User:Themods1966

The Mods - Toledo, Ohio 1963-1970 (Garage Rock)
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This article is about the 1960's "Garage Rock" band from Toledo, Ohio known as The Mods; as recalled by founding member Larry Smith in July of 2008.

The Mods were a rock n' roll band formed by four teenage friends from Toledo, Ohio and the surrounding suburb of Sylvania, Ohio during the early 1960's. The group practices in their parents garage's and basements just as thousands of other young boys did in the early 1960's.  This form of rock n' roll was soon dubbed Garage Rock.

The Mods original group lineup
The Mods played original songs and covers from the "British Invasion" groups during the 1960's and they performed gigs all over Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. The founding members of the band were:

Terry Smith on lead guitar, harmonica and lead vocals and occassional backup vocals. Larry Smith on bass and lead vocals and occassional backup vocals.

Larry Music on rhythm guitar and backup vocals (yes, Music was his real last name).

Terry Fitzsimmons (original drummer)drafted for the service in 1965.

Fred Jablonski was brought on board in 1965 to play drums, percussion and perform the duties of backup vocals.

For a short time form 1964 to 1965 a classmate of Larry Smith by the name of Michael Matoni played keyboards for the group on a Hammond B3 organ that the teenagers lugged around to all of their gigs.

PECK RECORDS 45-RPM release in 1966
In 1965 The Mods, then known as The Imitations; won the 1965 Battle of The Bands at the Toledo Sports Arena and were awarded the opportunity to record a 45-RPM record. The group chose to record two of their original songs co-written by the Smith brothers.

The Mods are best remembered for their 1966 Peck Records 45-RPM recording co-written by band members and brother's Terry and Larry Smith. The titles of the two songs on the Peck Records 45-RPM were "I GIVE YOU AN INCH (AND YOU TAKE A MILE)" / "YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THINK COMING". The Mods recording soon became a local hit for the group reaching into the top 20 on both AM radio stations in Toledo, WOHO and WTOD.

During this time period (1966) even though they were only teenagers, The Mods auditioned for the owners of the Peppermint Lounge and were hired as the "house band". While playing at the Peppermint Lounge in Toledo, The Mods were afforded the opportunity to play backup for the legendary Chuck Berry. In 1966/1967 The Mods were also on the same concert bill with "The McCoy's" of "Hang On Sloopy" fame, and "The Knickerbockers" who had a hit song titled "Lies" on the radio. The Mods also met members of The Iron Butterfly when the that group performed a concert at the University of Toledo in 1967. After the Butterfly concert both groups ended up going to Rusty's Jazz club in Maumee and they talked and listened to a Jazz trio until the bar closed.

In 1988-1989 The Mods performed a 20-year reunion concert
In the summer of 1988 the original founding members of the band converged at the home of Larry Music in Sylvania, Ohio for a 20 year reunion practice session. This 20 year reunion now found the former teenage boys who had by now grown into men in their early 40's. Most members of the group had not seen each other in 20 plus years and their were a lot of hugs, pats on the back and lots of reminiscing about their early years in the 1960's playing music together as a band.

This first practice session led to weekly practice sessions for three to six months and the group kept busy knocking 20 plus years of rock n' roll rust off of their guitars. Within six month the group had become tight again musically and were ready to play out in public. Word got around to the Vietnam Veterans of Toledo, Ohio who were planning a February 2008 benefit concert which was being hosted by WIOT-FM and the Byrnegate Nite Club in Toledo. The Vietnam Veterans of Toledo invited The Mods to perform a 45 minute set at the benefit concert along with several other Toledo bands. The Mods were one of the highlights of the concert that night. Due to two members of the group passing away suddenly while in their 50's, the remaining members of The Mods put the 1989 final concert up on youtube.com for everyone to enjoy as a tribute to their fallen band members.

The Mods Music lives on thanks to CRYPT RECORDS reissues
During the 1980's and 1990's The Mods 45-RPM was reissued by CRYPT RECORDS on their "Back From The Grave" and "Teenage Shutdown" compilations. Due to the reissues of The Mods music their music is now heard around the world and to a new generation of rock n' rollers. Due to the reissuing of their music The Mods now enjoy somewhat of a cult following as a obscure band from the 1960's.

In 1966-1967 The Mods were selling their 45-RPM single at their gigs for $1.00 per copy. In the year 2007 (41 years afte the release of the record); 12 mint copies of The Mods 45-RPM were discovered by someone in storage in Toledo, Ohio. The 12 mint copies were put up for auction on Ebay and each record sold for between $500.00 to $550.00 per record netting the seller well over $6,000.00 for 12 records.

The Mods do not tour or play as a band anymore due to the deaths of two of our members. My brother, Terry Smith suddenly passed away on November 20, 1999 in Toledo, Ohio. Terry died at age 52 after a short stay in the hospital following a botched colonoscopy where his colon was punctured during the procedure and he subsequently died of sepis. Terry was the backbone of the band and in addition to co-writing songs with me (his younger brother), he was not only the lead vocalist for the group but he also played lead guitar, harmonica and several other musical instruments. I will always miss him until I meet him on the other side.

Fred Jablonski who played drums for The Mods passed away on March 24, 2007 at age 58 after a long battle with cancer of the jaw. Fred was like a brother and he will always be with me in my memories. Fred was the best drummer I ever played music with and he is missed by many friends and family.

The surviving two members of The Mods in 2008 are Larry Smith and Larry Music and both of us wish to thank the many fans who have written to us telling us how much they have enjoyed our music. We were just a small local band in Toledo, Ohio and we never thought that our record would be heard outside of Ohio; but thanks to Tim Warren of CRYPT RECORDS, our two songs are known and heard around the world, thanks again Tim!

Larry Smith of The Mods

Record Labels and Influences
Record Label: (Independent Toledo label)The Mods / Peck Records 45-RPM Single released in January of 1966 A-Go-Go Records / A-side of Peck 45 reissued on The Chosen Few Vol. 1 1992 (unauthorized bootleg reissue) Crypt Records / Peck 45 reissues: Back From The Grave Vol. 3 LP released 1982 (authorized reissue) Crypt Records / Peck 45 reissues: Back From The Grave Vol. 2 CD released 1996 (authorized reissue) Crypt Records / Peck 45 reissues: Teenage Shutdown Vol. 10 LP/CD released 1998 (authorized reissue)

Band Members: Terry Smith, Larry Smith, Larry Music, Fred Jablonksi Influences: Beatles, Stones, Animals, Yardbirds, The Who, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Motown groups and also inspired by the many "one hit wonders" that had hit records out on AM radio during the 1960's.

Sounds Like: Good imitators of top 40 in the 1960's and could sound most like any big name group. The Mods developed their own style after releasing their 45-RPM single on Peck Records in 1966. With the success of the Peck 45-RPM The Mods landed a new recording contract with Detroit's Impact Records but shortly thereafter; lead singer Terry Smith was drafted into the Army and no recordings with Impact Records were ever released and the group soon disbanded with no recordings under the new name THEY.

For more extensive information on The Mods visit our Tribute website at: http://www.themods.us