ron was an aspiring bass player but “I hadn’t really learned how to play bass yet, I could just kinda halfass play,” he recalled. However, the band loved him, so they let him play tambourine with them and even gave him a nickname, ‘Javalina.’ “He was young, more like a mascot, a friend, and a groupie (in the best way),” recalls Michael Erlewine.

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #2 (MARCH 1966 - APRIL 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg
6) Ron Asheton (aka Javalina) tambourine

Friday, April 8, 1966: Mother's, Ann Arbor Armory, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan

The Michigan Daily (April 8, 1966)

The Prime Movers Blues Band #2, Mother's, Ann Arbor, April 1966 (?) - from left: Jack Dawson, Ron Asheton, Michael Erlewine, and Dan Erlewine

The Prime Movers Blues Band #2, Mother's, Ann Arbor, April 8, 1966 (?) - from left: ? (unknown friend), ? (unknown friend), ? (unknown friend), Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, ? (unknown friend), Ron Asheton, Dan Erlewine, and Jim Osterberg

The Prime Movers Blues Band #2, Mother's, Ann Arbor, April 1966 (?) - from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Jim Osterberg, Dan Erlewine, and Bob Sheff

The Prime Movers Blues Band #2, Mother's, Ann Arbor, April 1966 (? )- from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Jim Osterberg, Dan Erlwine, and Bob Sheff

The Prime Movers Blues Band #2, Mother's, Ann Arbor, April 1966 (?) - from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, and Jim Osterberg

April 1966
After few rehearsals and a couple of gigs, “I got fired,” recalled Ron Asheton. “But I learned a lot in the Prime Movers, I learned all my blues progressions.” “Ron had just started playing and perhaps he didn’t feel comfortable playing publicly, so maybe this is why he didn’t stay long,” adds Michael Erlewine. “Ron might have played something somewhere, but he did not know the songs. He 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.” Anyway, Ron eventually learned how to play the bass and soon joined as bass player another local band called the Chosen Few, and then a year later, he and Iggy formed the Stooges and… the rest is history.

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #3 (aka #1) (APRIL 1966 - JULY 1966)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Iggy Osterberg

1966: 'WTAC-AM Record Hop', Mt. Holly, 13536 Dixie Highway at Blank Lake Road, Holly, Oakland County, Michigan
Mt. Holly was a popular ski area located at 13536 Dixie Highway at Blank Lake Road in Holly, just south of Flint. The area featured a large lodge which had remained unused during the off-season (April to October), at least until WTAC-AM deejay and program director, Bob Dell, decided that the lodge might be the perfect venue for the so-called “record hops.”

The Prime Movers Blues Band #1 at the Mt. Holly, Holly, 1966 - from left: Jack Dawson, Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, and Dan Erlewine

Michael and Dan Erlewine at Mt. Holly, 1966

Jim Osterberg at Mt. Holly, 1966

Michael Erlewine at Mt. Holly, 1966

Jim Osterberg at Mt. Holly, 1966

Bob Sheff at Mt. Holly, 1966

Jack Dawson at Mt. Holly, 1966

Dan Erlewine at Mt. Holly, 1966

April/May 1966: Incrowd Blues Club, Yorkville, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
In the spring of 1966, the Prime Movers increased their popularity playing outside Michigan. In April or May, they headed north to Canada to play for a couple of weeks in Yorkville, Toronto’s original musical enclave of the ‘60s. There, they played at the Incrowd Blues Club and at other unknown venues.

Friday, May 13, 1966: Mother's, Ann Arbor Armory, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band opened for the famous African-American soul singing group The Contours, and also backed them up. One show, from 8:30pm to 12 midnight.

The Michigan Daily (May 12, 1966)

May ??, 1966
The band headed to Chicago, Illinois, for a scouting trip, the first of many, to a city that was embraced by blues fans all over the country as the “home of the blues.” “We went there to see Little Walter, Big Walter, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and all the blues greats playing live,” recalls Michael Erlewine. “We had worked since the beginning of our career to study and play the blues, as best as we could. It fell to us to be in charge of feeding and serving “beverages” to the blues entertainers, backstage. I was lucky enough to be selected to interview as many of the performers as I could, using a simple audio recorder. My brother Dan also used that same simple audio recorder to recorded, with my help, several shows of our idols, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, when they played at the Poor Richard’s [May 12-22]. Then we gave the tapes to Butterfield’s keyboardist Mark Naftalin that had the tapes restored.”

