Holme is a popular pop-rock band from West Orange, New Jersey that played the New Jersey dance/rock club scene in the 1970s and 1980s. The band describes itself as a "mainstream" rock band and has been described as a "legendary bar band" and "legendary Shore party band."
Although the members' musical influences vary, most credit the
Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developme ...
as an important musical influence. Frank Sementa (drums), was influenced by watching
Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname The Old Redhead. At the peak of his success, in the early-to-mid 1950s, Godf ...
's TV show and listening to his parents'
Glenn Miller
Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
, who had played for Jim Croce for a time, was inspired by Buddy Greco. Guitarist Joel Krauss, who was from
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, originally played the
French Horn
The French horn (since the 1930s known simply as the horn in professional music circles) is a brass instrument made of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. The double horn in F/B (technically a variety of German horn) is the horn most ...
, but switched to guitar because it was more popular with his peers. Krauss was a cab driver when he saw the ad for a guitarist. Krauss later quit the band for a while, but rejoined the band later.
Bobby Bandiera
Robert "Bobby" Bandiera (born October 19, 1953) is an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter from New Jersey. Bandiera played rhythm guitar for Bon Jovi in live performances from 2005 until 2015 and for nearly two decades was lead guita ...
, who is also from
Orange, NJ
The City of Orange is a township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 30,134, reflecting a decline of 2,734 (−8.3%) from the 32,868 counted in 2000.
Orange was originally ...
, and was already playing guitar nearly every night at the Jersey Shore, dropped out of school (but earned his GED) to join Holme when he was only 16 years old. He was soon was making more money than his parents combined. Bandiera later joined
Cats on a Smooth Surface
Cats on a Smooth Surface is an American rock group, that starting in 1978 and throughout the 1980s was the house band at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey
In the years 1981 and 1982, the band's lineup consisted of Bobby Bandiera on lead gu ...
, the
Stone Pony
The Stone Pony is a New Jersey music venue in Asbury Park, New Jersey known for launching the careers of many New Jersey music legends, including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.Alexis Krauss
Sleigh Bells is an American musical duo based in Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2008 and consisting of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist/producer Derek E. Miller. They became known for their overdriven style of noise pop, which incorporates ...
, front women for
Sleigh Bells Sleigh Bells may refer to:
* Sleigh bells, a type of bell which produces a distinctive 'jingle' sound, especially in large numbers.
* Sleigh Bells (band)
Sleigh Bells is an American musical duo based in Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2008 and ...
) and Harry Filkin.
Cats
The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...
' other members included
Glen Burtnick
Glen Burtnik (born Glenn Burtnick; April 8, 1955) is a singer, songwriter, entertainer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a former member of Styx. Burtnik is originally from North Brunswick, New Jersey, in the Middlesex County part of th ...
(who later joined
Styx
In Greek mythology, Styx (; grc, Στύξ ) is a river that forms the boundary between Earth (Gaia) and the Underworld. The rivers Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Styx all converge at the centre of the underworld on a great marsh, whic ...
The Hooters
The Hooters are an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band combines elements of rock, reggae, ska, and folk music to create its sound.
The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid-1980 ...
), and Ray Andersen (who joined
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American rock singer and actor. He was noted for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is on t ...
). In addition,
Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originato ...
sometimes jammed with
Cats
The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...
. Bandiera went on to play with
Southside Johnny
John Lyon (born December 4, 1948), better known by his stage name Southside Johnny, is an American singer-songwriter who usually fronts his band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
Southside Johnny has long been considered the Grandfather of ...
and
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald (American musician), Hugh McD ...
.
In its heyday, Holme would often play six nights a week at the
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore (known by locals simply as the Shore) is the coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term encompasses about of oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May Po ...
and in North Jersey. Venues played included major popular clubs such as
D'Jais
D'Jais Bar & Grill is a popular dance club and restaurant in Belmar, New Jersey. It has been called a landmark, "infamous", and one of the most famous bars along the Jersey Shore.
Location and Name
D'Jais Bar & Grill is located at 1801-1805 Ocean ...
