The Quick Change Band Story

<%@ Page Language="C#" %> The Quick Change Band Story

QCB

Country Rock / Southern Rock / Classic Rock

The Quick Change Story:

The Quick Change band formed in 1990. Ron and Craig were playing together for many years in the band Southern Shine, a band local to the Baltimore area. The lead singer moved to Texas in the fall of 1990 and Ron, Craig and bass player Rob started Quick Change. After several jobs as a three piece group and Sue working on lead vocals. Quick Change tried auditioning several musicians who just didn't work out for one reason or another.

Steve and Craig had a long history together, growing up in the same neighborhood, and had played together briefly in a few bands. Craig contacted Steve and asked him if he would be interested in assuming the role of lead vocals with Quick Change. Steve accepted the offer and joined the band in early 1991 as lead vocalist / guitarist after finishing the season with Past Time. The effect was dramatic. Steve’s enthusiasm and passion for Country Rock and his musical talents brought Quick Change to a new level and a more aggressive song list. Rob citing business reasons, left the band in the spring of 1991 and Steve moved over to bass guitar. This is really where Quick Change's story truly begins.

Quick Change played for several months as a 3 piece band and wanting a more versatile and dynamic sound, offered Rich Butcher the job of keyboards in the summer of 1991. Rich’s ability and flexibility on keyboards was yet another dramatic change and exactly what the band wanted. Quick Change captivated audiences with their performances for the next several years from Southern to Western Maryland performing in night clubs, corporate events, dances and weddings.

Rich retired from Quick Change in the spring of 1993 and Quick Change returned to a 3 piece band incorporating midi sequencers to enhance their live sound.

Ron left the group in the fall of 1993 to spend more time with his young children as a newly single parent. Craig departed from Quick Change in the summer of 1993 for personal reasons.

1993 was just a rough year for Quick Change.

Steve, says, “I was determined to keep Quick Change going because I still had lots of good leads and places to play and we / I had put a lot of work into the band with the sequencing right before we broke it up. So I had a plan to keep it going with sequence and put an ad in the paper which Jack Dillard answered. Jack was just coming out of another big country band, wanted to downsize and do the same thing. Jack was a real good guitarist, good lead vocals and great harmony ear. He could get that pedal steel guitar sound that Quick Change was noted for! “

Quick Change performed as a duo with Steve and Jack for about three years when an old friend of Steve’s, Chip, came out of hiding from down OC and landed on his door step. Chip joined Quick Change as guitarist / vocalist and the band, becoming a 3 piece once again, sounded great! The band continued performing this way for quite a number of years.

After a time, Quick Change, wanting the dynamics of live drums, offered the job to Rick Wilkerson from Doc Rogers and the Rock Dodgers. Rick accepted, bringing in his exceptional drumming skills and vocal ability. The band, now a 4 piece once more, played on for a few more years. Then Jack announced he was leaving the group to pursue other musical interests.

Quick Change offered the lead guitar spot to Mark Butcher also of Doc Rogers, and Rich Butcher’s younger brother. Mark added his exceptional guitar skills and vocals to the Quick Change sound. Steve said, “With Mark and Rick it started to sound like Doc Rogers for we were doing a lot of Doc material and we really slowed down on using sequencers. So we asked Chip if he wanted to come with Doc Rogers being as we were doing that band anyway. Chip loved the blues and accepted the offer. So that's where Quick Change was put on hold.” Until……

Ron said, “In the spring of 2010, I was off work and it didn’t look like I would be going back anytime soon. I had been in touch with Craig off and on and he told me he was playing with a Classic Rock band in Southern Md. He was also playing a blues gig on Wednesday night in North Beach so I went down to listen for a bit. When I heard Craig play, he sounded better than ever! I asked him if he had heard from Steve lately.” Craig said, I talk to him once in a while and he was doing good last I heard from him. He’s staying pretty busy with Doc Rogers.” Ron and Craig decided to pay Steve a visit and see if he might be interested in putting Quick Change back together. They found out where Steve was playing and walked in unannounced. Steve was playing bass in the middle of a set and was as thrilled to see his old friends as they were to see him once again. Shortly thereafter, Quick Change was resurrected.

While rehearsing the old song list and adding new material, Quick Change decided that to capture the old sound, they would need to return to a 4 piece band. While auditioning new members, Steve heard that Rusty Hinshaw might be available. Steve and Rusty had worked together in the 70’s performing as a duo and in the 80’s with Past Time. Rusty accepted the position, bringing a wealth of exceptional keyboard, guitar and vocal skills to Quick Change.

It looks like 2010 is a very good year for Quick Change!