May or June 1966: Mother Blues, 1305 North Wells Street, Old Town District, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
It was supposedly during that first Chicago’s scouting trip in May or June, that the Prime Movers also played in one of the most famous nightclub of the city, Mother Blues, located at 1305 North Wells Street, in the Old Town District.

Sunday, June 19, 1966: 'Grand Opening!', The Schwaben Inn, 215 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
On Sunday, June 19, the band returned home just in time to play that night (from 9pm to 2am) at the grand opening of The Schwaben Inn, a new bar located at 215 South Ashley Street. Forty years later, Michael and Dan’s younger brother Steve dug a bunch of old moldy reel-to-reel tapes of the Prime Movers out of his basement, and one of them was taped at the Schwaben Inn supposedly that opening night. The tape contained four blues covers: Little Johnny Taylor’s ‘Part Time Love,’ Junior Wells ‘Ships On The Ocean,’ Muddy Waters’ ‘Two Trains Running,’ and Bo Diddley’s ‘I’m A Man.’ The latter, which featured their drummer Iggy Osterberg on lead vocals, was released originally in 2008 in the UK compilation, A-Square (Of Course): The Story of Michigan's Legendary A-Square Records, then in 2016 worldwide as topside of the picture-sleeve single, I’m A Man / Orange Driver, which was included in the limited-edition (400 copies) of the book Total Chaos: The Story of The Stooges / As Told by Iggy Pop, and finally on November 29, 2919, on the band’s first posthumous album, The Prime Movers Blues Band.

vinyl single (2016)

CD compilation (2008)

LP front cover

CD compilation (2008)

LP back cover

Monday, June 20 (?) - October 1?, 1966: The Schwaben Inn, 215 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Anyway, the show was a blast, the bar was packed, and so the Prime Movers were subsequently booked to play again there regularly, from 9pm to 2am, initially every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and later every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and (sometime) Saturday. “When we played there, both college students and townies came to hear us,” recalls Michael Erlewine, “and fights between the two groups would break out in the middle of our set almost every night (once there were like nine cop cars there to break one up), and we would cower behind our equipment or just keep playing!”

The Michigan Daily (September 8, 1966)

July 1966
The band added a rhythm guitar player named Jerry Lewis (not that Jerry Lewis), inspired by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s classic six-piece lineup with two guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals/harmonica.

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

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, Jim 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, Jim 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 Jim Osterberg

Jim 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.

The Prime Movers Blues Band #4 at The Living End, Detroit, July or August 1966 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Bob Sheff, Jim Osterberg, Jerry Lewis, Jack Dawson, and Dan Erlewine

Sunday, August 7, 1966: Elks Club, 2115 Cass Avenue at Elizabeth Street, downtown Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
One show, started at 4:00pm.

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

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, Jim Osterberg, and Jack Dawson

Thursdays, unknown dates, 1966: The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band played here every Thursday night from 9:30pm to 2am for a couple of years (and for something like $35 a night for the entire band). Michael Erlewine also designed the posters which promoted those gigs around town. “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!,” points out Michael.

Thursday, September 1, 1966: Mother’s Young Adult Nite Club, The Ann Arbor Armory, 223 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Also on the bill: The Chosen Few. One show, from 8:00pm to 12 midnight.

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)

The Michigan Daily (September 23, 1966)

September 1966
In September, Craig Johnson left the band and the Prime Movers returned to its original 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

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.

