Frank Tonche
Encyclopedia
Frank Tonche was the original drummer for The Minutemen.
When the band was formed by D. Boon
and Mike Watt
after their first serious attempt at a band, The Reactionaries
, fell apart, they had originally wanted their friend and fellow ex-Reactionaries drummer George Hurley
to hold the drum seat, but he had joined a new wave band named Hey Taxi! after the Reactionaries split, so he was unavailable. Tonche, a welder by day (and according to some reports, had been in a polka band named The Polish Eagle Polka Band at one point), was recruited instead.
Tonche's tenure lasted about six months, long enough to help arrange some early Minutemen songs and play a few early performances, but Tonche quickly tired of the aggressiveness of punk audiences around that time (which included spitting) and quit in June 1980. By that time, fortunately, Hurley was free to join the Minutemen.
In 1987, Forced Exposure
released a 7" EP featuring rehearsal recordings of the Minutemen with Tonche on drums. The EP, authorized by Mike Watt and titled Georgeless, had a limited pressing but is now available for free download (also with Watt's full consent) at corndogs.org.
When the band was formed by D. Boon
D. Boon
d. Boon born Dennes Dale Boon, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Active between 1978, when he joined The Reactionaries, and 1985, when he was killed in a van accident, Boon was best known as the guitarist and vocalist of the Californian punk rock trio Minutemen.-Youth:Dennes Boon...
and Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
after their first serious attempt at a band, The Reactionaries
The Reactionaries (band)
The Reactionaries were a punk rock band formed in San Pedro, California in 1978. The band's continual members were lead vocalist Martin Tamburovich, guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt, and drummer George Hurley. The Reactionaries existed for most of 1978 and 1979, practicing regularly but rarely...
, fell apart, they had originally wanted their friend and fellow ex-Reactionaries drummer George Hurley
George Hurley
George Hurley is a drummer noted for his work with The Minutemen and fIREHOSE.Even though he went to the same high school as D. Boon and Mike Watt he did not meet them until around 1978. That same year, Hurley formed The Reactionaries with Boon, Watt, and Martin Tamburovich...
to hold the drum seat, but he had joined a new wave band named Hey Taxi! after the Reactionaries split, so he was unavailable. Tonche, a welder by day (and according to some reports, had been in a polka band named The Polish Eagle Polka Band at one point), was recruited instead.
Tonche's tenure lasted about six months, long enough to help arrange some early Minutemen songs and play a few early performances, but Tonche quickly tired of the aggressiveness of punk audiences around that time (which included spitting) and quit in June 1980. By that time, fortunately, Hurley was free to join the Minutemen.
In 1987, Forced Exposure
Forced Exposure
Forced Exposure was an independent music magazine published sporadically out of Massachusetts from the early-'80s to 1993, edited by Jimmy Johnson and Byron Coley. It was printed on cheap newsprint with plain design and filled with corrosive yet humorous writing...
released a 7" EP featuring rehearsal recordings of the Minutemen with Tonche on drums. The EP, authorized by Mike Watt and titled Georgeless, had a limited pressing but is now available for free download (also with Watt's full consent) at corndogs.org.
With The Minutemen
- GeorgelessGeorgelessGeorgeless is a live extended play by the American punk trio Minutemen, released on Forced Exposure in 1993. The EP comprises five tracks recorded at their first concert in March 1980, before Tonche left the band to be replaced by George Hurley, who was part of the band for most of its existence...
EP (1987)