, Art Stock's Royal Manor (North and South), Jimmy Byrne's Sea Girt Inn, The Headliner, and the
Stone Pony
The Stone Pony is a New Jersey music venue in Asbury Park, New Jersey known for launching the careers of many New Jersey music legends, including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Back in the 1970s, playing the suburban rock club circuit was steady work and lucrative.
Primarily popular as a cover band, the band produced several singles, including the "Garden State Parkway Boogie" by band member Mark Mazur. The song was inspired by the fact that although they lived in Manasquan, the band often played in North Jersey. Similarly, most of their following, who lived in North Jersey, would drive to the shore to see them in the summer. They realized that they or their following was driving on the Parkway almost every night, and decided to write a song about it." The song is still a favorite among followers. They also designed their logo to look like the Parkway signs after checking to see if the New Jersey Highway Authority had any objections.
For a while the band spent time visiting radio stations to promote their singles, recording demonstration tapes, and talking to record companies. In the early days, Danny Gralick, Mark Mazur, and Bobby Bandiera composed some songs individually and together. Mazur's brother Bret Mazur (not to be confused with Bret
Epic Mazur
Bret Hadley "Epic" Mazur (born August 31, 1970) is an American vocalist, rapper, and record producer. He is best known as a founder and former frontman of the rap rock band Crazy Town.
Early life
Bret Mazur grew up in Brooklyn, New York before hi ...
) is also a songwriter and co-wrote the
Brecker Brothers
The Brecker Brothers were a jazz fusion music duo consisting of siblings Michael Brecker, Michael and Randy Brecker, Randy. Michael played saxophone, flute, and EWI (musical instrument), EWI, and Randy played trumpet and flugelhorn. The brothers ...
song "East River." Mazur eventually left to start his own band, Mark Mazur and the Targets, that included Mark Mesaros on bass,
Dennis Diken
Dennis Diken (born February 25, 1957) is an American drummer, DJ, author, music historian, and founding member of the band the Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, and Mike Mesaros in Carteret, New Jersey. Besides ...
on drums, and Dave Cogswell on keyboards. Mesaros and Diken later joined Pat DiNizio to form The Smithereens.
Holme had hoped to someday enjoy the success achieved by artists like Fleetwood Mac and Steve Miller. Conner told a reporter, "Artists like that pretty much call their own shots. When their contracts run their course, they can negotiate their new ones. The idea is to make six albums and in five years be in the same commanding position recording-wise that we have in the nightclubs right now." In the meantime, they formed a publishing company, "Shore Shot", and a record label, "Thin Ice." Although the elusive big contract did not materialize, Holme was immensely popular in New Jersey in the 1970s and 1980s. As of 2016, Holme was playing Monday nights at
D'Jais
D'Jais Bar & Grill is a popular dance club and restaurant in Belmar, New Jersey. It has been called a landmark, "infamous", and one of the most famous bars along the Jersey Shore.
Location and Name
D'Jais Bar & Grill is located at 1801-1805 Ocean ...
(which Sementa and Conner, along with Holme's former manager, Bill Luddecke, have owned since 1979) in the summer, as well as at other events off season.
Discography
Singles
*The Garden State Parkway Boogie (Mazur) / Ivy (Gralick) (1977)
*Feel This Record (Gralick/Mazur) / That's All Right Mama (Bandiera) (1978)
*Just a Matter of Time (Mazur/Ritchings) / Weekend (Ritchings/Mazur) (1981)
EPS
*Just a Matter of Time (1982)
References
{{reflist, refs=
{{cite news , last=Lubetkin , first=Steven, date=10 August 1977 , title= Band throwing a birthday party , publisher=
Asbury Park Press
The ''Asbury Park Press'' is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state. It has been owned by Gannett since 1997.
Its reporting staff has been awarded numerous national hon ...
, page=15{{cite news , last=Mikle , first=Jean, date=22 August 2011 , title= Rhythm Room: Bobby Bandiera to Join Holme Tonight. , url=http://blogs.app.com/rhythmroom/2011/08/22/bobby-bandiera-to-join-holme-tonight/ , publisher=
Asbury Park Press
The ''Asbury Park Press'' is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state. It has been owned by Gannett since 1997.