The Varsity News (October 7, 1966)

Ann Arbor News (October 18, 1966)

October 1?, 1966
Iggy Osterberg left the band and relocated for a while in Chicago to met his idol Sam Lay, the original drummer of the Butterfield Blues Band, and to play a couple of gigs as a backup drummer. A year later, Iggy returned to Ann Arbor, formed the Stooges (as Iggy Stooge and then as Iggy Pop), and… the rest is history. Meanwhile, the Prime Movers replaced him with Lynn Thomas ‘Tom’ Ralston (b. Monday, June 9, 1947, Ypsilanti), a veteran drummer 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

October 1? - November 1966: The Schwaben Inn, 215 South 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 - Six Screaming Bands In An All-Out Mind-Blast! - Six Band Freak-Out - Total Enviroment Psychedelic Dance Concert', Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River at Beverly, 1 Block South Of Joy Road, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Those shows were presented by Uncle Russ (Gibb) Travel Agency and lasted from 8pm to 1am each day. The Prime Movers were on the bill along with MC-5, The Southbound Freeway, The Wha?, The Gang, plus light show by the High Society.

The Varsity News (October 18, 1966)

November 1966
In November, the band fired Tom Ralston because “he was a good drummer, technically, but he could not play the blues,” reflects Michael Erlewine, “so he played very, very few gigs before we fired him.” Tom moved to New York City to play with Charlie Musselwhite, the Barry Golberg Blues Band, Arlo Guthrie, Jake Holmes, and Spanky and the Our Gang, and then to Berkeley 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. To replace him, the Prime Movers hired 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 sax 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 were the very first white blues band to added a horn section, or at least one horn player, even before the Butterfield Blues Band who followed their path only months later.

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #8 (NOVEMBER 1966 - JANUARY 1967 (?))
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.

January 1967 (?)
At the dawn of the new year, Lenny Cole left and the band returned again to its five-piece lineup.

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #9 (JANUARY 1967 (?) - FEBRUARY 1967 (?))
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Bob Sheff
4) Jack Dawson
5) Brother J.C.

February 1967 (?)
A month or so later, around February 1967, Jack Dawson also left the band and went to play with the Siegel-Schwall Band for several years. The Prime Movers replaced him with a female bass player named Ilene Silverman (b. Monday, October 22, 1945, Detroit, Michigan). “One of the big decisions I had to make when I started college at the University of Michigan was a major,” recalls Ilene. “I decided that I wanted to know how finger-picking worked. I had a goal to learn ‘Wildwood Flower.’ I ended up at the Herb David Guitar studio where I bought a guitar and was assigned Dan Erlewine as a guitar teacher. So, I was around as the Prime Movers were getting underway and a couple of friends and I spent a lot of time going to gigs and getting interested in the blues. When Jack Dawson left, it was Michael or Dan who came up with the idea that I could be their new bass player! I did not own a bass guitar, so it was off to buy a Fender Jazz Bass - which was entirely too large for me - but it was thought that that was the right instrument for a blues band - and I learned to play bass guitar. I had a couple of weeks to learn the set lists - and drop my ceramics class because keeping hands wet in clay and building calluses playing the bass did not go together.” “Did I sit back and think about whether or not it was OK for a girl to be a bass player? No,” she adds. “Did I think it was unusual to get the opportunity? Yes, but I totally enjoyed it! And ‘bass player’ was a good position for me. Can’t sing, can’t dance…Not flashy. Just support the others and keep it going. Good role for me!” “Ilene was a fine bass player, and back then, you didn’t see women playing bass with a blues band,” explains Michael Erlewine. “I never saw even one, other than Ilene, not back in 1967. Ilene was also a loyal and true member of the Prime Movers, always right there and she did not complain. She was one of us.” “And I just loved you all like totally completely,” replies Ilene. “Michael, you generated something really important musically. You know, Ann Arbor just wouldn’t have been the same without you and Dan championing the blues. And actually… you helped keep it alive just in general, huh? Not just for Ann Arbor. Good deal!” “By the way, about being a female bass player, actually there was one other female bass player around whose name I’ve forgotten,” points out Ilene, “and we were supposed to be rivals just because we were both women… I could never figure out why we were supposed to be in competition, but I never got to know her. I put that down to my innate shyness rather than fear of meeting the competition.” “The other way, being the female, played out,” she continues. “Since it was decided that since I was incapable of packing and unpacking all the band’s equipment, that I should do the dishes for everyone. Apparently, there was some thought that women enjoyed doing dishes, housecleaning… Wow! That was NOT fun! I finally got up enough nerve to ask to be let out of doing ALL the dishes and promised that I could help schlep equipment! Why couldn’t I do a better job of framing up what was going on? Maybe because it was all happening in 1967… maybe just a bit before we all had the vocabulary to use a feminist lens. I just knew that I didn’t like doing dishes.”

