Eric started playing drums in 1965, and first played with the group US at the PECI high school variety night in 1967 in Picton, Ont. One can't help but notice the obvious Buddy Holly influence on the lead guitar player. US went on to an appearance at the opening day celebration at the North Marysburg Central Elementary School, prompting one reviewer (actually a local farmer) to note "they were pretty loud". Amplifiers were fairly new to the locals at the time.
After a year off where he worked on his emerging rock style, Eric joined the band Children Of Today 1 and 2 (formerly Warp 3) shown here at the 1969 PECI variety night. This appearance led to a wide ranging tour to exotic locations including Bloomfield and Carrying Place in the "county", and a return engagement at the 1970 PECI variety night, 1 and 2
Eric next joined an unnamed Cream tribute band here show at an appearance at the 3rd ear coffee house, 1 and 2.
Now being influenced by a wider variety of music (yes, kiddies, that's a VINYL record) Eric was beginning to expand his musical (and other) experiences, and grow his hair longer (Eric claims that he did NOT experience with ceremonial chemicals, and was "hi on life" during this period). Although he considered "dropping out" and making music his full time activity, he headed off to study electrical engineering at Ryerson in Toronto in the fall of 1971. It is rumored that a paranoia about spontaneous combustion of professional drummers may have led to this decision.
Eric did keep his hand in by returning to the Picton area often over the next couple of years to sideman regularly at locations including the Legion Hall and Elks Lodge with Jack Jones and the Country Gentlemen, which allowed him to experiment with the country influence.
In Toronto, Eric also experimented with totally Carribian influences as drummer for the Eric Palen Hall Calypso house band for a while. He also considered trying out for the UofT "Lady Godiva Marching Band" but never carried through.
After starting a full time career in the electronics / computer field, Eric played in another country band in Cornwall, Ontario in the early 80's. His spontaneous combsution paranoia still haunted him, and he actually sold his drums, and did not play at all for quite a few years.
Fortunately for FGB's current fans, his interest in the drums was rekindled by some friends in London, Ontario, in the mid '90s and Eric returned to the music scene. His spontaneous explosion fears have been eliminated by his wearing of a magical amulet given to him by a sympathetic witch doctor.
FGB was formed shortly after Eric moved back to the Toronto area.
©1998 Brantz Myers This page was last updated on 10/01/02. e-mail nz