Wendy West-Vocals
Elvis Melton-Guitar
Rick Struhar-Keyboards
Gilbert R. Gilbert-Bass
Steve "Larry Gone" Mercado-Drums
Elvis Melton-Guitar
Rick Struhar-Keyboards
Gilbert R. Gilbert-Bass
Steve "Larry Gone" Mercado-Drums
WENDY & THE TWITCH
played some of the early punk and new wave shows in Fresno. I remember seeing them at the Wild Blue Yonder in 1979.
With her blonde hair and cute, impish look we all thought she kinda looked and sounded a little like Debbie Harry of BLONDIE.
They were kind of well-liked and would have gone far with the right breaks.
Rick Struhar-Keyboards had some recollections recently on how Wendy & The Twitch came together:
"The band was fairly short lived. I don't recall recording anything. Played a gig or two at the Wild Blue Yonder. I met Elvis at Fresno City College and we were both taking music classes. I'd go over to his house after class and listen to music. He turned me on to punk. He played the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen and I was blown away. Then came the band. I think they were already doing a few songs, then I joined with the Fender Rhodes and the Roland Synth and it filled out the sound. They were pretty stoked. I didn't know the others, Elvis introduced me. We all got along pretty good. Had fun practices and played a gig or two. Yes, She was cute. That's for sure!"
"The band was fairly short lived. I don't recall recording anything. Played a gig or two at the Wild Blue Yonder. I met Elvis at Fresno City College and we were both taking music classes. I'd go over to his house after class and listen to music. He turned me on to punk. He played the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen and I was blown away. Then came the band. I think they were already doing a few songs, then I joined with the Fender Rhodes and the Roland Synth and it filled out the sound. They were pretty stoked. I didn't know the others, Elvis introduced me. We all got along pretty good. Had fun practices and played a gig or two. Yes, She was cute. That's for sure!"
Wendy performing at Davey Fowler's 1980
Elvis - Guitar and Wendy performing at The Wild Blue Yonder Fresno 1979
Elvis-Guitar, Rick Struhar-Keyboards, Wendy West-Vocals
I don't have any Wendy & the Twitch,
but I do have a live recording of her next project, Altered Features:
but I do have a live recording of her next project, Altered Features:
Recorded on a big stereo boombox cassette deck at "The Bucket" on Fresno State campus 1980
Joceylin and I attempted a band with Wendy and Larry in 1980. June Beard (from NBJ), was on drums
and it was called ALTERED FEATURES. Our one gig I remember was at The Bucket at Fresno State and I
set up my boombox on record at the back of the club to record our set. The interesting thing wasn't the band, we mostly sucked,
but a couple of guys who noticed an unattended tape recorder rolling took it upon themselves to make comments about the band as we played our set.
At the time I was ticked. But, what was I thinking leaving an unattended tape recorder running with lots of drunk guys standing around?
It's funny as hell now. In a thuggish voice: "Hey man......what's up? (chuckle)...I don't know but these guys really suck.....(chuckle chuckle)
jukebox, jukebox, jukebox.....who are these guys?.....I don't know but they sure suck......(chuckle chuckle)"
ALTERED FEATURES did some recording at Fresno City College but shortly thereafter we went our separate ways.
Looking for more info and pics of WENDY & THE TWITCH.
Dale Stewart punksnax@hotmail.com
Looking for more info and pics of WENDY & THE TWITCH.
Dale Stewart punksnax@hotmail.com
Larry Gone and Wendy West 1980