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #10 (FEBRUARY 1967 (?) - AUGUST 1967)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Brother J.C.
4) Bob Sheff
5) Ilene Silverman bass

Thursday, February (?) - Sunday, August 27 (?), 1967: The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The new lineup soon started to play as house band at The Clint’s Club (almost) every week, from Thursday to Sunday, until late August. Some of those shows were recorded and at least one reel-to-reel tape survived since then in Steve Erlewine’s basement. The tape included seven blues covers: Jimmy Rogers’ ‘Walking By Myself,’ Elmore James’ ‘Look on Yonder Wall,’ Eddie Burns’ ‘Orange Driver,’ B.B. King’s ‘Rock Me Baby,’ Muddy Waters’ ‘Walking Thru The Park,’ Little Walters’ ‘You Better Watch Yourself,’ and Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s ‘All These Blues,’ plus an untitled blues instrumental. The covers, minus the untitled instrumental, were released on November 29, 2019, on the band’s first posthumous album, The Prime Movers Blues Band. Eddie Burns’ ‘Orange Driver’ was also released in 2016 as flipside of the picture-sleeve single, I’m A Man / Orange Driver, which was included in the limited-edition (400 copies) of the book Total Chaos: The Story of The Stooges / As Told by Iggy Pop.

March 9-12, 1967 ad

The Prime Movers Blues Band #10, 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)

Dan Erlewine at The Clin't Club, Ann Arbor, 1967

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

The Michigan Daily (August 29, 1967)

Friday, March 10, 1967: 'Fifth Ann Arbor Film Festival', Architecture And Design Auditorium, University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The Prime Movers Blues Band missed their usual Friday night gig at The Clint's House, to play here from 6:15pm to 7:00pm, and between shows. The festival was presented by The Cinema Guild and the Dramatic Arts Center.

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, started 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.

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.

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".

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.

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)

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
From July to August, the band played (almost) every Sundays at West Park’s Band Shell in Ann Arbor. 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

Dan Erlewine and Ilene Silverman at the Band Shell, West Park, Ann Arbor, Summer 1967

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

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

August 1967
In August, the Prime Movers became a four-piece after original member Bob Sheff left them and wasn’t replaced. Sheff would eventually played 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.

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
In August, the band headed west for another scouting trip, this time to San Francisco, a city that was right in the midst of the infamous Summer of Love. “When we drove our 1966 Dodger van to San Francisco, we let Ilene Silverman bring her boyfriend Harvey with us,” recalls Michael Erlewine, “and all of us, our equipment, and our suitcases, plus Harvey was a tight fit.” “We spent about a month or so there,” he continues, “and we stayed at Electric Flag’s practice room at the Heliport in Sausalito (we slept on the floor!).” It was thanks to the Flag’s leader Michael Bloomfield, an old friend of the band since he was a member of the Butterfield Blues Band, that the Prime Movers were hired to play their first gig in Frisco. In fact, Bloomfield’s band was booked to play at the legendary Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium along with Cream and Gary Burton, plus light show by Dan Bruhns, from August 30 to September 3. However, the Flag’s keyboardist Barry Goldberg was ill so the band cancelled one of those shows and Bloomfield asked the Prime Movers to replaced them at last minute. “After our set, Jack Bruce (Cream’s bass player) said to me, ‘Your bass player is good!’,” recalls Ilene Silverman. “I said, ‘That was me!’ And he said, ‘But you are a girl!’ And that was my big encounter with rock royalty.”

