Cousin Al & the Relatives
COUSIN AL & THE RELATIVES BEGAN PLAYING IN 1982 WITH A UNIQUE MIXTURE OF SURF, HOT-ROD, 50'S & 60'S ROCK'N-ROLL AND SOME NOVELTY TUNES TO BOOT. THE GROUP GOT IT'S NAME ON A SUGGESTION FROM DRUMMER BRIAN GOODMAN (AL'S REAL-LIFE COUSIN!).THE ORIGINAL LINE-UP CONSITED OF: COUSIN AL VOLDMAN: VOCALS, CHAS LOCKWOOD: GUITAR , PETE BADORE: BASS, AND BRIAN GOODMAN ON DRUMS.
THE GROUP HAD A WILD, UNDISCIPLINED SOUND, AND A DIVERSE MIX OF COVERS; ANYTHING FROM JAN & DEAN TO THE CRAMPS, VELVET UNERGROUND TO BOBBY RYDELL, COUNT V TO THE TRASHMEN, COULD BE HEARD DURING A COUSIN' AL GIG. ALSO, INCLUDED WITH A COUSIN AL SHOW WERE FLYING BEACH BALLS (KNOCKING OVER PEOPLES DRINKS )AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AL WOULD SHOW UP WITH A SURFBOARD ON STAGE .
IN 1983 THE BAND APPEARED ON "THE BRIAN BRAM SHOW" ON CHANNEL 31 IN ROCHESTER. THEY PERFORMED 2 SONGS; THE LEGENDARY "SURFIN' ON THE BARGE CANAL" (IT'S GOTTA BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED!) AND "GOTTA SURF (DOWN AT CHARLOTTE)", AS WELL AS AN INTERVIEW. NOT LONG AFTER THIS, THE ORIGINAL GROUP DISSOLVED, WITH BRIAN GOODMAN MOVING ON TO THE INSIDERS, AND LATER THE PROJECTILES. CHAS LOCKWOOD WENT ON TO THE FERRETS, AND PETE BADOR WOULD GO ON TO DO RADIO SHOWS AT WITR-FM & WRUR-FM.
IN 1984 AL PUT TOGETHER A NEW AGGREGATION HE DUBBED THE "NEW GENERATION" (AFTER THE TRASHMEN SONG). THE LINE UP CONSISTED OF: COUSIN AL VOLDMAN VOCALS ,KEN COLE ON GUITAR, MARK STEVANS ON BASS AND RICK KUSMINSKY ON DRUMS THIS LINE-UP RECORDED AL'S ONLY SINGLE TO DATE, "SURFIN' ON THE BARGE CANAL" B/W "ZOMBIE TWIST". IT WAS RECORDED AT DAVE CASPER'S (NEE CASPERSON ,OF THE TEMESTS) DYNAMIC RECORDING STUDIO AND RELEASED IN 1985 ON THE HALF-LIFE LABEL.
COUSIN AL & THE NEW GENERATION CONTINUED TO PERFORM INTO THE LATE EIGHTIES, BEFORE AL WENT ON HIATUS. IN 2001 COUISN AL & THE NEW GENERATION LAUNCHED A COME BACK WITH "WAVE WOLF", A FULL LENGTH CD ON THE GARAGE-POP LABEL, AND CONTINUES TO PERFORM IN THE ROCHESTER AREA.
DISCOGRAPHY
| YEAR | TITLE | LABEL | FORMAT | WLS Chart |
| 1985 | "SURFIN' ON THE BARGE CANAL" B/W "ZOMBIE TWIST" | HALF-LIFE | Vinyl 7" |
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| Sept. 2001 | WAVE WOLF | GARAGE-POP | CD |
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