Its reporting staff has been awarded numerous national hon ...
, access-date= 16 May 2016{{cite news , last=Cotter , first=Kelly-Jane, date=23 May 2014 , title= Hot tunes for the summer. , url=http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/events/summer-guide/2014/05/23/hot-tunes-summer/2362490/, publisher=
Asbury Park Press
The ''Asbury Park Press'' is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state. It has been owned by Gannett since 1997.
Its reporting staff has been awarded numerous national hon ...
, access-date= 16 May 2016{{cite news , last=Biese , first=Alex, date=9 January 2015 , title= Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss returns to the Stone Pony , url=http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/01/08/sleigh-bells-alexis-krauss-returns-stone-pony/21439023/, publisher=
Asbury Park Press
The ''Asbury Park Press'' is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state. It has been owned by Gannett since 1997.
Its reporting staff has been awarded numerous national hon ...
, access-date= 18 May 2016{{cite news , last=Williams , first=Dave, date=7 November 2008 , title= Neal Unreal , url=http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/events/summer-guide/2014/05/23/hot-tunes-summer/2362490/, publisher=
Asbury Park Press
The ''Asbury Park Press'' is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state. It has been owned by Gannett since 1997.
Its reporting staff has been awarded numerous national hon ...
, page=92 , access-date= 16 May 2016{{cite news , last=Jordan , first=Chris, date=2 July 2015 , title= D'Jais named the shore's top seaside bar. , url=http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/nightlife/2015/07/02/djais-named-jersey-shores-top-seaside-bar/29631975/ , publisher=
Asbury Park Press
The ''Asbury Park Press'' is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state. It has been owned by Gannett since 1997.
Its reporting staff has been awarded numerous national hon ...
, access-date= 16 May 2016{{cite news , last=Staff , date=21 December 2015 , title= Red Bank: Debbie Harry, Bon Jovi, & more..., url=http://www.redbankgreen.com/2015/12/red-bank-more-bob-more-hope/, publisher=Red Bank Green, access-date= 16 May 2016{{cite news , last=Pfeiffer , first=John, date=24 February 2016 , title= Shoreworld: The Stone Pony celebrates 42nd anniversary , url=http://www.theaquarian.com/2016/02/24/shoreworld-the-stone-pony-celebrates-42nd-anniversary/, publisher=
The Aquarian
''The Aquarian Weekly'' is a regional alternative weekly newspaper based in New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1969, its focus is rock music and related events in the New Jersey/New York City/Eastern Pennsylvania region. From 1986 to 1992, it ...
, access-date= 16 May 2016{{cite news , last=Ames , first=Lynn, date=7 May 1978 , title= The Lively World of Club-Circuit Rock: Rock Stars Praise Suburbia , work=
New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
, page=NJ28{{cite news , last=Wien , first=Gary , date=20 February 2016 , title= Bobby Bandiera Looks Back , url=http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=6927 , work=
New Jersey Stage
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
, access-date= 15 May 2016{{cite news , last=Satore , first=Bielat , date=18 July 2013 , title= Bielat Santore & Company's "WHO'S WHO in the Restaurant Industry. One of the Jersey Shore's most popular bars is open for the Summer. , url=http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/13/07/p3765027/bielat-santore-companys-whos-who-in-the-restaurant-industry , publisher= PRWeb, access-date= 15 May 2016{{cite news , last=Staff , date=4 July 1981 , title= FKM Productions , work=
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
, page=66 {{cite news , last=Kirsh , first=Julie , date=3 October 2011 , title= Spirits high at Lake Como Day , url=http://patch.com/new-jersey/manasquan/spirits-high-at-lake-como-day , publisher= The Patch , access-date=16 May 2016{{cite book, last1=Rothenberg, first1=D., last2=Wien , first2=G. , title=Beyond the Palace, year=2006, publisher=Trafford Publishing, pages=156–157