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 advertised only as ‘Prime Movers.’ 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, started at 9:00pm. “We were underfinanced as it turned out,” recalls Ilene Silverman about that San Francisco trip. “We should have had enough liquidity to make it for a couple of months because as I remember we’d audition and people would say ‘we’re booked up for a few weeks, but we can use you eventually.’ Having no money was tough! I remember eating some weird meals - lettuce and white bread. One night we played a set somewhere and the nice people gave us some food - I had a bowl of rice pilaf. I threw up after eating it. Too rich after eating practically nothing. That seemed… unhealthy. Another issue: drug culture. Bands indulged. I never had an objection to drugs - but I didn’t respond well to them. Yes, I did some weed - but that was about it. I tried cocaine twice in my life and both times it just exacerbated my anxiety. No way that people were paying to feel that way! So, I just figured it wasn’t for me. I never tried acid. Alcohol? Same thing. I just didn’t like it. When we got to San Francisco, I remember a bunch of us getting invited to someone’s apartment where our hostess said she wasn’t into marijuana. I said, ‘Me neither!’ thinking that I’d found a kindred soul. But no, it turned out that she was into heroin. No drug use for me? I didn't fit in.”

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. left the Prime Movers and stopped playing drums for five years 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.’ He finally returned to play with the Mojo Boogie Band from 1972 to 1975, but then he retired from the music business for good and went to live down south where he raised Dobermans and trained dogs. Anyway, the band replaced him with a new local drummer named Martin 'Marty' Katon (b. Tuesday, September 17, 1946, Flint, Michigan), 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 (Gibb).

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, from 1:30pm to 4:30am, at the Fifth Dimension, a recently opened club at 216 West Huron Street in Ann Arbor. After those shows, “we were too blown open to sleep,” recalls Michael Erlewine, “so dawn often would find us having a big meal at an all-night restaurant on South University Avenue.”

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 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 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 Michigan Daily (February 2, 1968)

February 1968 (?)
The Prime Movers fired Marty Katon. “Marty, like Tom Ralson before him, was a good drummer, a nice guy and all, but he could not play the blues,” reflects Michael Erlewine, “so he played very, very few gigs before we fired him.” “You know, our stuff was NOT easy to learn,” he continues. “People think the blues is easy; it is not, and our tunes, like Paul Butterfield’s, were oftern very worked out.” Katon 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. (Although in recent years he returned to play with a rock band called Hellvis). Anyway, the band replaced Katon with a new drummer, an aspiring drummer, that was none other than Michael and Dan’s younger brother Phil Erlewine. So now the band featured a lineup with three Erlewine brothers and one female bassist, that’s curious!

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #13 (FEBRUARY 1968 (?) - APRIL 1968 (?))
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Ilene Silverman
4) Phil Erlewine drums

Friday, February 16 - Saturday, February 17, 1968: 'After Hours', The Fifth Dimension, 216 West Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan

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.

Saturday, March 9 - Sunday, March 10, 1968: 'Sixth Ann Arbor Film Festival', Architecture And Design Auditorium, University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The festival was presented by Cinema Guild The Dramatic Arts Center. 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. Soul Remains were also on the bill. One show, from 9:00pm to 2:00am.

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)

Friday, April 5 - Saturday, April 6, 1968: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band was advertised as ‘Prime Movers.’ Also on the bill: Soul Remains. One show, from 9:00pm to 2:00am.

April 1968 (?)
Michael and Dan Erlewine fired their own brother Phil from the band! “He knew nothing of our material,” admits Michael, “he had no chops, he, like Ron Asheton before him, never knew or learned the songs.” The band replaced him with a way better Afro-American drummer named Roosevelt ‘Shorty’ McGaughy. Also around that time Ilene Silverman left the band and was replaced by a male bass player whose name no one remember. “When we got back to Ann Arbor from San Francisco, my main goal was getting a job,” explains Ilene Silverman. “I’d finished up my undergrad degree (major: painting) before we left for San Francisco. Do what? I wanted to stay in Ann Arbor, so I looked for jobs at the university - and got a full-time job as a library assistant at the music library out on North Campus. That was taken as a sign that I wasn’t fully committed to the Prime Movers. The group decided that I owed them the Fender bass as my share of rent. So that was it. I eventually bought another electric bass and played with a couple of other groups off and on until I moved to Tampa, Forida, in 1974, after getting my masters in library science. I should never have left Ann Arbor, but… oh well. I’ve been a reference libration here at the University of Florida ever since.”

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #14 (APRIL 1968 (?) - AUGUST or SEPTEMBER 1968)
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) ? bass
4) Shorty McGaughy drums

The Prime Movers Blues Band #14, 1968 - from left: Dan Erlewine and Roosevelt 'Shorty' McGaughy

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, ?, and Dan Erlewine.

August or September 1968
In the late summer of ‘68, the unnamed bass player left the Prime Movers, and the band replaced him with an old friend and bandmate, Jay Edwards from the Spiders. The band also added a rhythm guitar player named Mike Fogarty, and also around that time Shorty McGaughy also left them and was replaced by a mulatto (half white/half black) drummer named Dave Spann.

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #15 (AUGUST or SEPTEMBER 1968 - NOVEMBER 1968 (?))
1) Dan Erlewine
2) Michael Erlewine
3) Dave Spann drums
4) Jay Edwards bass
5) Mike Fogarty rhythm guitar

Thursdays, unknown dates, 1968: The Clint’s Club, 111 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan

The Prime Movers Blues Band #15, The Clint's Club, Ann Arbor, 1968 - from left: Dan Erlewine and Mike Fogarty

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. 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 house.

The Michigan Daily (October 6, 1968)

Friday, October 25, 1968: 'Annual University of Michigan Homecoming Parade', flatbed truck, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band played on flatbed truck during the “Annual University of Michigan Homecoming Parade.” The Prime Movers performance was even 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 younger brother Steve. “I helped to design and build it physically,” recalls Michael, “and I also ended up calculating most of the astrology charts for customers that shopped there.”

The Michigan Daily (October 25, 1968)

November 1968 (?)
Mike Fogarty left the band and at that point Jay Edwards also played rhythm guitar from time to time.

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #16 (NOVEMBER 1968 (?) - FEBRUARY 1969 (?))
1) Michael Erlewine
2) Dan Erlewine
3) Dave Spann
4) Jay Edwards now also on rhythm guitar

November - December 1968: Depot House, 416 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
The band played here weekly.

The Prime Movers Blues Band #16, Depot House, Ann Arbor, late 1968 - from left: Michael Erlewine, Dave Spann, Dan Erlewine, and Jay Edwards

Saturday, December 28, 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. However, according to Michael Erlewine, his band cancelled because “I love Van Morrison and would sure has hell remember seeing him in person, much less opening for him.”

January 1969
At the dawn of the new year, Michael Erlewine made his record debut when his blues harmonica appeared on The Bob Seger System’s song ‘Down Home,’ which was included in Seger’s debut album Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man released by Capitol Records that month.

February 1969 (?)
Around February 1969, Michael Erlewine’s brother Dan, the man who co-founded the Prime Movers with him three-and-half years earlier, left the band. Dan would eventually played 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). At that point, led by the last surviving original member Michael Erlewine, the Prime Movers continued to play with several different lineups which included at various times Jay Edwards, pianist Garby Leon, bassist Mick McCormick, a sax player, a drummer, a trombonist, and many other musicians whose names no one remember.

THE PRIME MOVERS BLUES BAND #17, #18, #19, etc. (FEBRUARY 1969 (?) - JUNE 1971)
1) Michael Erlewine
2) Jay Edwards
3) Garby Leon piano
4) Mick McCormick bass
5) ? sax
6) ? trombone
7) ? drums
8) ??????? and many, many more

1969/70/71: Blue Note (or some 'Blue' name), Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
Among the gigs played by the Prime Movers during those tumultuos times, there was one “in Grand Rapids at the Blue Note (or some 'Blue' name),” recalls Michael Erlewine, “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
In June 1971, after six amazing and unforgettable years, the Prime Movers disbanded for good and at that point Michael Erlewine started to play solo piano and voice every Monday night at the Odyssey, a bar located at 208 West Huron Street in Ann Arbor, billed 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 Bros. and Their Friends’ or ‘Mike & Dan The Erlewines formerly the Prime Movers,’ at the Mr. Flood's Party, a bar located on 120 West Liberty Street in Ann Arbor. However, soon after Michael retired from the music scene to become a full-time astrologer, photographer, TV host, and internet entrepreneur who founded, among others, the All-Music Guide website (now known as AllMusic) in 1991.